How to Care for Black Stainless Appliances

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by KitchenAid. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting the content that keeps Jojotastic going.

One of the standout features of our new kitchen is, without a doubt, our black stainless KitchenAid appliances. We finally feel like we’re living in the 21st century because our old appliances barely turned on, ha! And don’t even get me started on the old oven… The new ones have a lot of innovative features, from complete connectivity for our Smart Oven+ with Powered Attachments via the KitchenAid app, to even heat technology built into our gas cooktop, but one of my favorite features is the color and finish. Any time we bring something new into our home (especially investment pieces), I always research how to take care of them properly. Today I’m sharing tips on how to take care of KitchenAid black stainless steel appliances.

Easy Tips to Help You Care for Black Stainless Appliances. Small kitchen inspiration with @kitchenaidusa. Black Stainless Steel refrigerator, oven, cooktop, hood, and dishwasher-- perfect for a small space or tiny home. #ad #MarksofMaking #kitchen #kitchenrenovation #renovation #oldhomerenovation #smallspaces #smallkitchen #kitchenrenovation #kitchenmakeover #kitchen #makeover #fixerupper

Easy Tips to Help You Care for Black Stainless Appliances

Black stainless appliances make a statement for sure, and they were definitely on my radar ever since we partnered with KitchenAid on this project. But one question I’ve gotten a lot since the reveal is how we care for them and keep them clean. And there’ve been lots of inquiries about fingerprints! Let’s start from the beginning though.

Why we chose black stainless appliances

I was actually really stressed out by the idea of picking an appliance color during the design process with Sarah. I wasn’t a big fan of stainless steel appliances, nor did I want white. Glossy black appliances seemed like the best option, until I discovered that KitchenAid offers appliances in a beautiful, bold finish: black stainless!

In comparison to traditional stainless steel, the black tone is a really nice alternative because it’s slightly warmer and softer. The brushed finish is really lovely and I love how rich the overall look is, especially with our black cabinets!

Use warm water and dish soap

I’ll admit there has been a bit of a learning curve simply because we didn’t have stainless steel appliances before, let alone black stainless steel, but it’s actually a lot easier to care for them than you’d think.

I know a lot of people would think to reach for “stainless steel cleaner” (there are various brands), but because of the black finish on top of the metal, it’s actually recommended by KitchenAid to avoid any sprays or polishes. The spray can ruin the black finish, which would be terrible! Instead, we use warm water with dish soap on cloth.

All you have to do is keep two microfiber cloths (any soft towel will do, just no paper towels, but microfiber is recommended and I’d rather be safe than sorry) on hand, a little bucket and your favorite gentle dish soap. If there are ever watermarks, food or a smudge, simply wipe the appliance down with a microfiber cloth after soaking it in the soapy water. Then, wipe it dry with the second clean microfiber cloth. It’s that easy!

Our plan is to incorporate this process into our regular kitchen cleaning routine to keep the appliances looking sharp. Luckily the fridge features the amazing PrintShield™ Finish, which resists smudges and fingerprints, so even though you’d think it would be the “dirtiest” it’s actually still looking flawless!

Easy Tips to Help You Care for Black Stainless Appliances. Small kitchen inspiration with @kitchenaidusa. Black Stainless Steel refrigerator, oven, cooktop, hood, and dishwasher-- perfect for a small space or tiny home. #ad #MarksofMaking #kitchen #kitchenrenovation #renovation #oldhomerenovation #smallspaces #smallkitchen #kitchenrenovation #kitchenmakeover #kitchen #makeover #fixerupper

It’s been very exciting revealing our tuxedo kitchen and all its details to you guys the last month or so! I hope you’ve enjoyed going through the process as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it. After working on it for 10+ months, now it feels like all I want to do is talk about the kitchen. There were definitely some bumps along the way, but now that it’s done and we have this gorgeous kitchen that’s ours, I’d say it was all worth it!

Does anyone else have tips for keeping black stainless steel appliances clean?

Photography & styling by Jojotastic.

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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Please note that I use affiliate links at times here, as well as on my social media accounts. This means that if you click on a link to a product and purchase that product, I may receive a commission based on your purchase. I only feature products that truly inspire me. Any products that have been gifted to Jojotastic for review are noted at the bottom of the post. Sponsored posts are noted as such. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.

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