Stainless steel looks sharp when it’s clean – and terrible when it’s smudged. The trick is always wiping with the grain, not against it.

  1. Dampen a microfiber cloth with a little dish soap and warm water.
  2. Wipe in the direction of the grain (the faint lines you can see in the metal).
  3. Rinse the cloth and wipe again with plain water to remove soap residue.
  4. Dry immediately with a clean cloth – water spots are the main enemy.

For fingerprints, a tiny drop of mineral oil on a soft cloth works better than any commercial spray. Buff it in, wipe off the excess.

Never use steel wool or abrasive scrubbers – they scratch the surface permanently.