Streak-free Stainless Steel Polisher

Stainless steel polisher

Makes about one quart

• ¼ cup baking soda
• 2 cups water
• Quart jar or bottle

Combine the baking soda and water in the jar and shake or stir well. Apply to stainless steel using a dry, soft sponge. Let it sit for fifteen minutes, then wipe off with a moist cloth. Buff dry with the grain for a clean finish.

Why it works

Baking soda is mildly alkaline, so it loosens the oily fingerprints and cooking film that leave stainless steel looking dull and smudged. It is also a very soft abrasive, fine enough to lift grime and hard-water spots without scratching the finish. Diluting it in water keeps the mixture thin, so it rinses away instead of drying into a residue, and a quick buff with the grain is what leaves the surface streak-free. Two ingredients, no synthetic solvents or added fragrance.