- Tried the olive oil trick on my 1930s fridge—worked better than expected, but I did notice a bit of dust sticking after a few days.
- Store-bought sprays feel overkill, but I wonder about long-term buildup with natural oils.
- Anyone had issues with residue or attracting more grime over time?
I did notice a bit of dust sticking after a few days.
Yeah, that’s the catch with oils—they make things look great at first, but they can turn into a dust magnet if you’re not careful. I’ve used olive oil on old stoves and it shines up beautifully, but I always buff it out really well to avoid that sticky feel. Honestly, I think a diluted vinegar spray does the trick for most stuff without leaving any residue. Store-bought sprays are just too much for me—half the time they leave their own weird film anyway.
Natural stuff works, but sometimes you just want to get the job done and not fuss with mixing sprays or smelling vinegar all day. I’ve found that a quick wipe with diluted vinegar does the trick for fingerprints and smudges, especially on stainless steel. But yeah, oils are tricky—looks great at first, then suddenly every speck of dust in the house is glued to your oven door. Ever try just a bit of dish soap and water? Sometimes simple is best...
Ever try just a bit of dish soap and water? Sometimes simple is best...
Honestly, that's my go-to for most messes. Quick rundown: damp microfiber cloth, tiny drop of dish soap, wipe, then buff dry. No streaks, no weird smells. Oils just attract dust like crazy—learned that the hard way.
Dish soap and water is a classic for a reason, but I’ll admit I’m a sucker for trying out new “natural” concoctions too. I’ve flipped a lot of houses, and you’d be amazed at the gunk that builds up on stainless steel and glass appliances—sometimes it feels like the previous owners were running a fried chicken joint in their kitchen. Dish soap usually gets the job done, but I’ve had moments where it just doesn’t cut through the sticky stuff, especially around oven handles or fridge doors.
Here’s where I get a little opinionated: vinegar and baking soda are hyped up everywhere, but honestly, vinegar can leave streaks on stainless and the smell lingers. Not my favorite. I’ve actually had better luck with a paste of baking soda and water for stubborn spots, then following up with your dish soap method. That combo seems to tackle just about anything without leaving residue.
Store-bought cleaners? I get the appeal—grab, spray, wipe, done. But half the time they’re just glorified soap with extra fragrance (and sometimes weird chemicals that make me sneeze). Plus, if you’re flipping homes or just want your place to look sharp for showings, you don’t want that fake lemon scent screaming “I just cleaned this!” when people walk in.
One thing I’ll push back on: oils as polish. People swear by olive oil or baby oil for stainless steel, but every single time I’ve tried it, it just turns into a dust magnet. Looks great for about five minutes, then you’re back to fingerprints and smudges.
At the end of the day, dish soap and water is cheap, easy, and doesn’t leave behind much of anything—except maybe a little pride in how shiny everything looks. If it ain’t broke... you know? But I’ll still keep experimenting with random DIY mixes because sometimes you stumble on something that just works magic.
