No need to buy expensive cleaners. 6 cheap ways to clean stainless steel appliances

Stainless steel appliances look fantastic in any kitchen. Their sleek design adds a bit of polish to the room, and these days they're much more energy efficient. If you have stainless steel appliances, you know keeping them clean takes a bit of effort. It can also cost a bundle to purchase expensive cleansers.

If you want to keep your kitchen sparkling without going over your budget, check out a few of these simple tricks you can do with stuff you probably already have stocked in your cupboard.

Club Soda
Club soda is a jack-of-all-trades. Apply the liquid gold directly to your stainless steel appliances and wipe away with a cloth and warm water. Combine salt with club soda to remove tough stains from the inside of your fridge, Reader's Digest recommends.

Vinegar and Oil
Give your stainless steel appliances new life with this technique recommended by The Kitchn. Spritz your appliances with vinegar. Scrub the vinegar away with a paper towel or soft cloth (to avoid scratches). Next, apply mineral oil (or other oil such as olive oil) to a cloth and polish your appliance with the oil.

Flour It Up
After cleaning your stainless steel surface, try using flour to shine it up. Use dry flour and a soft cloth and buff your stainless steel appliance until it shines. Wipe away with a dry cloth.

Windex
Yes, that same cleaner you use to wash your windows and mirrors will do wonders for your stainless steel appliances. Spritz and clean. Don't shy away from the paper towels on this one; they help keep streaks away.

Soap and Water
Oh, the simple solutions in life — mix a quart of hot water with about a teaspoon of your dish soap of choice. Scrub your stainless steel with a microfiber cloth (again, to avoid scratches). Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately, Good Housekeeping suggests.

Clean It the Right Way
Houzz recommends wipe your appliances with the grain. When cleaning and polishing, follow the direction of the grain lines on the surface for the best results.

What Not to Do
Prevention is key. To keep your appliances from building up stains and watermarks, you need to protect the surface. This means no steel scouring pads. Opt for plastic scrubbers. Don't mix solutions. Pick one and stick with it. Using multiple cleaning solutions can fog up your appliances, according to Houzz.

Additionally, Bob Vila says to never use chlorine bleach or oven cleaners on your stainless steel appliances. And always wait until your appliances are cool before cleaning.