Can You Use Magic Eraser on Stainless Steel? (Better Ways!)

After you have spent some time using your fridge, stove, or any other stainless steel appliance, you will definitely start to notice fingerprints, dirt smudges, and stains that ruin the clean shine of your appliance.

Magic erasers are great for removing tough stains on so many different surfaces. But can magic erasers be used to clean your stainless steel appliances?

In this article, we’re going to discuss using a magic eraser on stainless steel sinks, cooktops, pans, and grills. We’ll also see alternate (better) ways of cleaning these stainless steel surfaces.

Can You Use Magic Eraser on Stainless Steel?

You should not use a magic eraser on stainless steel surfaces because Magic Eraser is too abrasive for stainless steel and will result in a scratched and dull surface.

A magic eraser is a foam made from melamine and other compounds that give it a slight abrasive property like that of a 3000 grit sandpaper. It lightly exfoliates stains and removes them while you clean.

However, this abrasiveness is terrible for stainless steel surfaces and will create scuff marks and possible scratches that will leave your stainless steel appliances looking dull.

When you use a magic eraser on stainless steel, it can work a little too well in removing stains and debris but damage the shine on your appliances.

Can You Use Magic Eraser on a Stainless Steel Sink?

To maintain the look and durability of your stainless steel sink for a long time, it is essential to maintain a proper cleaning regimen.

You never want to use a magic eraser while trying to clean your Stainless steel sink. A magic eraser will likely leave scratches on your sink and damage the glossy shine on it.

Magic Eraser Alternative

There are better cleaning options you can use to safely clean your stainless steel sink that will effectively do a good job at removing all the stains and grime.

This method is easy and only requires a few cleaning tools you probably already have in your kitchen. It will leave your sink clean and shiny without damaging the finish. Just follow the basic steps ahead.

YOU’LL NEED

1- Warm water
2- Baking Soda/Barkeeper’s friend
3- Dish soap
4- Sponge
5- Polish
6- Microfiber towel

STEPS

Step 1: Soak the sink in warm water for a few minutes to loosen any hard stains and residue.

Step 2: Sprinkle a nonabrasive cleaning powder like baking soda or Barkeeper’s friend onto a soft sponge.

Step 3: Scrub all over the sink with firm pressure till all the stains disappear from the surface. Ensure to do this along the direction of the grain.

Step 4: Add some dish soap onto the sponge and lightly wipe all over the sink in light circular motions.

Step 5: Rinse the sink thoroughly with water.

Step 5: Spray some stainless steel polish onto a microfiber towel and gently buff all over the sink to restore the shiny finish.

Can You Use Magic Eraser on Stainless Steel Cooktop?

Most people’s cooktops often get neglected for a long time. Because of this, their stainless steel cooktop is probably quite dirty, with food stains and residues.

If you make the mistake of using a magic eraser to clean your cooktop, it will likely damage the finish. You never want to use a magic eraser on a stainless steel cooktop.

Magic Eraser Alternative

Instead of using a magic eraser to clean your cooktop, you can try a better alternative that is much safe for the maintenance of your stainless steel finish.

This method is better for removing any tough grease stains from your cooktop and it’s very cost-efficient. All you need is the following steps ahead:

YOU’LL NEED

1- Paper towel
2- Spray bottle
3- Vinegar
4- Baking soda
5- Dishwashing liquid
6- Sponge
7- Hot water
8- Microfiber towel

STEPS

Step 1: Wipe off the stovetop with a paper towel to remove any hard food particles that may be on it.

Step 2: Fill a spray bottle with some vinegar and spray it evenly over the stovetop. Vinegar is acidic and as such, it is great at removing grease stains.

Step 3: Sprinkle some baking soda on the stovetop. Then, add some dishwashing liquid to the stovetop

Step 4: Wet a soft sponge with some hot water and scrub all over the cooktop till all the dirt comes off.

Step 5: Using a damp microfiber towel, wipe off all the excess dirt and the cleaning solution from the surface.

Step 6: Then, buff the cooktop dry with a dry microfiber towel. Now take a look at your clean and shiny cooktop.

Magic Eraser on Stainless Steel Pan

Stainless steel pans are probably the first cookware in your kitchen to get easily dirty. With all the frequent cooking, your pans will likely end up with burnt food stains that just leave your pan looking like a piece of junk.

While trying to clean your stainless steel pans, you can use a magic eraser on them because it will be able to remove food stains. However, its abrasiveness will create little scratches on the pan that will cause it to look dull and discolored over time.

Alternative To Magic Eraser for Stainless Steel Pans

Instead of using a magic eraser and running the risk of ruining your pan, we’ve compiled other tried and tested methods that are better at removing any grime from your pans without causing any damage to the finish.

Method 1

This method is great for the day-to-day cleaning of your pans. It is super easy and only takes a few steps.

Follow the steps below for this option:

YOU’LL NEED

1- Hot water
2- Dish Liquid
3- Sponge
4- Microfiber towel

STEPS

Step 1: To deglaze your pan of any food residues, add some hot water to the pan and let it sit for a few minutes.

Step 2: Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then use a sponge to scrub the pan till all the food particles are loosened.

Step 3: Finally, rinse the pan and buff it dry with a microfiber towel.

Method 2

If your pan is filled with more intense burns and discoloration on the surface, this deeper cleaning method will remove all the grime and stuck-on food bits and have your pan looking good as new.

Follow the steps ahead:

YOU’LL NEED

1- Vinegar
2- Water
3- Wooden spatula
4- Barkeeper’s friend/Baking soda
5- Sponge
6- Microfiber towel

STEPS

Step 1: Add equal parts vinegar and water into the pan and boil it on medium heat for a few minutes.

Step 2: Use a wooden spatula to gently remove the stuck-on food residue. Then, pour out the mixture from the pan.

Step 3: Add a gentle abrasive like Barkeeper’s friend to the pan and scrub all over the surface with a sponge. This will clean any remaining stains.

If you can’t get Barkeeper’s friend, a good substitute is to add some baking soda to the pan and wait for a few minutes at this stage, then scrub the pan with a sponge.

Step 4: Once all the dirt on the pan is scrubbed off, rinse it thoroughly.

Step 5: Wipe the pan with a dry microfiber towel to restore the shine.

Magic Eraser on a Stainless Steel Grill

A clean grill is important to keep gross bacteria off your food and if you have a stainless steel grill, proper cleaning is essential in order to keep food particles from corroding your grill.

It is best to avoid using magic erase on a stainless steel grill, as the abrasiveness from these sponges is not safe for the finish and will scratch the gleaming surface of your precious grill.

Alternative to Magic Eraser for Cleaning Stainless Steel Grill

There is a much safer option to clean your stainless steel grill without running the risk of damaging the finish and we will highlight the right steps below.

YOU’LL NEED

1- Water
2- Baking soda
3- Nylon grill brush/sponge
4- Microfiber towel (2)
5- Liquid soap

STEPS

Step 1: Take out the grates and soak them in water. Take out the grates from the water and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over it.

Then, let it sit for about 15 minutes

Step 3: Using a nylon grill brush or a sponge, scrub all over the grates to remove any food residues and grease. They should come off very easily at this stage.

Step 4: Rinse the grates and buff dry with a microfiber towel.

Step 5: Using warm soapy water and a sponge, gently scrub the burners, the lid, and other parts of the grill.

Step 6: Finally, use a wet microfiber towel to wipe down all the excess soap from the grill and let it air dry.

Step 7: Cover your grill with a quality grill cover to protect it from surface rusting and have it shining for longer.

What Should You Not Use on Stainless Steel?

Your stainless steel appliances are durable and built to keep your kitchen looking pristine for a long time.

However, in order to maintain the shine and quality finish on your appliances, it is important to ensure you don’t use things that could cause damage to your kitchenware while cleaning.

1- Steel Wool and Abrasive Brushes

These are highly abrasive and some are even made from metal filaments. When used on stainless steel, they scratch the surface leaving micro-particles on it. These particles will eventually cause rusting of the appliance.

Even scotch brite will leave fine scratches on stainless steel.

2- Melamine Sponges

Magic eraser is only a product name from a particular brand. There are so many other melamine sponges in the market that some people might consider cleaning their stainless steel with.

But these sponges should also be avoided, as they will damage the shiny finish on the appliance and cause it to dull over time.

3- Bleach & Other Chlorine Products

Stainless steel is sensitive to the chemicals in these products and they can damage the sleek finish.

4- Glass Cleaners/Windex

Sometimes people try using glass cleaners like Windex to clean their stainless steel appliances to remove the smudges and streaks.

However, the ammonia in them can over time be too corrosive and cause damage to the surface.

5- Hard Tap water

If your tap water tends to be on the hard side then it can leave hard water stains on stainless steel. It is best to use clean distilled or filtered water instead.

6- Oven Cleaners

The chemicals in these products can leave unpleasant residues and stains on your appliances.

7- Pumice Stones

These rocks made from the combination of lave and water are sometimes used to clean various surfaces. But these stones can scratch stainless steel surfaces.

Conclusion

A magic eraser is a highly efficient Multi-purpose cleaning tool, however, it cannot be used on all surfaces. It is too abrasive for stainless steel surfaces.

For disinfecting the stainless steel surfaces, you may use non-bleach based products such as Lysol.