The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Is my fridge real stainless?

I am confused about whether my fridge is stainless. It is a GI7FVCXXY00 Whirlpool Gold french door refrigerator. It is listed as Monochromatic Stainless and it is magnetic. There are conflicting statements on what monochromatic means (I think in Whirlpool's case it just means the sides are gray). On their parts list they say the monochromatic stainless is separate from another model that is listed as monochromatic satina. While magnetic, my fridge smudges like crazy and it is cool to the touch like my other appliances. In their care instructions for the fridge it says to use stainless steel cleaner. I want to know whether it would be safe to use some of the methods on here for getting rid of stainless steel scratches and don't want to do it if it is a coated surface.

Trent Miskin
homeowner - Lehi, Utah, United States
July 28, 2011

---

I think it's very unlikely there is any coating on your refrig. What you are experiencing with fingerprints and smudges is typical of stainless steel appliances. I'd use whatever cleaner the manufacturer recommends, but it's going to be an ongoing problem. That's just the way it is.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
August 8, 2011

---

This is a very common problem with Stainless steel.
Most cosmetic cleaning products for stainless steel are either oil based or silicone based.
Your problem is either from oily fingers (hand creams, etc) or stainless that has been cleaned with an oil based spray and the fingerprints are acidic.

Clean, oil free stainless should never be cleaned with oils. Oils like virgin olive oil will hide imperfections in the chrominium oxide layer (blackening).

Restaurants are good examples of using stainless steel and not using oil based cleaners.

Keep your stainless clean with a salt based cleaner (sodium) and rinse with a microfiber cloth will keep smudges and fingerprints away

Darren Olson
- Toronto Canada
August 25, 2011