how to get water stains out of stainless steel refrigerator
Kristina Davis

Knowing how to get water stains out of stainless steel refrigerator can come in handy on several occasions.

Water stains, just like every other stain, are not something that can be avoided, especially when the object in question is stainless steel. 

Fortunately for you, this writer understands the pain of losing your refrigerator’s spark to stains.

And I would be basing this article on how to get rid of stains.

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There are several easy methods to get rid of water stains, and the items needed are always lying around in most households. Vinegar and salt, alcohol, lemon or lime, and the like are all examples of the items used in getting rid of water stains.

How To Get Water Stains Out Of Stainless Steel Refrigerator

get water stains out

Stainless steel refrigerators can get water stains easily.  Of course, we all want our refrigerators and other appliances all clean and sparkly like they are in TV commercials. 

At first, we get those new and shiny vibes. After a while, reality happens and we are left with things like water stains and fingerprints that take away all the shine. 

This is because a refrigerator is constantly exposed to water and all sorts of food items so staining it is pretty much easy.  

water stains in stainless steel

Luckily for us, as quickly as it takes to dirty the stainless steel surface of the refrigerator.

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Since it is relatively easy to clean off the stains, the refrigerator should be cleaned as often as possible. 

Allowing the stains to fester can lead to them becoming permanent or, worse, ruining the surfaces of the fridge.

As I said earlier, getting rid of water stains is relatively easy and the materials are also easily accessible and can be found anywhere.

Here are a few methods of getting rid of water stains on your stainless steel refrigerator.

Method #1: Soap And Water

soap and water

The first thing we try to do when faced with stains is to try to wash them off and that includes water stains.

Here are the steps involved.

Step #1: Create A Solution

Making the right solution of a balanced amount of soap and water is very important. The soap shouldn’t be too much or too little. 

If it is too much, it wouldn’t wash off easily, leaving you with another problem of soap deposit. And if it is too little, it won’t get rid of the stain.

Note: Use an average amount of soap for best results.

Step #2: Clean The Stained Surface

If you get the perfect solution of soap and water, you can then proceed to clean the stained surface. 

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Clean it with a cloth that has been submerged in the soap solution and squeezed properly.

clean with cloth

Step #3: Rinse And Dry

After washing, you don’t necessarily have to rinse, all you have to do is use a fresh cotton cloth dipped in water to clean the washed surfaces. 

Clean the surface until you are sure there is no soap residue left then you can proceed with the drying. You have to use a dry cloth or foam for the drying part.

The drying is very important because if you don’t dry it properly, you might end up with more water stains than you even began with. 

Note: Sometimes, soap and water might not be effective and in those cases, the soap water does more harm than good, leaving more water stains upon drying.

Method #2: Oil

use oil

As we all know, oil and water repel. It is that same ideology we use when trying to get rid of water stains.

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This is more prevention than a cure and it is only applicable when the stain doesn’t exist. 

Although rubbing a little bit of oil prevents water stains and makes the refrigerator shiny, it sometimes attracts tiny dirt and dust when applied in excess.

Method #3: Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is popular in our household for several reasons but today, we are focusing on its stain-removal abilities. 

Because of lemon’s acidity, it makes a wonderful cleaning agent, for it dissolves stains easily. You apply lemon juice the same way you apply soap and water. 

Tip: Make use of a clean cloth to clean and dry, and leaves your refrigerator clean and sparkly.

Method #4: Alcohol

alcohol

Using alcohol is also a good way of getting rid of water stains. Luckily for us, alcohol is accessible almost everywhere in different forms. 

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All you have to do is take a wet wipe since it has enough alcohol or a small cloth dipped in an antiseptic and wipe it across the stained area. 

You don’t have to worry about too much alcohol because it is highly volatile and it will evaporate with time.

Method #5: The Grain

Do you know how wooden furniture has grains for cleaning and shining? Well, stainless steel furniture also has.

All you have to do is wipe the grain against the stained surface to remove the dirt and stains. 

But before doing that, you have to ascertain the grain’s direction.

stainless steel grain

You simply have to rub a soft cloth both vertically and horizontally on both surfaces of the grain to get the direction of the grain. 

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Though I would not advise you to use it because using the wrong side of the grain can ruin the fridge surface.

It would cause tiny little scratches and might not even get rid of the dirt properly, making the cleaning inefficient and damaging.

Tip: You know you are rubbing the wrong side when the cloth does not move easily as a result of resistance.

Method #6: Vinegar And Baking Soda

vinegar baking soda

Sometimes we are faced with things that are extremely strong and hard to get rid of. It is always a result of leaving the water stain for too long without getting rid of it. 

This, in turn, results in a more permanent stain that even the previously listed methods above cannot get rid of. 

Vinegar and baking soda is the best way to combat it.

The other methods previously listed above are only efficient when the stains are less difficult and have been there for a short period.

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All you have to do is make a solution or a paste with equal amounts of vinegar and baking soda.

Apply it over the stained area for a particular period before cleaning it off with wet wipes or a cloth.

Now we can all see that the methods of how to remove water stains from stainless steel refrigerator are quite simple.

FAQ

faqs water stains in fridge

How Do You Prevent Water Stains On Stainless Steel Refrigerators?

There are certain things that are unavoidable but can be delayed. One of those things is water stains on your refrigerator.

It can’t be avoided, but it can be reduced or delayed. 

The methods of preventing getting water stains are quite similar to the methods of getting rid of them.

The best way to avoid stains is to rub oil on the fridge from time to time. It might not be the best way because it attracts dust and leaves the surfaces sticky. That can also be reduced by.

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You can make use of alcohol in the form of an antiseptic by rubbing it on the refrigerator’s surface from time to time.

And let’s not forget our good old lemon. It works as effectively as alcohol for preventing water stains to set in fully.

Note: Too much acidity on stainless surfaces can lead to rusting if one is not careful.

Conclusion

With all that has been said so far, it is safe to say that we are now fully aware of how to get water stains out of stainless steel refrigerator.

And from this, we can put our knowledge to good use.

Remember to clean not just your refrigerator but also your stainless steel appliances at least twice a week using one of the methods listed above.

I hope this article has been helpful. Thank you very much for your time and patience. Stay safe!