Stainless steel cleaning

[concrtslt]

I am trying to clean my stainless steel refrigerator. There are numerous fingerprints and other water stains on it that are lighter than the rest of the surface. I used a stainless steel spray cleaner on it, but the fingerprints are not coming off. I read on the internet to try olive oil or vinegar, but neither removed the fingerprints. Lastly, I tried glass cleaner as suggested on the internet. I tried it on a small spot, and the fingerprints did get removed, but the area I cleaned is now the same color as the fingerprints, and there is brown residue on the cloth I used. So I think there are two possible reasons for this:

1) The rest of the surface actually has brown gunk all over it, and the areas that people touched are actually showing the true color of the surface because their hands wiped off the gunk. If this is true I should clean the entire surface with glass cleaner, then polish with stainless steel spray, right?

2) The brown gunk is actually the finish (?) of the surface and I am ruining it by using the glass cleaner.

I know nothing. Please someone help!

Karen

[Phisherman]

Hi Karen, Just a guess here... I have not heard of stainless steel having a "finish" applied to it, that's the beauty of SS. After removing the brown coating (you may need to experiment with cleaners and/or solvents) keep SS surfaces clean using soda water in a spray bottle. "Soda water" is just seltzer, commonly used by bartenders. I like it because it removes fingerprints without residue or odor. I would not use a glass cleaner on metal.

[Skip]

Well Karen, I'll tell you what we used to do on the 'ol ustafish (what old submariners call the boat they served on :) We'd use "bugjuice" powder which is koolaid to normal folks, it was used like scouring powder, applied dry onto a wet surface. It definitely put a shine on SS, and you know the navy likes things shiny. If you have a clear coat over the refer's exterior I can't guarantee what it'd do to it. I could also suggest a light acid, you tried vinegar, but maybe diluted lemon juice? Cheers! S^2

[vada]

try wd 40 with a soft cloth.