Stainless steel or black appliances?

[nancycg56]

I vote stainless ~ I won't even wear black and brown clothes together, LOL!

We redid our kitchen about 3 years ago and put in all stainless and LOVE THEM! As long as you use the stainless cleaner once a week or so, the fingerprints become less and less of an issue.

 

[beansmom]

I voted black. I have stainless and it IS a pain to keep it looking good. I wish I had a black fridge, at the very least.

yes, yes, yes!!!

 

[mamaLori05]

I picked black, I do not like the look of stainless. I also wouldn't worry about re-sale, if someone really likes your house they will buy it with or without stainless appliances.

totally agree!!! I would NEVER buy a house strictly based on what color the appliances were. To me the important aspects in buying a house are #1 layout, #2 cleanliness and how well taken care of it is, and #3 price. Appliances don't last forever. I would NEVER base such an important decision on the color of something that is easily replaceable.

 

[mamaLori05]

have you considered white? It's totally a preference, but I think white would look best in your kitchen. To me the stainless doesn't seem to match at all. If it's only between black or stainless, I think the black looks better.

 

[Molliday]

I have brushed stainless. It has a matte finish and shows no fingerprints. I love them so much, I'll be putting them in the new house we're building.

 

[punkin]

have you considered white? It's totally a preference, but I think white would look best in your kitchen. To me the stainless doesn't seem to match at all. If it's only between black or stainless, I think the black looks better.

I also think white would look best with that brown, but if these are the only choices, I voted stainless because I just don't like black apliances.

 

[Evi]

I voted black I have everything stainless and when I needed new fridge we went black not because of cost but because of cleaning.

 

[mom2val]

I vote stainless. We love ours and I don't think it's hard to keep clean - a quick wipe down once a day is all. That being said.... I just can't help but wonder in 15 years will the stainless craze be viewed like "avocado green".

 

[StitchBuddy]

I have stainless steal and will never have it again. It is a pain!!

 

[shortbun]

I had all stainless in our old house and that's what we did in this one as well. I think the black fronts scratch easily, especially dishwashers for some reason. We never had any damage to our stainless and we are hard on appliances. I also think it's a much lighter appearance, black is so heavy and in a kitchen...I like things to be neat and airy. Well, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

ETA: I do not understand what people are talking about in the problem cleaning of stainless. We have stainless and i just pour some vineagar in a sponge and wipe. Voila! I guess if you wait several days before cleaning it would be a problem but I wipe mine almost daily.

 

[mamaLori05]

I had all stainless in our old house and that's what we did in this one as well. I think the black fronts scratch easily, especially dishwashers for some reason. We never had any damage to our stainless and we are hard on appliances. I also think it's a much lighter appearance, black is so heavy and in a kitchen...I like things to be neat and airy. Well, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

ETA: I do not understand what people are talking about in the problem cleaning of stainless. We have stainless and i just pour some vineagar in a sponge and wipe. Voila! I guess if you wait several days before cleaning it would be a problem but I wipe mine almost daily.

I think that is what peole don't like, having to wipe it down daily. I have white in my house (just built last year, got all new appliances) and I only wipe down my appliances, minus the stove top like once a month....if that. Sometimes it's just the handles to sanitize them. They never look dirty, and I am a neat freak. We have a glass stove top, and that I do wipe down pretty regularly (but not daily) because I can't stand it if a spot shows up. If I burn something on the top I wipe it down immediatly.

 

[mhsjax]

I think that is what peole don't like, having to wipe it down daily. I have white in my house (just built last year, got all new appliances) and I only wipe down my appliances, minus the stove top like once a month....if that. Sometimes it's just the handles to sanitize them. They never look dirty, and I am a neat freak. We have a glass stove top, and that I do wipe down pretty regularly (but not daily) because I can't stand it if a spot shows up. If I burn something on the top I wipe it down immediatly.

If you have stainless and you have kids that are into the fridge. YOu will be wiping down it down more than one time a day. I do mine up to 3 times a day. I am a neat freak, OCD, and I can't stand sticky or spots. I am always on that thing.

We redid our kitchen with darker cabinets and the while appliances looked horrible, even the installer made a face. I told him not to worry the new ones were coming. However ours is a very dark cabinet.

I would not ever choose an appliance based on what may be going out of style. Lets face it, about the only thing that doesn't is white. Granite is now going out of style. I don't care, if I like it I will buy it.

One more thing about stainless, I don't think I have seen mentioned. If you have kids and you like to put things up on the fridge, isn't gonna happen with stainless. Magnets won't stick.

Never had black so I am at a loss for advise, I still love the look of stainless, it is classic, I mean professional kitchens have it, so I don't think it will ever go out entirely. But the black looks nice also. It's a crap shoot no matter which way you go.

 

[disneychrista]

I still like white the best.

 

[Molliday]

I've seen a couple of people mention that stainless or granite are on their way out. Says who? The general public, or lone person(s) on HGTV?

I'm in the industry, and I'm also in the middle of having a house built, and stainless and granite are still offered as upgrades - and are still what is being asked for, industry-wise.

While certain forms of stainless might not be desirable due to fingerprints, it only takes a little bit of research, and not a lot of money, to find an alternative that will fit your needs.

IMO, as long as commercial kitchens have stainless appliances, there will be people who can afford the same, or those who want the look, or that want mid-to-lower grade range stainless because of affordability.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

I like the stainless. I have stainless and clean it once a week.But, in the end it's what you like.

 

[danneva]

I have stainless steal and will never have it again. It is a pain!!

Every appliances required proper cleaning and maintenance. If you want to protect your stainless steel from fingerprints, then you can apply a very light coat of mineral oil to the stainless steel surface with a chamois cloth. It can be also a light coat of baby oil, or olive oil. But after these methods, thoroughly wash and clean the stainless steel weekly to remove the oils because any of these will attract dirt and dust.