Question about appliances

[threeangels]

My dh and I are thinking about trying to buy a home and I was curious if anyone out there has stainless steel appliances (stove,frig,oven) in their kitchen. Just wanted to know what you thought about them. Someone told me they leave so many fingerprints and you constantly have to wipe down. I have black in my kitchen now which does that.

I don't have SS in my kitchen, but the best way to clean it is with a soft cloth and baby oil.

They are indeed a NIGHTMARE to keep clean . I used to work for a certain burger chain who have all stainless steel cabinetry and appliances and they choose them BECAUSE they show up every mark to make sure we kept them spotless.

Love stainless steel and have alot of appliances but they are hell to keep clean. I use windolene which is meant for windows and a soft cloth!

Ah, Jasper, that brings back memories. I too worked for a well-known burger chain in my distant youth. We used to call cleaning the stainless steel "ajaxing". You had to use scalding hot water and some ajax powder, two cloths and some kitchen roll. Apply powder with one cloth, wipe off with other, buff with kitchen roll. And don't let anyone touch what you've cleaned! Those were the days.

I'm so glad I ask about this. I know only a handful have opinions on this at this point but thats enough for me. No stainless steel in my home. But it does look so nice though. Sounds like a pain to deal with. Thanks everyone.

Xausted I salute you, fellow crew member and former ajaxer!

threeangels, sounds like you have already made your decision but in case you are still unsure (I had typed a reply earlier but managed to lose it) I thought I would tell you our experiences with SS.

We have a large sheet of Brushed SS behind our cooker area (will be moving in a few days so not for much longer) plus a Brushed SS dishwasher and extractor chimney. We have found that the best way to clean them is with Bar Keepers Friend, it's a white powder that you put on with a damp cloth following the grain of the SS then you wipe off with a clean damp cloth and leave to dry. It does a great job and the steel looks fab but unfortunately it is a pig of thing to keep clean. As for the mirror finished stuff, it is even worse and Bar Keepers Friend should not be used on this (DH used it on my mirror finished hob and it is covered in lovely scratches now).

Looks great but is hard work!

Jasper, I've still got my name badge with five stars on it, how sad is that? :D

Exactly as sad as me.....I have too........

My advice, as someone who has just had a new kitchen with a big modern range cooker and fridge is look for the 'fake' stainless steel. Lots of companies do a silver paint which looks the same, but doesn't show marks. It depends on budget but I bought a Leisure Rangemaster cooker which was v.expensive (£1500) but I love cooking, and it has a special silver painted finish and doesn't show any marks, and believe me I've tried to get marks on it!! Also an Ariston Fridge which is again a laquered or painted finish, a quick wipe with a dry cloth works (I use the tea towel!) It is still early days (2 weeks), but I love the look and have found the which fridge I used to have was always dirty. This one is sooooo beautiful I don't mind a quick wipe down with a cloth. Lots of the slightly cheaper brands to a 'Stainless Steel Finish' which are fake and will be easier to keep clean. I'd go for it if you like the look.

3angels, we have a 'stainless' (haha) steel cooker and our cleaner swears by babyoil for wiping over it, once she's done the scrubbing bit (ie not me)

Crunchie - Thanks for the idea. I didnt know they had appliances out there that had a steele look but werent the exact stainless steele. From what everyone is saying it does sound like a pain to clean the real thing. I dont care if it is the real steele I just like the silver look. When the time comes I'll have to check into this.

Thanks a lot for the help.