"Eventually, I caved and grabbed a store-bought cream cleaner, and honestly, it was like magic."
Haha, been there! I had a similar experience with our microwave hood combo. It looked fine at first glance, but once I got up close... let's just say the previous tenants must've loved frying bacon daily. Vinegar and baking soda were my first go-to as well—cheap and usually effective—but after an hour of scrubbing with minimal progress, I gave in and bought one of those heavy-duty degreasers. Honestly, it felt like cheating, but man did it save me time (and sanity).
Interesting point about stainless steel finishes being different. I've noticed that too—our fridge door cleans up great with vinegar spray, but the oven front always ends up streaky unless I dry it immediately. I'll have to try your olive oil trick next time; sounds weirdly promising. Grandma wisdom for the win, right?
Guess it's all about finding that balance between budget-friendly DIY solutions and knowing when to splurge a little for convenience's sake...
I've noticed that too—our fridge door cleans up great with vinegar spray, but the oven front always ends up streaky unless I dry it immediately. I'll have to try your olive oil trick next time; s...
Haha, totally relate to the feeling of "cheating" when grabbing the store-bought stuff. But honestly, sometimes sanity is worth more than DIY pride, right? I've had my share of battles with stubborn oven grime—vinegar and baking soda just laughed at me. Curious about that olive oil trick though... does it really not leave things greasy afterward? Might have to give grandma's wisdom a shot next time I'm feeling brave.
I've tried olive oil a few times myself, and honestly, I wasn't impressed. Sure, it gave a nice shine at first, but after a day or two, it seemed to attract dust and fingerprints way faster than before. Maybe I was using too much or something, but it felt like I was just creating more work for myself in the long run.
One thing I've found surprisingly effective on stainless steel appliances is rubbing alcohol. I know it sounds harsh, but hear me out—just a little bit on a microfiber cloth does wonders. It cuts through grease and grime instantly, evaporates quickly, and leaves no streaks. Plus, since it evaporates so fast, there's no greasy residue left behind to attract dust or fingerprints later on. Just make sure you're using it sparingly and in a well-ventilated area (the smell can be strong at first).
Another tip: always wipe in the direction of the grain of your stainless steel surface. It makes a huge difference in avoiding streaks and smudges. Took me way too long to realize that one... embarrassing, haha.
I get the appeal of natural cleaners—vinegar and baking soda are staples in my cleaning cabinet too—but sometimes they're just not enough for tougher jobs. And honestly, store-bought stainless steel cleaners aren't all bad. Some brands have improved significantly in recent years, becoming less harsh and more eco-friendly. It's worth checking labels carefully if you're concerned about chemicals.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there since olive oil didn't really work for me. Maybe you'll have better luck with it than I did.
"One thing I've found surprisingly effective on stainless steel appliances is rubbing alcohol."
Interesting, never thought of using rubbing alcohol... but honestly, I've had great results with diluted white vinegar and a drop of dish soap. Cuts through grime nicely without the strong smell. Might be worth another shot?
I've tried vinegar and dish soap too, and yeah, it does work pretty well. But honestly, rubbing alcohol has been a game changer for me—especially on fingerprints and smudges. It evaporates quickly, so there's no streaking or residue left behind. Vinegar sometimes leaves that faint smell lingering around the kitchen... not a huge deal, but still noticeable. Maybe give rubbing alcohol a quick try sometime; you might be pleasantly surprised how easy it makes things.
