"But have you noticed any issues with vinegar dulling stainless steel over time?"
I've actually seen this happen quite often, especially on brushed stainless finishes. Vinegar is acidic, and consistent use can slowly dull the surface. Baking soda paste is gentler, true, but you're right—it can leave a powdery residue if you're not thorough. In my experience, a mild dish soap diluted in warm water, applied with a microfiber cloth and dried immediately, hits that sweet spot between shine and ease of use without turning your kitchen into a chemistry experiment...
I've noticed vinegar dulling stainless steel too, especially if you let it sit too long or use it undiluted. Had a client once who swore by vinegar for everything, and after a couple years, their fridge doors looked pretty sad—lost all that nice factory shine. I tend to stick with mild dish soap myself, but sometimes I'll use a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol on stubborn fingerprints or smudges. Evaporates quick, no residue.
Speaking of natural cleaners though, anyone tried using lemon juice diluted with water? I've heard mixed things—some say it's gentler than vinegar and leaves appliances smelling fresh, others warn it's still acidic enough to cause issues over time. Curious if anyone's given that a go...
I've tried diluted lemon juice on my vintage stove before—it worked pretty well at first, nice scent too, but after a few months I noticed it started leaving faint marks. Not as harsh as vinegar, but still acidic enough to be careful with. Now I mostly stick to mild soap and water, and occasionally baking soda paste for tougher spots...safer bet for preserving original finishes.
"Now I mostly stick to mild soap and water, and occasionally baking soda paste for tougher spots...safer bet for preserving original finishes."
Interesting point about lemon juice leaving faint marks—I hadn't considered that. Have you noticed if baking soda paste ever dulls the finish over time? I've used it on my fridge handles before, and while it cleans great initially, sometimes I wonder if repeated use might be abrasive in the long run. Curious if anyone else has seen similar effects with baking soda...
I've noticed baking soda paste can be a bit abrasive if you use it repeatedly on glossy surfaces. My old dishwasher handle started looking dull after a while, so I switched back to mild soap. Might depend on the appliance finish though—stainless steel seems more forgiving than painted surfaces. Has anyone tried diluted vinegar instead? I've heard mixed things about it being safe for finishes...
