Yeah, olive oil’s a classic for that quick shine, but it’s a total dust trap. I’ve had the same issue—looked great for photos, then by the next day, every speck of dust in the house found its way there. Rubbing alcohol does cut through fingerprints fast, and honestly, I use it a lot when I’m in a hurry. Haven’t noticed any damage on stainless yet, but I don’t let it sit long. Maybe if you used it every single day, it’d dull the finish over time? Hard to say.
I get wanting to avoid harsh stuff, but sometimes you just need something that works. If you’re worried about long-term effects, maybe alternate with a gentler cleaner now and then. At the end of the day, appliances are meant to be used—little wear and tear is just part of the deal.
I’ve tried the olive oil trick too, and yeah, it’s wild how fast the dust shows up. I switched to a mix of vinegar and water for a while—smells a bit weird, but it doesn’t seem to attract as much grime. The only thing is, I sometimes wonder if vinegar’s too acidic for long-term use on stainless? I haven’t seen any issues yet, but I’m not sure if it’s just luck or if it’s actually safe. Anyone else notice streaks with store-bought sprays, though? That’s what drove me to try the DIY stuff in the first place.
Natural Cleaners Vs Store-Bought Stuff For Appliances
The only thing is, I sometimes wonder if vinegar’s too acidic for long-term use on stainless? I haven’t seen any issues yet, but I’m not sure if it’s just luck or if it’s actually safe.
I’ve wondered about that too, honestly. I’ve been using the vinegar-water mix on my fridge and dishwasher for a couple months now. No problems so far, but I do get a little paranoid about it eating away at the finish over time. I read somewhere that as long as you dilute it enough (like, a tablespoon in a spray bottle of water), it’s supposed to be fine. Still, I wipe it down with a dry cloth after, just in case.
The olive oil thing was a disaster for me. Looked shiny for maybe a day, then every single fingerprint and dust speck showed up. Plus, my toddler kept touching the fridge and leaving little greasy handprints everywhere. Not worth it.
Store-bought sprays are weirdly streaky for me too. I tried two different brands and both left these cloudy marks unless I buffed like crazy. Kinda defeats the purpose of “quick cleaning.” The DIY stuff isn’t perfect, but at least I know what’s in it and don’t have to worry about weird smells or residue.
Funny thing, my mom swears by just using a damp microfiber cloth and nothing else. She says it’s all about the cloth, not the cleaner. I tried that and it worked okay, but didn’t get rid of the smudges as well as vinegar does.
I guess there’s no magic solution—just depends on what bugs you more: streaks, dust, or maybe the smell of vinegar. For now, I’m sticking with the homemade route and hoping my appliances don’t secretly hate me for it.
Funny thing, my mom swears by just using a damp microfiber cloth and nothing else. She says it’s all about the cloth, not the cleaner.
That actually made me laugh—my grandmother was the same way. She’d say, “You don’t need all those potions, just a good rag and some elbow grease.” I’ve tried that trick on my old oven door (original to the house, believe it or not), and it does work for basic dust and fingerprints. But for anything sticky or mysterious (and there’s always something mysterious in an old house), I still reach for diluted vinegar.
I’m with you on the olive oil—looked gorgeous for a hot second, then it was like my kitchen turned into a fingerprint museum. I’ve also noticed with some store-bought sprays, they leave this weird film that almost glows under certain light. Not exactly the “sparkling clean” look I’m going for.
I do get nervous about vinegar long-term too, but I figure with enough water and a quick wipe dry, it’s probably okay. At least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m scrubbing 70-year-old fridge handles.
I get the love for vinegar, but I’ve actually had it etch some of the chrome trim on my old appliances—just left these faint, dull spots that never went away. Now I stick to dish soap and warm water for anything stubborn, then buff with a dry cloth. It’s not as “natural” as vinegar, but at least I’m not stressing about long-term damage. Funny how every old house ends up with its own set of cleaning rules...
