Cleaning Stainless Steel
Stainless steel products as you know are used in a wide variety of applications because of their corrosion resistance, strength and aesthetic appeal.
In some cases though where stainless steel is applied it may discolour or stain due to deposits left on its surface and therefore sometimes maintenance is required on such stainless steel products.
How do you maintain and clean stainless steel?
In order to ensure that maximum corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal of the stainless steel is at its best then the surface must be kept clean but this is dependent on whether or not the grade of the stainless steel and the surface finish are correctly selected. In addition it becomes important that a regular cleaning routine is adopted which then will ensure good performance, long service life and will obviously keep the aesthetic appeal.
General cleaning of Stainless steel is very easy is easy with mild detergent / soap and warm water. But sometimes if regular cleaning cycles are not maintained then further more intense methods may be required.
There are a number of factors which may well affect stainless steel; where surface contamination is suspected, immediate cleaning is required. In applications such as in the catering industry it is important that cleanliness is always maintained as with medical applications too. Higher levels of cleanliness in such industries will be required which brings about the question:
What frequency is required for cleaning stainless steel?
A question which is asked regularly; the answer is that the frequency is dependent upon the application of the stainless steel. One unwritten rule is to clean the stainless steel when it first appears dirty rather than leaving it to worsen.
Table: Cleaning frequency in architectural applications
| Location | Grade: 430 | Grade: 304 | Grade: 316 |
| Internal | As required to maintain appearance or design | ||
| Suburban/ | 6-12 month intervals | ||
| Industrial/ | Grade not recommended | 3-6 months | 6-12 months |
| Coastal/ | Grade not recommended | Grade not recommended | 6-12 months |
Can you damage stainless steel by cleaning?
The simple answer is yes, care must be taken when selecting both cleaning chemicals and cloths. For routine cleaning a soft cloth, with soap, detergent or diluted ammonia (1%) is suitable. For more stubborn stains mild non scratching creams can be used. Care should be taken not to use abrasives which could scratch, as equally important is ensuring that you do not use chloride containing chemicals and detergents. After cleaning it is always recommended that you rinse with clean water.
Always check the suitability of any household detergents and remember you cannot wear out stainless steel by too much cleaning. The most common methods of damage to stainless steel are by using too strong chemicals such as chloride containing bleaches or rough abbrasives such as scouring pads.
Cleaners and polishes
There are now many commercial cleaners and polishers on the market many of these are best used in conjunction with soap and water. These cleaners often add a nice shine and fresh scent to stainless steel so are especially popular in homes.
There are also available stronger cleaning products designed for stainless steel such as janitorial products, care must be taken to follow the instructions to avoid damage. The best cleaner we have used so far is produced by 3m here you can find more details of the stainless steel cleaner.
Grafitti Removal
Stainless Steel is resistant to many products, withstands day to day wear and tear and resists corrosion in many applications. As we have seen stainless steel is generally easy to maintain and clean but graffiti can be an issue as soap and water will not remove and removal can cause damage, through our testing and in sue daily at BS Stainless for ink removal is Graffiti Remover this product works effectivly we know as we have tested all the rest.