Stainless steel appliances?

[NetWareHead]

Personally I'm not the biggest fan of them but the general populace seems to have such a hardon for stainless steel everything in a kitchen. This purchase is for a rental and therefore I need to satisfy/attract the greatest number of people. Therefore stainless it is. :\

Does anyone have stainless appliances? How hard are they to keep clean? What expectation can I have for a stainless appliance to keep its shine etc... Do they scratch easily? I've never had them before so I don't know what to expect.

Also, I'm looking at this stove:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Samsung-...i_kw=&ci_gpa=pla&ci_src=17588969#.UttPFNIo5kg

It differs from other stainless stoves in that it has stainless steel not just on the body but the cooktop too. Most other stainless stoves have a black cooktop. The part of the stove most subject to heat and stains from boiling over food etc... will be stainless and not black as on other stoves. My concern is that the stainless finish under the burners will begin to look beat up. I really dont want to have to replace a stove in say 3 years when this tenant moves out and the stove looks beat to hell.

Any stainless appliance owners care to comment? Thanks..

 

[fstime]

$1350 is extremely expensive for your average rental.

You can probably find a SS range suitable for about half that price.

 

[NetWareHead]

$1350 is extremely expensive for your average rental.

You can probably find a SS range suitable for about half that price.

Not yet decided on that stove. But I do want convection oven and 5 burners for same reasons I want stainless, populace has a hardon for them. I think 5 burners on a 30 inch stove is retarded; you cant possibly use all 5 burners at once because the cooktop gets too crowded. its a feature with limited utility IMO. If this were my own kitchen, I would get something different.

Anyway the question here is stainless, what do you guys think?

 

[LegendKiller]

Personally I hate them. I have higher-end stainless stuff and they are a massive pain in the ass to keep properly clean, otherwise they have streaks. And scratches or dents are *very* noticeable.

 

[Ayrahvon]

I don't understand. Stainless steel is the easiest stuff to clean, not a pain in the ass at all! Just buy some PBW mix it with warm water, soak, watch everything disappear. The stuff is resistant to almost anything and non-reactive to acids. Fantastic.

For a rental, I don't see the need to get it. Get chrome, they won't know the difference anyway.

 

[LegendKiller]

I don't understand. Stainless steel is the easiest stuff to clean, not a pain in the ass at all! Just buy some PBW mix it with warm water, soak, watch everything disappear. The stuff is resistant to almost anything and non-reactive to acids. Fantastic.

For a rental, I don't see the need to get it. Get chrome, they won't know the difference anyway.

Do you have kids?

 

[NetWareHead]

I don't understand. Stainless steel is the easiest stuff to clean, not a pain in the ass at all! Just buy some PBW mix it with warm water, soak, watch everything disappear. The stuff is resistant to almost anything and non-reactive to acids. Fantastic.

For a rental, I don't see the need to get it. Get chrome, they won't know the difference anyway.

I havent run into any chrome finished fridges...maybe chrome trim. Here its all stainless

 

[Chapbass]

I havent run into any chrome finished fridges...maybe chrome trim. Here its all stainless

LG used to have a color that was called....platinum i think. Just like SS, but didn't leave fingerprints. Was very cool stuff.

 

[Slew Foot]

According to my cleaning lady, stainless steel is easy to clean

 

[LTC8K6]

Brushed stainless is what you want, I think.

 

[Puppies04]

Not yet decided on that stove. But I do want convection oven and 5 burners for same reasons I want stainless, populace has a hardon for them. I think 5 burners on a 30 inch stove is retarded; you cant possibly use all 5 burners at once because the cooktop gets too crowded. its a feature with limited utility IMO. If this were my own kitchen, I would get something different.

Anyway the question here is stainless, what do you guys think?

I have 5 burners on a stove not much bigger than 30". The only time I use the middle burner (which is way more powerful than the other 4) Is for a flat griddle tray to cook meat on, mainly steak tbh.

 

[Meghan54]

you cant possibly use all 5 burners at once because the cooktop gets too crowded.

First, I'd buy something less expensive.

But, as to the quoted comment. You're absolutely incorrect. We are a two-person household, just my wife and myself. I've seen her using all five burners on our stove simultaneously, esp. when doing a spaghetti dinner for the two of us. (Boiling water for pasta, meat, sauce, 2 veggies) And she's never complained about the cooktop being too crowded. 30" Samsung smooth cooktop elec. range, stainless.

Maybe you don't understand that not every pot/pan has to be huge, right? There are different sizes of pans that can be used, all at the same time.

In any event, I'd not be looking at one of the most expensive ranges out there for a rental unit. I'd be looking at around $650-$800 so, easily done on a routine basis if you look instead of browing web pages. Lots more to be seen in stores and many times at vastly better prices than what's found on the websites.

Cleaning....haven't really noticed stainless being any better or worse. True, stainless can show fingerprints more than the enamel covered stuff, but it doesn't chip, discolor, and really does clean quite easily.

 

[Engineer]

According to my cleaning lady, stainless steel is easy to clean

Regular appliances = wipe down with damp cloth (or maybe a cleaner like Fantastic). Stainless = wipe down to remove all debris and then spray stainless cleaner (has oil in it), let sit and then wipe with the grain to blend in the cleaner oils to the finish.

Not terribly difficult but much more than a regular appliance.

 

[lxskllr]

SS would be the absolute last thing I'd get for a rental. People are retards, and I guarantee you'll get someone that cleans it with a Brillo pad or Scotch Brite, and scratches the shit out of it. Besides that, that's way too much money. Get one of the enamel ones for a few hundred.

 

[Jumpem]

I don't like them. I view them in the same way as chrome on a car: tacky.

Stick to white or black, whichever matches the rest of the kitchen best.

 

[Murloc]

for a rental, I wouldn't get something that can be ruined if cleaned the wrong way.

Do people really care if the top part of the appliance is made of SS or not?

 

[NetWareHead]

But, as to the quoted comment. You're absolutely incorrect. We are a two-person household, just my wife and myself. I've seen her using all five burners on our stove simultaneously, esp. when doing a spaghetti dinner for the two of us. (Boiling water for pasta, meat, sauce, 2 veggies) And she's never complained about the cooktop being too crowded. 30" Samsung smooth cooktop elec. range, stainless.

Maybe you don't understand that not every pot/pan has to be huge, right? There are different sizes of pans that can be used, all at the same time

You probably have a round center "burner" and this stove has an oval burner. I can see fitting 5 pans on the stove top if the correct sizes are chosen and all of the burners are round. But on an oval burner, that is meant for a griddle and that occupies a significant portion of stovetop space. So much that only small sized pots and pans will fit on the nearby burners.

IMO 5+ burner stoves with a griddle are useful on a 36 or greater width stove.

 

[NetWareHead]

SS would be the absolute last thing I'd get for a rental. People are retards, and I guarantee you'll get someone that cleans it with a Brillo pad or Scotch Brite, and scratches the shit out of it. Besides that, that's way too much money. Get one of the enamel ones for a few hundred.

Only thing I can think of is to specify on the lease what kinds of cleaning chemicals to use on the stove to guarantee no scratches. Through reading the stove's manual, manuals of other stainless stoves as well as some googling, stainless can be cleaned with a non abrasive cleaner like "Bar keepers friend", and a regular sponge. Its the people who use steel wool/scouring pads and ajax that ruin stainless.

Ugh that sounds like a pain in the ass. But the type of kitchen and house I'm building and marketing soon is luxury and this type usually demands stainless in the kitchen. Its just what is in demand right now... (info backed up by several realtors who market properties like this) Luxury kitchen = stainless appliances, hardwood cabinets, tile floors and backsplash and granite countertops right now. My kitchen has all of those features except stainless appliances, which I am going to make a purchase tonight.

 

[MarkXIX]

Do you have kids?

This. I could make the damn surface give an electric shock when touched and the kids would still find a way to get dirty handprints all over it.

In fact, I'd like to swap all my SS appliances out with this:

http://www.whirlpool.com/kitchen-collections_kitchen-ice-collection.content.html

 

[NetWareHead]

This. I could make the damn surface give an electric shock when touched and the damn kids would still find a way to get dirty handprints all over it.

Alot of recent appliances are shipping with no smudge stainless finishes. True to their name, they stay mostly clean. They still smudge slightly but not like older stainless finishes that showed everything and were impossible to keep clean.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Personally I hate them. I have higher-end stainless stuff and they are a massive pain in the ass to keep properly clean, otherwise they have streaks. And scratches or dents are *very* noticeable.

THIS

But the womenz love them so they will help sell a place....

 

[MarkXIX]

Alot of recent appliances are shipping with no smudge stainless finishes. True to their name, they stay mostly clean. They still smudge slightly but not like older stainless finishes that showed everything and were impossible to keep clean.

I have that feature, it's not as "easy" as they'd have you believe. Most of the time I can buff out the smudges with a microfiber cloth, but they still show smudges pretty easy.

 

[NetWareHead]

I have that feature, it's not as "easy" as they'd have you believe. Most of the time I can buff out the smudges with a microfiber cloth, but they still show smudges pretty easy.

While I realize what you saying, fingerprints/oil will be a tenant problem.

My only concern is to ask about the durability of the appliance finish and how well they stand up to someone improperly cleaning them.

 

[DrPizza]

Having worked in a restaurant with stainless steel doors on large coolers, etc., don't underestimate the stupidity of people who will grab a very abrasive scouring pad & try to get stuck food off while rubbing against the grain. Noticeable. So, if you have SS appliances, make SURE you teach the tenants NOT to use abrasive cleaners and scouring pads, else it's not normal wear & tear type of damage.

Keeping clean: just need to have the right type of cleaner. I've posted this a couple times on the forum when people were discussing SS appliances: Orange-glow. They sell it at Dollar General types of stores, and I presume Wallyworld, etc. It's a furniture polish that cleans. It does a hell of a good job on granite counter tops & stainless steel appliances.

 

[Ayrahvon]

Having worked in a restaurant with stainless steel doors on large coolers, etc., don't underestimate the stupidity of people who will grab a very abrasive scouring pad & try to get stuck food off while rubbing against the grain. Noticeable. So, if you have SS appliances, make SURE you teach the tenants NOT to use abrasive cleaners and scouring pads, else it's not normal wear & tear type of damage.

Keeping clean: just need to have the right type of cleaner. I've posted this a couple times on the forum when people were discussing SS appliances: Orange-glow. They sell it at Dollar General types of stores, and I presume Wallyworld, etc. It's a furniture polish that cleans. It does a hell of a good job on granite counter tops & stainless steel appliances.

I'll have to check out this Orange-glow at some point. I've used PBW for years as it is designed specifically for brewers using stainless steel equipment. On appliances you just add some PBW to a spray bottle with warm water and shake it up to mix it in. Spray evenly across and let it sit for awhile and there is no scrubbing necessary, it will wipe off. Do I sound like an infomercial yet? (just wait, there's more!)

PBW is environmentally friendly, biodegradeable, and will not harm septic systems!

In all seriousness though, stainless steel is among the easiest surfaces to clean and is among the most durable. Every surface has its weakness as you've pointed out, and idiots always seem too find a way to ruin them.

Make sure tenants know how to clean them!