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Olive Oil - Stainless Steel Cleaner

Olive Oil - Stainless Steel Cleaner

Updated 2 January 2020 09:06 AM

Olive Oil is a simple and reliable way to remove stainless steel smudges, small scratches & hand prints

This tip is so straightforward that I am having to think of ways to pad out the words! All you need do is:


  1. Work out which way the grain of your stainless steel appliance goes. This is important because you need to follow it when you clean and polish. 
  2. Make sure the appliance is actually clean & dry. (Don't worry if it has smudge marks from cleaning.) 
  3. Following the grain in long sweeping movements and using a soft rag, rub a small amount of oil onto the appliance.
  4. Once you have covered the lot, use a clean rag to wipe off any excess and give it a bit of polish.

And voila! Your fridge, dishwasher or oven are as good as new, ready for the next round of toddler hand prints!
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Science Notes
Fresh olive oil is best as it will go rancid over time and more quickly if left in the light. Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark place in a dark bottle. 

Only buy extra virgin olive oil if you don't want to risk ending up with something heavily refined. 
Related Tip

Rub olive oil into wicker furniture to stop it from cracking. 

Olive oil is also a rather handy way to get paint off your hands. Simply rub it on after you have finished. You'll see the paint lift off. (Obviously don't wait till the next day.)

You can actually fry in extra virgin olive oil, despite what you may have heard. It has a high polyphenolic content and so, is very stable, and remains stable up to about 210 degrees celsius. The ideal deep frying temperature is 175 degrees celsius.

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