Stainless steel is a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

But don’t make this rookie cleaner’s mistake.

Sounds pretty counterproductive, right?

bleach coming out of bottle

This also applies to other metals, like copper, silver, and chrome.

There are a few steps to achieve an effective clean.

Stainless steel surfaces are delicate, soHGTVsuggests using non-abrasive cleaning supplies.

person cleaning oven

Steel wool and brushes are too harsh and can scratch your appliances.

These scratches on your stainless steel are not easy to remove, either.

Instead, opt for reusable rags or microfiber cloths.

soapy bottle of dish soap

There are a few DIY concoctions to wipe those stainless steel surfaces clean.

According toGood Housekeeping, the simple combination of everyday dish soap and water makes for an effective cleaning solution.

A good alternative is using filtered or distilled water.

Finally, any leftover fingerprints can be removed with mineral oil.