by Justine Horn

Created on: June 12, 2008

Nothing says "Ahhh...home" more than a stainless steel kitchen sink. It denotes practicality and has a shine only those with a keen eye and sense of style could love. With all the stainless steel items adorning modern kitchens today, one needs to know this secret to blissfully remain with a long-lasting, stunning beauty.

What I don't understand is how people think that it is difficult to keep steel looking as fabulous as the day it went in. My friend whines every time I mention stainless steel with a too quick "but the fingerprints, and the splash marks...who wants steel if it always has smudge marks on it?" Fair enough observation, but the solution need not elude anyone.

If you want to know about an eco-responsible way of keeping your stainless steel from streaking, you might be surprised to know that the answer is so simple: vinegar.

While not everyone may have the same personal mission to utilize green methods in my every day life to benefit the environment, I found that my dish soap (Planet) lasts even longer and works even better when I put a splash of vinegar in the water with my dishes. The vinegar and soap does all the work for me! Just fill up the sink, pour, and let it sit. It scrubs, cuts grease, and makes the sink completely spotless when done.

What a fabulous secret this is! I only purchase vinegar and Planet, as I don't need anything else for doing dishes. By the way, it works in the dishwasher too! No dishwasher streaks ever! My grocery bill pleasantly is missing dishwasher soap and the need for the additional streak-free products on it! Being an apartment dweller for so long made me be in the habit of rinsing off all the dishes first before loading the dishwasher, so please keep that in mind. To me, a dishwasher is a sterilizer, not a cleaning machine.

Vinegar as a cleaner saves money and effort! Gone are the days of using countless products that promise to work but don't. It is a great grime and dirt getter! A good recommendation is to wear gloves as it can chap your hands. The smell is acceptable if you tell yourself that it is the equivalent of opening a jar of pickles. It isn't bad at all.

Since this discovery, my stainless steel sink is so clean, that the original lines actually shimmer in the light. I've seen WD40 used, but dust destroys it in a matter of minutes. With vinegar (one to two caps full) my sink edges are always perfectly clean. The bottom of the sink where the brass is has a great gold hue. Who knew that an eco-sound solution would be the best thing for my stainless steel sink?

Sure, everyone has his or her tricks, but this one could make you very happy. Take it from a woman who lives in a household of five who is known among close friends to despise cleaning. My theory is: do it right the first time, it must be eco-responsible and most importantly, as easy as possible. Try it and see how beautiful your stainless steel will look for you!

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