Care of Stainless Steel
Stainless steels require regular cleaning for aesthetic considerations and to preserve corrosion resistance. Some tips on the care of stainless steel are:
- Avoid the use of oily rags or greasy cloths when wiping the surface
- Do routine cleaning of exposed surfaces
- After cleaning, rinse thoroughly with water
- Never clean with chloride-containing detergents
- Even the finest cleaning powders can scratch a mill-rolled finish. Avoid using abrasive cleaners unless absolutely necessary. Always test on an inconspicuous area
- On polished finishes, rubbing or wiping should be done in the direction of the polish lines, never across them.
- Protective adhesive papers or plastic sheets applied to stainless steel during fabrication & shipping "age" in a fairly short period of time and will become extremely difficult to remove. Remove protective films as soon as practicable.
Effective Cleaning Methods
| Job | Cleaning Agents | Comments |
| Routine Cleaning | Warm water, soap, ammonia, detergent | Apply with sponge or soft cloth. Good for all finishes |
| Fingerprints/Smears | Non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner/polish | Provides barrier film to minimize fingerprints. Good for all finishes |
| Stubborn Stains/Discoloration | Non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner/polish, Grade FFF or Grade F Italian Pumice, Household cleaners | Rub lightly, using damp cloth, in direction of polish lines |
| Grease, Blood or Burnt-on Foods | 4% to 6% hot solution of such agents as Tri-sodium polyphosphate, 5% to 15% caustic soda solution, Easy-Off | Excellent removal on acids, all finishes. Particularly useful where rubbing is not practical |
| Grease and Oil | Any good commercial detergent or caustic cleanser | Apply with sponge or soft cloth in direction of polish lines |
Courtesy SSINA