I have a toddler and a husband. :-) I won't lie to you and say stainless is as easy as white, for example. But maintenance is not really that bad, and well worth the bit of extra work if you're a stainless lover.

I wipe mine down every couple of days with just a soapy sponge and rinse with clear water. It looks nicer if you buff with a dry cloth.

Every week or so I wipe it down with stainless cleaner and buff it to a shine.

If you're a clean freak who can't handle seeing fingerprints, it's probably not for you. But if you love the look of stainless you might be willing to invest five or ten minutes of extra elbow grease and tolerate a smudge here and there.

I think the brand and finish vary quite a bit. Our GE Profile french door fridge will smudge much more easily than the Asko dishwasher.

It will be more work to keep clean but if you like the ss ,well...

All in all though I don't find it to hard to fit it into the kitchen routine.

I hate seeing streaks and fingerprints....a bit of a perfectionist. We don't have any kids and the only appliance that I find a pain is the fridge because the KA SXS design allows water and ice to easily drip down onto the door from the water dispensor. So, if fingerprints and streaks will bother you to the degree you will be obsessed with wiping them down at the sight of imperfection than go for the Clean Steel...it will be less of a pain. If not, then get which ever you prefer the look of.

i don't have kids myself but i agree with kailleann. if SS is what you really want and you don't mind a little extra cleaning time at the end of the day, then go for it! just think your SS appliances will outlive your kids' toddler stage! and when they get older you can teach them how to clean the appliances! LOL

for fridges i know certain brands (LG) make a titanium finish which closely matches SS products. titanium does not smudge and you can use magnets on it!

hope that helps and good luck!

I appreciate the input. I think we'll just go for it. I really love the look. I know so many have stainless so it can't be that bad.

Thanks again!

I can't stand the fingerprints. My kids are older and I still have to wash my fridge at least once or twice a day. For my new home, I'm getting cabinet panels over the fridge since that is where it annoys me the most. The rest I will do with stainless. I don't think it's as noticeable to me with the appliances below my eye level....but the fridge I can see. I have many friends who regret having the stainless due to fingerprints....but it does look nice WHEN IT'S clean.

I think I am almost ready to order all new stainless steel appliances for my kitchen remodel. But I have read with interest some disappointment in keeping them clean and avoiding scratches. Is there a sealant or wax, etc. that could be applied when these appliances are still new that might help preserve the finish?

I decided to avoid the issue with the DW and went with the panel. I have stainelss rangetop, double ovens, vent, micro drawer and fridge. The only thing that is not very easy to clean is the fridge. I think eah brand and style can have a slightly different finish or textureonthe stainless that can make a difference in how it cleans and what is best to use on it. You may have to do some experimentation. The dealer tells me they have something that will clean the fridge very easily -- they just forgot to bring it out last time. I will try that, and for now, I try to clean it when my lab is outside or very tired. Otherwise, she comes and licks the door after I wipe it. LOL

I put Sheila Shine on right after the ss appliances were delivered and every couple weeks after that. Just wipes on, then off - very quick. I hardly every notice prints.

are sheila shine fumes harmful? i keep reading sheila shine si the best for cleaning ss but i've picked up a very tid bits it can be carcinigenic. any thoughts on that? i here wd-40 is awesome