We Tried It: Method Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish on the Dirtiest Appliances You’ve Ever Seen

No one has ever said I’m a beacon of cleanliness, nor do I claim to be. I can’t even remember the last time I cleaned my stainless steel appliances – if that gives you any indication of my stance on keeping my surroundings unsullied.

So when I saw that method, one of my favorite brands, had a stainless steel cleaner, I thought to myself, “It’s time.” But like I said, my stainless steel is not clean. Not even close. The dishwasher in particular is in pretty bad shape. What I’m saying here is, method’s Stainless Steel Cleaner has its work cut out for it. If you love a good ‘before and after’ photo (who doesn’t?), stick around and see how method’s cleaner holds up to my sordid steel.

Despite having owned various stainless steel appliances throughout my life, I have no idea what makes stainless steel different from other types of steel — and I’m assuming you don’t, either.

Regular ol’ steel is made from iron. What makes stainless steel special is the addition of at least 10.5% chromium, a chemical element that gives stainless steel its super strength and makes it rust-, heat-, and stain-resistant. The more you know!

How to get a streak-free shine on your stainless steel

The best way to clean stainless steel without streaks is actually a two-fold process. First, use a soft cloth that won’t shed — I’m a microfiber cloth devotee, but paper towels work just fine too.

Second, wipe in circular motions. Circles are the key to achieving a streak-free shine! I imagine it’s because wiping in circles leaves behind less cleaning fluid – and therefore fewer streaks. Alas, there are surprisingly few scholarly articles on the merits of circular wiping, so I guess we’ll never know for sure why it’s better.

What products shouldn’t you use on stainless steel?

Take heed and keep the cleaners and tools in this list far away from your appliances, lest they scratch or permanently stain your immaculate stainless steel.

Spray it. Spray the cleaner onto a cloth. I didn’t do this; I sprayed directly onto my appliances. Pro tip: A little goes a long way, so spray once and add more as needed.

Rub it. Rub your appliances clean. method says to rub with the grain — I didn’t do this. I rubbed in circles. Try ‘em both and see which way works best for you!

Buff it. Give ‘er a buff for extra shine. Use a dry, clean cloth for this step. Again, I buffed in circles, but go with the grain of your appliances if it gives you a better result.

I started off with the easiest (and cleanest) appliance – my stainless steel sink. Before I sprayed it with the cleaner, I did give it a rinse with the faucet to remove any leftover food bits. I didn’t bother drying the sink after I rinsed it, but I don’t think it affected the end results. Look at that shine!

Fingerprints and food droplets are the Achilles’ heel of even the most durable stainless steel refrigerators. Since method touts their product as both a cleaner and a polish, I didn’t think it’d be strong enough to remove the grubby mess that was stuck on my fridge. Lo’ and behold, it did! Honestly, I don’t feel like the pic does it justice. My fridge looks stunning.

Don’t judge me. I know it’s gross. The worst part is that I don’t even remember how the black paint got there. What was I painting? Nothing in the kitchen is painted black. But I digress. The dishwasher was a yucky, scuzzy mess. A crime scene of neglect. And yet! The method Stainless Steel Cleaner got it all off — even the mysterious paint. If that doesn’t make you run to get your hands on this stuff, I don’t what will.

Would I say this is the best stainless steel cleaner? Yes. Yes, I would. To be fair, I (obviously) haven’t ever used a stainless steel cleaner before, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to. That being said, this product is made from natural ingredients, smells amazing, and it knocks out the grubby stains and fingerprints on my stainless steel like an episode of MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch. Why would I ever need another cleaner when this one is so delightfully perfect?