If you are lucky enough to have stainless steel worktops in your kitchen, you already know how practical they are. Stainless steel is very hygienic, and all you really need to do to keep your countertops clean is to wipe them over regularly with a damp cloth. However, for a pristine, streak-free finish, a slightly more involved routine is required.
According to the UK Government’s Food Safety Practiced document, surfaces that may come into contact with foods regarded as high risk need to be able to be regularly disinfected, and stainless steel is one of the recommended surfaces.
In addition to cleaning stainless steel countertops, the method outlined below will produce a streak-free finish on the doors of any stainless steel appliance, such as a domestic or commercial freezer or oven.
These appliances are readily available from companies such as https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/ commercial refrigeration experts so you can be sure they meet both domestic and commercial food hygiene requirements.
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What you need
You don’t have to go out and buy any special cleaning supplies; you probably already have what you need in your cupboard. Get out a dish cloth, washing up liquid, some bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, a nylon pan scrub (do not be tempted to use a metal one as this can seriously damage the finish of your worktop), a lint-free cloth and some olive oil.
What to do
First, clear the worktop completely. This may seem unnecessary, but it will actually save time and make the job easier. Using the dish cloth dampened with the washing up solution, wipe over the worktop completely. The next step is to sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda on the surface. Using a little bit of vinegar on a nylon pan scrub, scrub the surface gently. This will remove any debris that is adhering to the surface. It is important to scrub in the direction of the grain if you can identify it. The surface should then be rinsed thoroughly with a damp, clean dish cloth before being dried in the direction of the grain with your lint-free cloth. This helps to eliminate the appearance of streaks on the surface. The final step is to lightly polish the worktop with a little olive oil on a clean paper towel or cloth to prevent fingerprints.