Pour a little baking soda over the stain if still noticeable, followed by a small amount of vinegar, which will bubble up. Rub the mixture first with a soft cloth, then with a plastic scrub pad if the cloth doesn't remove the discoloration. Follow the grain of the steel as you scrub to avoid scratching the surface.

The chromium oxide film that prevents tarnish and rust from forming on stainless steel also keeps it from reacting to many other chemicals. Environments that contain a high chlorine or salt content can accelerate tarnish in silver, but they do not affect stainless steel.

To clean your stainless steel, rub in the direction of that grain. Do a preliminary clean of your appliance with vinegar: Spray your appliance liberally with vinegar. Wipe it down: Using either a paper towel or a very soft cloth, wipe the vinegar off in the direction of the grain.