Although it may seem like a tedious task, your stainless steel products should be cleaned regularly. Your appliances, pots and pans, utensils and even your countertops must be properly cleaned to maintain their beauty and keep them corrosion resistant.
In the following Tisco article, we will cover the 7 most common mistakes people make when cleaning stainless steel products.
As you probably know, a thin layer of chromium oxide is what protects stainless steel and provides a defence against discolouration and oxidation. Oxygen from the environment combines with the chromium in stainless steel to form this durable layer, protecting it from further erosion.
With proper attention, this layer will protect your stainless steel products for many years. However, the integrity of this layer is easily damaged by dirt and other contaminants, so it is important that you keep everything made of this material clean.
While this may seem overwhelming, properly cleaning stainless steel products is actually a simple process. Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes that people make when cleaning stainless steel and damaging it.
1. Using abrasive cleaners
Abrasive cleaners for stainless steel products
Because stainless steel scratches easily, abrasive cleaners should be avoided. Some of the particles in these cleaners can scratch and damage the grain of the steel.
While abrasive cleaners are effective in removing dirt, stains and fingerprints, they are likely to scratch the surface of your stainless steel products, making them look dull and old.
When cleaning stainless steel, stay away from bleach, chlorine bleach or other cleaning products that contain chlorinated substances.
Be aware that bleach and chlorides can be contained in different types of cleaners. If you accidentally spray these substances onto stainless steel, rinse them off quickly.
2. Do not clean in the direction of the grain
Some stainless steels have a brushed appearance formed by small lines in the metal, which is the grain of the surface.
When cleaning and polishing, always clean in the direction of the natural grain of the metal and not in the opposite direction.
This method allows you to clean microscopic grooves that may harbour dirt and dust. This also applies to appliances and polished stainless steel products.
On polished surfaces, make sure you only clean and wipe in the direction of the polished lines, not across them, so that the product doesn’t lose its shine.
You’ll be interested to know.” Which types of stainless steel are resistant to low temperatures? “.
3. Forget rinsing
Crafty or dirty water can leave a residue on your surfaces. It can also stain or pit the surface of your stainless steel products. Likewise, residue from cleaning solutions left on the surface can stain or damage the surface.
Therefore, it is important to rinse properly when cleaning.
4. Use steel wool or steel brushes
Steel wool and steel brushes can leave small particles on the surface of stainless steel. These particles will eventually oxidise and can stain the surface. In addition, they are abrasive and can scratch your stainless steel products.
Stainless steel products Steel wool
Instead use a scouring pad or plastic brush; use only a soft cloth for general cleaning.
5. Leaving items in the sink
Although it is often tempting to leave dirty pots, pans and water in the stainless steel sink, this is a costly mistake. Dirt on cookware can leave stains and streaks that are difficult to remove. The longer they remain in this state, the harder they are to clean.
After cleaning your cookware, it is equally important that you thoroughly remove all traces of the cleaning products you have used and wipe down the sink to remove any food and dirt.