Is baby oil good for cleaning your kitchen? Here's what the experts say

A gleaming kitchen doesn’t last long, but it sure feels good. It’s an area of the home that’s in constant use, so it doesn’t take long for smears and grubby fingerprints to appear. When it comes to how to clean a kitchen, cleaning fanatics often recommend using baby oil for a sparkling finish, but what do the experts think?

Baby oil used on a soft, dry cloth will effectively remove streaks from shiny surfaces like stainless steel or enamel - but it won't actually sanitize the surface. Baqir Khan, owner of Proactive Cleaners, says 'Oils like olive oil, mineral oil and baby oil won't clean surfaces so you'll still need to use other surface cleaners to remove dirt. 

'Start with a small amount of oil to avoid making everything too greasy and always polish steel in the direction of the grain,' he adds. Your usual surface cleaner or washing up liquid and warm water on a multifibre cloth will remove germs before you start polishing.

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So baby oil will really help to keep appliances looking shiny, whether that's your sink, fridge, dishwasher, oven, or even microwave. This said, cleaning company Fabulosa does not recommend using baby oil at all when cleaning the kitchen as it could cause problems further down the line. 

‘Although the surface might look clean and shiny after use, over a period of time the surface will attract dust which could cause discoloring,’ Fabulosa warns.

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Instead,Fabulosa recommends using a multi-surface polish with a microfibre cloth to remove any unsightly streaks. Fabulosa's own multi-surface polish removes smears from surfaces like wood, glass, metal, and plastic, and kills 99.9% of bacteria, as well as eliminating odors. Baqir from Proactive Cleaners, on the other hand, says oils 'help to repel smudges in the future by leaving behind a protective film.'

So while a very small amount of baby oil will get rid of those marks that have been bugging you, remember to use a product that effectively sanitizes first - and keep an eye on dust!