It is my theory that whoever decided stainless steel appliances were the “it” thing didn’t have children. I have two major problems with stainless steel. First, it fingerprints like crazy. I thought it was bad before I had children, now throw a toddler into the mix and it looks like my refrigerator has been finger painted on a daily basis. Good thing I suppose, because my second complaint is that you can’t use magnets to hang up the little guy’s art work. I’ve heard that you can now buy stainless steel appliances that are both fingerprint-proof and magnetized, but we missed the boat on that one.
So, not one to bring up problems without offering solutions, here are two ways I’ve found to make peace with my kitchen appliances. First, I use Weiman’s Stainless Steal Cleaner and Polish religiously. (They sell it at the Teeter.) It does a great job of getting the grime off without leaving streaks. The product also claims to create a barrier to prevent smuding/fingerprinting, but I’ll let you be the judge on that one.
Second, I found some fun stainless steel “magnets” made by Mayfair Lane. They have a re-usable adhesive backing that doesn’t leave any residue, and they stick to magnetic and non-magnetic surfaces alike. I also have a memo board from the same company that allows me to keep my grocery list conveniently located on the fridge.
Now, if only I could find the perfect glass cook-top cleaner and scratch remover. Any suggestions?
For the glass cook-top, try Cooktop Magic wipes. I got them from Bed, Bath and Beyond and they do a decent job. I find you still have to clean the surface first w/ clorox (or cleaning solution of your choice), but it makes it so there’s no streaks when you’re done. See, I’ve got the cleaning thing down pat, its just the cooking where I require so much guidance!;)