Adding Both Beauty and Functionality to Any Kitchen
You may think that the stainless steel part of a stainless steel refrigerator is really no different but that is an assumption you probably don’t want to make on such an expensive purchase. In actually you will find a big difference between the choices out there.
For most of us the idea of treating ourselves to a stainless steel refrigerator is like finally getting the refrigerator of our dreams. We think, 'It's stainless so it must be great!' But all stainless isn't made equal. Take a look at the list below before you buy to make sure you get the one that is right for you.
Stainless vs. Fingerprintless True stainless appliances tend to fingerprint very easily and is one of the largest complaints we get about stainless steel refrigerators. You should check to see if the refrigerator you like comes in a finish that is supposed to look like stainless or is actually stainless but doesn't fingerprint.
Ease of Cleaning True stainless steel can actually have issues with rust and corrosion. Typically you wash the surface with warm water and possibly a mild detergent, then it needs to be rinsed and dried fully. For fingerprints you can use an ammonia based window cleaner though again you will have to rinse and dry thoroughly. If you just want something that is easy to clean, again you may want to consider one of the finished made to look like stainless.
(We were surprised at how time consuming stainless can be to clean. Just to see what would happen, we tried a regular cleaner which made things soo much worse. Then we the technique above and it worked great though it took close to 30 minutes. We recommend using a stainless steel cleaner/polish because let's be honest, who has 30 minutes to clean the OUTSIDE of their fridge?!?!)
Not Magnetic Many people aren’t aware that certain types of stainless steel are not magnetic so you may want to check into this before buying otherwise your child’s artwork will have to be taped up onto your new stainless steel refrigerator. (We've heard over an over how disappointing this can be for families with kids due to the fact that most of the ABC and number toys no longer stick to the fridge.)
Higher Shipping Costs This is only an issue if you are looking to purchase something that is being shipped from a great distance. The actual weight of stainless steel will increase your shipping costs by a few percent due to the extra weight.
Doesn't Always Look Real While all of these new finishes on the market are a wonderful less expensive option that has a great deal less issues with it, you really should get a good look at it first to make sure you like the "look" of it. We've found that there are at least a few finishes out there that don't look like stainless at all.
Dacor Refrigerators They have created a unique stainless steel finish that allows for the look of stainless with a lot less of the problems that come with it.
Frigidaire Refrigerators They decided to allow you the option of either stainless steel or something else they call Silver Mist. Upon doing our research, the silver mist is typically much less expensive but it looks more like a finish than the real thing.
Kenmore Refrigerators This is a stainless finish so it should allow for the appearance of stainless but is actually a finish to look like stainless.
KitchenAid Refrigerators They make a few different types depending on the refrigerator you purchase. The stainless steel finish we’ve heard from a few users can peel off after a great deal of use.
LG Refrigerators To mix things up a bit, LG makes two different types: Stainless and Titanium. The titanium has a bit of a deeper color that allows for a richer look.
Maytag Refrigerators Here is seems you have 3 choices: Stainless steel, Satina and Silver Satin.
Samsung Refrigerators Their two finishes are stainless steel and stainless platinum. The platinum looks a bit brighter silver than the stainless steel which could be really neat as long as you can find all of your other appliances in platinum.
Viking Refrigerators Even though you probably didn’t have any doubt about it, their refrigerators are true stainless steel.
Whirlpool Refrigerators Again you have the choice of two different finishes, stainless and satina.
The Stainless Look Without the Cost of a New Fridge
Knowing all of the issues above as well as the fact that changing your fridge over to stainless will probably cause you to want a new stainless dishwasher, we do have a less costly option for you.
If the only problem with your fridge right now is that wish it looked like stainless steel then you might not need a new fridge. There is a stainless steel film made to cover appliances to give them the appearance of stainless steel.
We personally have used it on many dishwashers and a few fridges and have found while it is rather time consuming to apply, the result can be well worth it though you have to be very painstaking with every inch of it's application.
