Lemons, limes, salt, vinegar, baking soda, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, boiling water, and laundry detergent are just a few of the common household items that will help you breeze through your metal cleaning chores. There’s no universal metal cleaner, as some materials are soft and others extremely durable, and they all require their own fix—but happily, there’s an eco-friendly homemade solution for each.
Stainless Steel
From kitchen appliances to outdoor furniture, surgical equipment, and boat railings, stainless steel is popular for good reason. It’s strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, and extremely low-maintenance. However, despite its name, it can become stained. If your stainless steel is slightly discolored, save some money on conventional nonabrasive stainless polishes by sprinkling baking soda on a sponge instead. Scrub down, wiping in the direction of the grain just as you do with wood, then rinse thoroughly with hot water and wipe with a clean cloth.To liven up dull stainless steel, rub it with a lemon peel and then wash as usual. The lemon oil in the peel cuts through grime that other cleaners may miss and restores the luster. If using a lemon peel is too strange for you, or the area is too large, you can use the lemon oil that you use on your furniture instead. Additionally, isopropyl rubbing alcohol works almost as well, and it disinfects.
