One of the main attractions of stainless steel appliances is the fact that the finish always appears clean, as long as the appliance itself is properly maintained. This, combined with the fact that stainless steel is highly durable and able to resist rust and corrosion, is the reason why stainless steel has been a standard in the restaurant industry for many years. For centuries, white was the standard color for kitchen appliances across the United States. Now, however, stainless steel is rapidly replacing white as a favorite among consumers. Stainless steel has the ability to match almost anything else in your home or kitchen, including other appliances, fixtures, furniture, flooring, and cabinets, making it a versatile option. Even if you have a kitchen that is decorated with classic or traditional elements, the most modern design of steel can combine very well.
However, the downside to owning stainless steel appliances can be the extra effort involved in cleaning and maintaining the finish. Many people don’t care much about protecting their appliances from scratches and other types of damage, but a little effort and routine cleaning can go a long way to ensuring your appliances keep looking like new.
One of the biggest problems with a stainless steel finish is fingerprints, and having to clean them daily can be a chore. Routine use of a steel cleaner can help repel fingerprints and other surface stains. This type of cleaner will leave a light oily residue on the surface, but it is this oil that keeps stains at bay. Some appliance manufacturers, such as Kenmore and General Electric, are trying to remedy this problem themselves by introducing a line of stainless steel kitchen appliances that have a coated finish to naturally resist fingerprints and stains.
Another thing to keep in mind about this type of finish is that scratch repair on stainless steel can be very expensive. If you have kids or pets in the home, it’s often hard to keep things like your dishwasher or refrigerator from getting scratched. Since stainless steel is an expensive thing to produce, repairing these types of blemishes is often an expensive process. However, as more and more people are switching to stainless steel in the kitchen, the cost of these types of appliances is gradually coming down, which serves as an added benefit for those who still shop for stylish kitchen appliances.
