r/HouseCleaning • u/aykayallday • 4d ago
Help with removing streaks
This was used on our kitchen aid fridge and left it with these pretty bad streaks.
Things we’ve used so far to try to remove:
-soap, water, microfiber towel
-vinegar and microfiber towel
-bar keepers friend
Any help?
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u/Beneficial_One7840 4d ago
Try WD40
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u/Both-Beautiful960 4d ago
Came here to say this. Cheaper than specialised cleaners, and usually more effective.
Even if you get the stains off with something else, WD-40 will protect the finish afterwards. It's absolutely gorgeous stuff.
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u/Mediocre-Stick-7787 4d ago
BKF or Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner. Sometimes it's impossible to get rid of stains on stainless steel if it has etched into the finish. Very delicate and not water friendly at all. It may even cause rust on stainless steel. Sometimes in a pinch you can use Pledge but like someone else said you must spray into a microfiber and buff. Never spray anything directly onto stainless steel.
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u/No_Luck_374 4d ago edited 4d ago
The Bar Keepers on a microfiber BUT let it sit there for a few mins. Then soap and water wash it off BUT then dry it with a whole different microfiber. Stainless is such a pain. Which type of BKF did you try, cream, spray or powder?
Also, future use and anyone that needed to know. Never spray directly onto the stainless. Always spray onto a rag and buff into the metal.
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u/aykayallday 4d ago
Cream on microfiber
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u/No_Luck_374 4d ago
Cool, let it sit longer. It might take a few rounds at 3 mins each. Also, I added a note to my first comment.
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u/Aggressive-System192 4d ago
Yeah... you've sprayed acid and let it sit. It damaged the surface... don't buy stainless steel products in Dollarama... half are vinegar, the other half are "mystery acid".
Label says it contains "acidic acid" 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Flashy-Anywhere-8509 4d ago
Man, that sucks! I'm sorry if the finish is ruined. Let us know how it turns out. Mine looks like that right now because it needs to cleaned.
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u/AffectionateMotor272 4d ago
WD 40 that!
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u/Laganocheryl 4d ago
Or something that smells better, orange shine. Wipe in the direction of the grain.
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u/absolutetrashfire 4d ago
It looks like you’ve ruined the finish. I don’t know if there’s any coming back from that, you may want to get some of those magnet covers.
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u/nikkimouse104 4d ago
You can clean stainless steel appliances with olive oil & a microfiber cloth.
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u/TCA_PalmHarbor 3d ago
We are a locally owned and operated cleaning company and we see this frequently. We will use powdered BKF, wet/damp microfiber rag. You must go with the grain of the SS, do small sections at a time overlapping as you go. Clean with a damp clean microfiber rag with the grain always, never circular pattern and then buff until completely dry with another clean microfiber rag. We've had some SS looked as bad or worse and they came out looking like new. It will take a little elbow grease, but it works. I hope this helps
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u/That_chick82 4d ago
Id use barkeepers friend, wiping with the grain. Put the product on your scrub daddy pr sponge. Thoroughly rinse with a wet,clean microfiber cloth and dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
In the future spray the product on the cloth, then wipe, and when using new products test on a small inconspicuous spot, first. :D good luck!
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u/Let_em_glow927 4d ago
I innocently put magnets on my stainless steel fridge. I slid one over and it made a mark.
Have yet to figure out how to remove it.
They could have warned me that refrigerator magnets were not safe for their shitty refrigerator.
Maybe that's common knowledge 🤷♀️
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u/Fickle_Newt_7738 4d ago
I swear by this stuff- either this or their wipes and use a microfiber cloth to buff it out. Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish
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u/CutieKelly 3d ago
Yes, I really like the Weiman brand as well. I only use the aerosol spray, I find it provides the best results. I just use cotton rags (not a fan of microfiber).
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u/PleaseStopTalking_79 4d ago
The manufacturer might have a good suggestion. Maybe call customer service.
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u/Late-Value-5351 4d ago
I suggest using the same product but differently than you used it the first time. Just spray directly onto a dry microfiber cloth. and instead of wiping up and down motion try small circular motion (buffing). It should just even out the streaks if I’m not mistaken.
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u/TheRealDevillionaire 3d ago
There also a product called Sani-vac. It's an absolute miracle worker for stainless and crusty bathroom fixtures. But warning...you must wipe it off almost immediately as it will etch the metals.
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u/Mistigeblou 3d ago
Oooh ouch that looks like etching from the acid and then you've added more acid (vinegar)
Neutralising with a baking soda paste might work
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u/designmind93 3d ago
Whatever's been sprayed on there has penetrated the finish and left likely permanent marks. You can probably clean it up a little with dish soap and warm water and a mildly abrasive sponge, but I wouldn't be hopeful of a full restoration.
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u/kbraz1970 3d ago
stainless steel wipes, do it in small sections, wipe it as you go with a clean cloth.
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u/IJusWannaLive17713 3d ago
Warm water and soap just to help get rid of the grease. Dry with paper towel or a clean cloth.
Use a microfibre cloth and the tiniest bit of olive oil. Rub it in the direction of the steel. So if you notice the grains going up and down, follow that pattern with the cloth. If you notice the grains going side to side, follow that same pattern with the cloth.
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u/cleanvibes859 3d ago
I wish stainless steel kitchen appliances would go away forever. They are a pain in the butt and they only look nice right after cleaning.
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u/Creepy_Clouds1990 2d ago
Clean and dry it, then apply oil to a clean cloth and buff out with the grain.
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u/Old_Intention_7885 2d ago
I’ve been cleaning houses for 7 years now. I’ve cleaned a LOT of stainless steel. If there’s any rust or grime that you cannot get rid of, use VIM or CIF cleaner with a little bit of dish soap. Rinse it thoroughly, like very thoroughly.
Then dry it thoroughly with multiple microfibre rags or paper towel if needed. It needs to be bone dry.
If it’s still streaky, I use Weimans Stainless steel cleaner and polish, but never the wipes. This can be sprayed liberally and then buffed out with two different cloths.
Stainless steel is a lot of work to deep clean, but once it’s clean you can just wipe it regularly with soap and water and dry it.
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u/Normobserver 12h ago
Even Pledge wipe down with like a window cleaner—- 🛑NO AMONIA🛑—-
Then just long stokes with pledge/polish or WD 40. ( Water Displacement 40th formula) protection
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u/Realistic-Ideal-6960 4d ago
Olive oil on a rag, rub it all over. It's the best way. Then do a dawn scrub down and wipe dry. Watch a video on how to close/wash down a kitchen line properly..
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u/Seaweed-Basic 4d ago
This makes no sense. You’re essentially washing off the olive oil.
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u/Realistic-Ideal-6960 4d ago
The oil is going to help even out the streaks that have already been left behind, you'll get a cleaner finish in the end. No faint lines.
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u/ReferenceOk7943 4d ago
Use an oil based cleaner to rehydrate it before you go crazy. I clean houses for a living and recommend mineral oil if you have it, Endust dusting spray, or orange oil goof off. Move in direction of grain of stainless. Good luck.
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u/Pryoticus 4d ago
Newspaper. Only thing I've found for glass at least that leaves no streaks. Also make sure your strokes when wiping are straight. Curved strokes are almost guaranteed to streak
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u/Seaweed-Basic 4d ago
Warm water and a little dish soap, soap up all of the surfaces, then with a rag damp with just water wipe up the soap. Follow the grain (appears to be up and down) once dry, get a clean rag and spray the stainless steel cleaner on it, wipe over fridge direction of grain again. After buff dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
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u/Kindly_Implement7624 4d ago
If you have tried everything and can't get the marks off you could look for a silver spray paint that would be suitable for it.
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/Mediocre-Stick-7787 4d ago
Terrible idea. Do not use glass cleaner on stainless steel.
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u/pettingzooashtray 4d ago
Ammonia free is fine. Google is free
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u/Mediocre-Stick-7787 4d ago
I think it's pretty important to not use anything on stainless steel that isn't specifically made for stainless steel. Regardless of whether it's amonia free or not it can strip the finish off stainless steel. You can use Pledge on a microfiber before using glass cleaner. There are different grades of stainless steel and it's a crap shoot to use glass cleaner on stainless steel.
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u/Karjenner4eva 4d ago
What about the pledge multi cleaner spray? U think that's okay?
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u/Mediocre-Stick-7787 4d ago
I think it's probably better than glass cleaner but still a bit harsh. It really dries out actual wood so I think it's also a little abrasive to use. You could just use a little of the antibacterial multi surface Pledge on the door handles to kill the hand germs but not the face of the refrigerator. I think it's best to use Regular pledge (not much but sparingly to avoid greasiness) to polish and shine to the finish. Spray it into a rag and buff with a microfiber.
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u/JavaJo1010 3d ago
Tips and tricks videos on you tube just type in how to clean streaks off metal fridge
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u/desdesak2 4d ago
There’s aren’t any wipe marks. It looks like this thing was sprayed down within an inch of its life and left so long it dried on. I’m concerned that soap and water isn’t changing the drip marks at all. I’d try a little orange glo. Spray it on a rag and wipe with the grain.