The best stainless-steel cleaners for appliances and kitchenware you can buy

Perfect for tight spaces and quick cleanups, Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes can make fingerprints vanish.

Any surface is easy to clean if you do it frequently, and this rule applies to stainless steel. In between deep cleaning, Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes are perfect for quick, everyday cleanups like cooking splatters and fingerprints on refrigerator doors.

The wipes are offered in a convenient, resealable pop-top canister to keep them from drying out — similar to other household cleaning wipes you may already have. To use, simply wipe in the direction of the metal's grain and then buff with a soft, dry cloth to prevent streaks. Smudges, water spots, and stains will be gone.

I also love to use these wipes to remove greasy smears and splatters on my outdoor grill. And nothing will fit into the tight spot where handles join a stainless-steel panel like Weiman Wipes. When I attempt to clean those spots with some liquid cleaners, the cleaner runs down the panel before I can get my cloth in there to clean.

With more than 800 hundred reviews on Amazon, these wipes are rated with 4.7-stars. Even with the convenience, at a cost of just $0.23 per sheet, Weiman Wipes are more cost-effective than some spray-on cleaners.

Pros: Wipes conform to tight spaces, useful for quick clean-ups, disposable, removes fingerprints and smudges

Cons: Darkens some types of metal like aluminum, wipes will dry out quickly if the canister is not properly closed

Buy Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes in a two-pack of 30-count canisters (60 wipes) on Amazon for $13.96

With just one spray, CLR Stainless Steel Cleaner will leave stainless steel clean and streak-free.

Almost every stainless-steel cleaner recommends using the product to clean away soil and stains and then coming back with a soft, dry cloth to buff away any streaks the cleaner has left behind. With CLR Stainless Steel Cleaner, the second step is eliminated — no buffing is needed.

My microwave is mounted at eye-level which makes the top of the appliance above my head. Cleaning anything above my head is not a favorite chore so I like a one-step process. Just a good shake of the can, a quick spray with the cleaner, and one pass with a microfiber cloth leaves the finish shiny and streak-free.

With more than 200 reviews on Amazon, 78% give the CLR a 4 or 5-star rating. One reviewer found a use I hadn't thought about: "Used at work on a water fountain that hasn't seen a good scrubbing in three years (really, really hard AZ water). Every white piece of mineral deposit plus the hard water stains were 100% gone. I don't mean kinda gone, TOTALLY gone. No chemical smell or oily residue. Bizarre, but true." Another said, "This is the only stainless-steel cleaner I have found that actually cleans and polishes without leaving residue behind. I have recommended this product to several people, all with excellent results. Be sure to follow directions, clean with the grain of the stainless not in a circular motion."

While the product is scented, it is very light and dissipates quickly. The steel can is recyclable.

Pros: One-step cleaning, works well to remove smudges

Cons: Petroleum-based product, should never be used near a gas flame or hot appliance

Buy CLR Stainless Steel Cleaner in a 12-ounce spray can on Amazon for $7.91

Developed from plant-based ingredients, Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish is safe to use around children and pets.

With a gentle herbal scent and plant-based ingredients, Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish is an excellent choice if someone in your home has chemical sensitivities. The company was founded in 2016 and it is one of the few stainless-steel cleaners that actually list every ingredient on the label: filtered water, coconut oil, sorbitan monooleate (emulsifier), lavender vanilla essential oil blend, acrylates copolymer (emulsifier), and methylisothizolinone (preservative).

The starter kit includes a 16-ounce spray bottle of the cleaner and a 14-by-14-inch microfiber cloth. Simply spray on the solution and, working with the grain of the metal, wipe away grime and smudges. Finish by buffing with a dry area of the microfiber cloth. After cleaning, a bit of the coconut oil remains on the surface to protect the shine and repel fingerprints.

More than 1,700 Amazon customers have left feedback, giving the product an average 4.7-star rating, "It smells so good and made my appliances look great! I used to scrub and scrub with disinfectant wipes but it never made the stainless steel look clean. This works effortlessly and all of the ingredients are safe," wrote one commenter.

Therapy is formulated to use on refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, sinks, outdoor grills, and microwaves. It should be noted that Therapy is more expensive than other cleaners, at nearly $1 per ounce.

Pros: Plant-based formula, safe to use around children and pets, leaves appliances clean and streak-free

Cons: Most expensive stainless-steel cleaner per use, not readily available in mass-market stores

Buy Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish in a 16-ounce bottle with a microfiber cloth on Amazon for $14.97

In a pinch? Using household ingredients, Heinz Cleaning Vinegar and Pompeian Pure Olive Oil can leave stainless-steel appliances streak-free.

Is there anything that vinegar can't clean? Trust me, the number is very small. If you don't mind the scent of vinegar and have a little oil leftover in the kitchen, your stainless-steel appliances will gleam after using this simple mixture.

I'm recommending Heinz Cleaning Vinegar because it is slightly more acidic than regular white distilled vinegar, which makes it more effective in removing grease and food splatters. I keep it in a labeled spray bottle to make cleaning easier. Just spritz the vinegar onto the surface of the stainless steel and then wipe down — using a microfiber cloth and following the grain of the metal. You will be amazed at how clean it looks.

Then, to help protect the finish from holding onto every single fingerprint (and nose-print from the dog), use just a teeny bit of Pompeian Pure Olive Oil on a soft cloth for a final coating. You can actually use any type of oil you have on hand; mineral oil, vegetable oil, even WD-40. The keys to success are to use just as little oil as possible and finish up by buffing with the grain using a microfiber cloth.

Pros: Cleans stainless steel using natural ingredients, inexpensive to use, can be used to clean many other surfaces around the house

Cons: Vinegar aroma

Buy Heinz Cleaning Vinegar in a one-gallon jug on Amazon for $13.69 Buy the Pompeian Pure Olive Oil on Amazon for $4.94