Overlooked £1 item in B&M that professional cleaners bulk-buy for sparkling stainless steel

The trolley stops in front of the cleaning aisle, not the fancy sprays or the gadgets with chrome triggers, but a low shelf stacked with unassuming packets. No bold “miracle” promises, no influencer branding. Just a stack of £1 microfibre cloths in muted colours that professional cleaners quietly load by the dozen, then wheel away without a word.

Most of us reach for whatever bottled stainless‑steel spray is on offer, then wonder why the hob still streaks, the kettle clouds again, and the fridge doors hold onto every fingerprint. The pros do something simpler. They use what the metal actually needs: the right fabric and the right finish, not a cupboard full of foams and films.

Why stainless steel looks dull in everyday kitchens

Stainless steel is not one uniform surface. It has a fine grain from brushed finishes and a protective chromium layer that keeps rust at bay. Everyday life throws at it exactly what that top layer dislikes: greasy fingerprints, splattered oil, hard‑water spots and leftover detergent. Each one leaves a slightly different mark, so one hard‑working spray rarely solves them all.

Standard kitchen cloths make it worse. Cotton tea towels and old T‑shirts soak up some grease but leave lint and tiny fibres that catch the light. Paper towels shred and drag product around without actually polishing the steel. The result is that cloudy, streaked look that appears ten minutes after you have wiped everything down.

The wrong cloth moves dirt around; the right one lifts it off the metal and then vanishes.

Stainless steel also hates over‑cleaning. Strong chemicals and abrasive powders can scratch the finish, leaving fine lines that trap more grime. Many bottled “steel” products leave a film that looks shiny for a day, then grabs dust and handprints even faster. Professional cleaners learned the hard way: if you want reliable shine, you need to strip the process back.

The £1 B&M staple: a basic microfibre that does the heavy lifting

Walk into B&M and ignore the branded stainless‑steel sprays for a moment. On the lower racks you will usually find value packs of plain microfibre cloths, often around £1 each when you split the price per cloth. No complicated claims, just a dense weave and a slightly grabby touch between the fingers. That is exactly what cleaners are after.

Microfibre works differently from cotton. Each filament is split into tiny hooks that lift oil, grease and fine dust instead of just smearing them around. Used slightly damp on stainless steel, a single cloth can remove most marks with just water, then a second, dry cloth buffs to a mirrored finish. You are not polishing the dirt; you are removing it first, then smoothing the surface.

“Heat relaxes grease, microfibre lifts it, and a dry buff finishes the job,” as one Manchester cleaner puts it.

The reason professionals bulk‑buy the B&M versions is simple. Stainless steel shows every speck of debris, so cloths need to be washed often and replaced regularly. High‑end branded microfibres do work, but when you are cleaning dozens of fridges, hobs and extractor hoods a week, you want something cheap, consistent and easily replaced. A basket of £1 cloths you are not precious about becomes a quiet luxury.

How pros actually use them for a streak‑free shine

The trick is not in the cloth alone, but in the sequence. Start by rinsing or wringing one microfibre in warm water and folding it into quarters so you have several clean faces to work with. Wipe in the direction of the steel grain on fridges, ovens and splashbacks, paying attention to handles where skin oils build up. For stubborn fingerprints, hold the warm, damp cloth against the mark for a couple of seconds before wiping; the heat softens the oils.

Next comes the part most home cleaners skip: the dry buff. Take a second, completely dry microfibre and polish the surface, again following the grain. This removes any remaining moisture and leaves that deep, even sheen you notice in showrooms. No foam, no heavy scent, no stickiness.

Two habits quietly sabotage results. The first is using fabric softener on microfibres; it coats the fibres and stops them gripping grease. The second is “one‑cloth does everything” thinking. Once a cloth has been around washing‑up liquid, it can leave faint soap streaks on bare steel. Professionals keep steel cloths separate and wash them without conditioner on a hot cycle.

Simple routine for stainless steel that actually lasts

• One damp B&M microfibre: wipe with the grain, focusing on high‑touch areas.
  
• One dry B&M microfibre: buff immediately, again with the grain.
  
• For greasy hobs: loosen with a drop of washing‑up liquid first, then switch to the damp‑and‑dry cloth method.
  
• Wash steel‑only cloths separately, no fabric softener, hot cycle, air dry.

Quick comparison: sprays, paper towels, and the £1 cloth

Method	What it does	Trade‑off
Stainless‑steel spray + paper towel	Shiny film, strong smell, quick visual fix	Often streaks, can attract dust, more product to buy
Multi‑surface spray + cotton cloth	Removes general dirt	Leaves lint, can dull the finish over time
Plain B&M microfibre + water	Lifts grease and prints, buffs to clear shine	Needs two cloths and regular washing

The £1 cloth will not fix deep scratches or rust, but it will change how often you feel you need to “properly” clean the kitchen. Most professionals reserve specialist products for limescale or cooked‑on grime and rely on microfibres for daily care. Stainless steel looks newer for longer when you disturb it less and clean it better.

A one‑week test for your own kitchen

Choose one stainless‑steel zone: the front of the fridge, the oven door or the kettle and toaster cluster. Pick up two of the £1 microfibre cloths from B&M, run them through a quick wash, and dedicate them to steel only. For seven days, skip every spray and wipe that area with the damp‑then‑dry method once a day or after cooking.

At the end of the week, stand back. You will usually see fewer streaks, a more even shine and, perhaps most importantly, less time spent faffing with products that promise “hotel finish” and deliver fingerprints by tea‑time. If you like the result, extend the routine to the extractor hood and splashback. If not, you are £2 down and two sturdy cloths up for windows and taps.

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FAQ:
- Do I really not need stainless‑steel spray with microfibre cloths? For everyday fingerprints and light grease, water plus a good microfibre is usually enough. Save specialist sprays for heavy buildup or when you want a fragranced finish.
- Can I use any cheap microfibre, or does it have to be from B&M? Any dense, good‑quality microfibre will work, but B&M’s £1 options are popular because they are low‑cost and widely available. The key is the weave, not the logo.
- Why do my steel surfaces still streak after using microfibre? Common reasons include using fabric‑softened cloths, wiping against the grain, or skipping the dry buff. A truly dry second cloth makes the biggest difference.
- Is microfibre bad for the environment? Microfibre releases tiny plastics when washed, but it also cuts down on bottled cleaners and disposable wipes. Washing full loads in cooler water and using a laundry bag or filter can reduce microfibre shedding.