I Tried the Popular TikTok Hack Using Wood Cleaner to Shine Up Stainless Steel

Although I try to stick to multi-purpose cleaning products — vinegar, baking soda, and a standard all-purpose spray — there are times when a specialized cleaner really is best. A spray that was designed to clean wood? Yes. A dedicated stainless steel cleaner? Also yes. That said, I’ve always just assumed that those specialized cleaners were good for the one thing they’re designed to do. So when I saw this TikTok, I was interested.

According to the video — which has amassed more than 100,000 likes — wood spray can actually cross over to the world of stainless steel. In the video, the creator sprays this Method Daily Wood Surface Spray (although she says any wood spray will work) all over the outside of her stainless steel fridge, then wipes it away with a cloth. Apparently, the spray doesn’t just remove already-there fingerprints — it also prevents future ones from accumulating. Sounds good, right? 

Unfortunately, in my experience, the hack wasn’t the lifesaver it appears to be in the TikTok video. My first observation: The spray smells amazing, like sweet almonds. Second observation: I was able to wipe away the smudges but my cloth left lots of streaks on the stainless steel. So I pivoted to a less environmentally friendly solution — a paper towel — to see what would happen. 

I sprayed again, then attempted to wipe away the streaks. The paper towel easily glided across the stainless surface, leading me to believe I’d end up with a streak-free fridge. But I was wrong. Even after I let the doors dry for a few minutes, the streaks remained. The smudges were gone, yes, but I was left with streaks that, in my humble opinoin, were just as unsightly as the original smudges.

Does it prevent future finger prints and smudges? Unfortunately, it doesn’t do that either. Kids’ handprints and other smudges showed up the next day.

The next time I need to shine up my refrigerator, I’ll use my tried-and-true cleaner: Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes. They’re more wasteful than a spray, so I try to use them sparingly, but the oil-based cleaner totally erases all smudges and fingerprints — without the pesky streaks.