I have had SS in my kitchen for 3 yrs & I don't have dents in any of my appliances (I have cooktop, frig, dw, double ovens, microwave, wine cooler, all GE & GE Profile).

Finger prints aren't out of the ordinary, but they're not enough of a nuisance for me to not want SS anymore.

I haven't had any dents. I noticed that too though in the showrooms and it caused me to do a doubletake also.

I got a stainless fridge at my weekend lake place. It opens next to a pantry door. If everything is aligned right, the handle of the fridge hits the doorjamb of the pantry and all is well. For some reason - don't know how - the fridge had moved slightly. DH slammed the door into the little metal thing on the edge of the doorjamb and it did not hit the fridge handle - it hit the stainless. Fortunately no dents or scratches. I kind of freaked out when I saw it happen though.

About 7 years ago we were replacing all of our appliances. I considered SS at first and hubby nixed that decision right away. His work takes him to industrial kitchens all over the city and he hated the indistrial look and especially the fingerprints. He says they were always smeared and dented, a look he didn't want in our home.

I walk through the University's food service kitchen each morning on the way to my office and after that I noticed we have some dented fridges there, too!

We completed our remodel about 6 months ago -- like many, we went with SS. While it is a PITA for fingerprints, we have had not denting issues.

Good luck in your decision.

Our last kit, 5 yrs and no dents or scratches. As for fingerprints what worked for me is "less is best". No special cleaner, alcohol based windex and microfiber cloth. You could spot wash when necessary. So far in new house same thing.

My white fridge had a few dents in it...it's not that textured surface, it's a smooth surface so that may be the difference. The dents annoy me though.

My stainless appliances don't have any dents yet and fingerprints are easy to wipe clean, they don't bother me much and are limited to the handle area.

My kids don't paw at the stove (they know not to touch it because you never know when it's on) and they don't use the dishwasher because I'd rather just load that myself so little fingers aren't on the appliances. With toddlers I can see fingerprints being an issue but my youngest is 3 1/2 and he doesn't bother with the appliances.

Now the handle on my old white stove was YUCKO all the time as is the white handles on my current fridge. I wish they could make those out of a material that doesn't look dingy and yellow after a time. I know my microwave had a nicer handle, smooth and easy to clean.

I have had my stainless in for about 4 months now, I am using Pledge original once a week for cleaning the stainless and have no problem with fingerprints. Also, so far no dents with three teenagers in the house!

Before I found the Pledge, it was a nightmare! HTH

Fern76

All SS appliance in a 2year old remodel no dents and as a 2 year user of pledge no real problem with finger prints

and thats with a now 18 year old son who is oblivious to everything

Spray some WD-40 on a microfiber cloth and swipe your SS appliances for a nice, fingerprint-free look.

Jodi-

I have had my stainless steel appliances for three years now and love them. No dents and they still look brand new. I have to second the other poster on the benefits of using Pledge furniture polish to clean them. My appliance guy recommended it and it works like magic!

All appliances dent and scratch. You just don't notice it as much on the old pebbled finish ones.

And, if you've ever worked in an appliance showroom, you'd know why the stuff is scratched and dented to hell. Baby strollers and not watching where they're being pushed is #1, and #2 is the parent whose kids can do no wrong---even when they're swinging from the fridge doors and slamming their Hot Wheels into them. I cannot imagine acting like that in my youth without having a blistered bum, but it's way too common a sight nowadays. I really go out of my way to complement the parent whose children actually behave! It's sad to say, but they're the minority anymore.

I've had a stainless fridge and oven for 6 years since we bought this house. At first I hated them and planned to go with black in this remodel, then I read on the appliance forum about the pledge and wd-40. What a difference! I'm a total convert to SS now and will keep in when I redo the kitchen. I have 3 kids and our kitchen is busy and messy but the stainless is pretty now :)

Anita