My DD#1 has s s counter tops and appliances. They're hard to keep clean. They streak badly.

Have one stainless steel appliance--a very expensive one (it was a gift and is the most expensive item in my kitchen). I'd NEVER buy one. Within weeks, it was scratched--DH cleaned it with a scrubby that was supposed to not scratch--but it did. Impossible to keep clean. And all the words by the buttons/dials have washed off--not scrubbed off, just washed off with regular cleaning.

I see now that a lot of appliance stores are offering 'free upgrades' to stainless--seems as if stainless may have gotten to the end of it's run, if they're having to give it away to move it out of inventory. I think most folks realize it's NOT a fun material to have in the kitchen. At least not covering your appliances.

When we did our kitchen remodel 2.5 years ago, we got all SS appliances. Biggest mistake I ever made! I HATE SS! It is impossible to keep clean and streak free. I have a whole cabinet full of SS cleaning products that people have recommended and none them work worth a darn. I wish I would have went with black. They may look dusty but not streaky.
Clare

I wouldn't buy a SS refrigerator if I had little kids- they manage to put their grimy hands everywhere. I've had a SS wall oven now for 5 years without any problems- but then my kids with grimy hands are all adults now. Dacor gave me a cleaner with it that I use a couple of times a year- it's just a little polish that somehow minimizes any finger marks and lasts for months. My cooktop is also SS but that's only on the front and the edges, the rest is black.

And I have 2 SS Franke sinks that I love. Of course they seldom look polished but I don't care. Our cookware is heavy- Caphalon, cast iron and Le Creuset - and I don't have to worry that they might chip the finish.

We put in all stainless appliances when we did the kitchen two years ago.
I don't find it hard at all to keep clean or streak free...and I have a three year old here alot! LOL
A quick wipe with windex daily and they always look good.
I think there are different grades of stainless and some is 'softer' than others and scratches more easily.

We did a kitchen remodel last year and got all SS appliances and sink. Love them! Easy to care for, just take some WD-40, spray it *lightly* on a soft cloth and wipe. Voila, done.

Jodi-

Never did like it....I'm very old fashioned, I guess....I like white. I've lived through the Harvest Gold, Avacado Green and Bisque eras and never liked them either. Has nothing to do with fingerprints or scratches -I just prefer the look of white....

Don't have it and really don't want it! Except for sinkes..I like SS there.

I love stainless steel appliances. I wanted them since 1982, when I saw a "high-tech" kitchen in _Architectural Digest_, and finally got them about 10 years ago. They *are* harder to clean than white appliances (though easier than black, I think), but not terribly difficult. And they look so nice!

I have never had SS appliances and I used to have stainless sink. I now have white sink and like it very much better. All my appliances are white except the microwave and it is black. Hope to change that one of these days!

Sue

When I was a teen at a fast food place we had to wipe down the commercial S.S. sinks, frig.at closing time with orange oil cleaning product to clean and make them look good/not streaky. We never used "soap" or scrubby things on the frig, that would scratch, but did scrub sink then dried then wipe w/ orange stuff. It was probably the cleanest place in town.

Oh, I was so smart when I replaced my appliances. I knew it would be a problem cleaning and I didn't look twice at SS. Also I think off white looks warm and blends in nicely with the rest of the house. I have bought off white since I first discovered it.

I HATE the look of SS. I think those, along with all the granite countertops, are going to look as dated as the avacado and burnt orange of a few years ago.

jodi arn't you afraid of using wd40 near food prep? thought it was toxic??

I like the way it looks but don't have a burning desire to actually have it in my own kitchen. I prefer black appliances. Mainly I just want the appliance to be functional and not gold or avocado! LOL!

Linda

Hate it,the only stainless steel thing in my house is the sink.I'm also not a hardwood floor person either,or granite countertops.Those all seem to go hand in hand these days.

Kathi

I have white but think SS looks pretty. My chiropractor said his grandson put a dent in his SS refrigerator and it can't be fixed.
My DD has black appliances and likes them.

Never liked it. It looks too institutional to me. I don't mind touches of in a kitchen or some small appliances in stainless but large appliances done in stainless remind me of a machine shop.Don't like granite either.

I have satin finished stainless and love it..it's got finger prints and smudges on it right now..

would be no different then the cream fridge and white range I had before..except they'd be grubby looking finger prints..

the stainless doesn't show what color the "kid" gunk is..just that it's there.

And I have a "burnt orange" kitchen ...It's called Mexican Chile. And I painted it about 4 years ago. With honey maple cabs and black and stainless appliances..nothing out dated, cold or institutional about the look in my kitchen. Might help that it's small. LOL

Susan, no, I'm not worried. See safety data sheet below. Besides, I use such a small amount (because it doesn't take much to get the job done) that I'm probably at more risk from the radiation the bunch of bananas on the counter emit than the swipe of WD-40 on my fridge.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: WD-40 Safety Data Sheet

Stainless looks good in certain settings, more in a professional kitchen. I haven't seen many kitchens in houses that truly looked professional no matter how hard they have tried to imitate. Most of the time it looks kind of silly to me.

For me, almond or bisque seem the most functional all around but I like black appliances and darker countertops. I don't like all white. Looks to scream "Habitat for Humanity" to me. With the exception of a true retro 1930s to 1950s kitchen look, then white is fine. Although some of those old colors were great.

I actually liked the 1960s "coppertone" (dark brown) color. That had a real classy look IMO.

We have SS fridge and dishwasher. Love them! I don't know what all the fuss is about fingerprints. I spray a stainless steel cleaner on them and they look great!

Sheryl

I don't have any stainless in my kitchen. Sink is a huge deep soapstone as are the counters. The refrig and dishwasher have wooden panels to match the cabinets. The oven in the island is black to match the soapstone.

I'm one who also thinks SS appliances look institutional.

Microfiber cloths clean up ss smudges easily, barely damp cloth does it all.

funny how different we all are, I think white appliances look institutional; I've had stainless for 12 years.
I guess it also depends on the overall decor; with natural wood cabinets, I find white very contrasting.

We just got a new SS Franke sink for the utility room and it recommends using Inox creme to polish and protect it. Anyone ever use this stuff?
Clare

I've mentioned before, I have 1965 SS Oven and Range. LOL! They still shine.

I don't like SS appliances, but I do like my SS sink. My refrigerator is white, and my stove is black. We put laminate wood flooring in our home and I absolutely LOVE it. It is so easy to clean. Swiffer once every day and damp mop once a week. voila clean as a whistle !!

Helen

I have a stainless refrigerator....huge and almost new when we got it. Bought it for $100, also came with a washer, dryer, and electric range....which I left behind. A crack head was selling all the furniture in her house....my husband heard about it and bought it. I'm not crazy about stainless steel, but wouldn't pass up a good buy like that.

Hubby and I both agree that SS appliances look like industrial kitchens which we come in contact with through work and don't think are attractive. My appliances are white, and I switched out an old laminite countertop for a light colored granite and silgranit sink. I couldn't wait to get rid of the old SS sink that reminded me of a dull nickel. My kitchen seems much brighter and happier now.