Care & Maintenance of Stainless Steel

For the preservation of stainless steel regular maintenance is strongly recommended. The following provides a guide to preserving stainless steel, grades 304 and 316.

As for all surfaces, stainless steel requires cleaning to remove dirt and grime. The level of cleaning, maintenance and inspection required depends primarily on the environment. In some exterior instances, normal rain washing is sufficient. In more polluted or corrosive environments, particularly in coastal situations and swimming pools, the surfaces require regular washing to maintain their good looks. We recommend regular washing of stainless steel surfaces. Refer to the attached schedule.

Stainless steel does not rust as normal carbon steel does. Rather, corrosion is generally caused by contaminants settling on the surface of the stainless steel. Therefore a well-managed environment, including maintenance and inspection, is integral to the appearance and longevity of stainless steel.

Cleaning: Interior & Exterior

Clean as required to maintain appearance. It is important to not let dirt accumulate.

Dirt and grease accumulate from many sources. These can usually be removed by routine cleaning using soap, ammonia or detergent and fresh warm water. For bright polished stainless steel it is best to avoid any abrasive cleaners as these will scratch the surface.

A clean, dust and grit free cloth should be used to avoid scratching. In all cases the mildest cleaning procedure that will do the job efficiently should be used. We recommend a wash down with warm fresh water and washing up liquid followed by a wash of clean warm water only, finish by wiping dry with a clean absorbent cloth. For stubborn areas of dirt a soft brush could be used.

Stainless steel items should be cleaned by wiping once a week where practicable. Brown staining of stainless steel items is an indication of either an inadequate cleaning regime or an aggressive environmental atmosphere. Carbon steel brushes or carbon steel wire wool should never be used on stainless steel. Chemical cleaners must be compatible with stainless steel. It is important to always clean in the direction of the original polish lines.

DO NOT use any harsh abrasives on any polished stainless steel surface.

DO NOT use any strong mineral acids near areas of stainless steel, these should never come into contact. If this does occur, the acid solution should be washed of immediately with plenty of water.

DO NOT use pads of ordinary steel wool incorporating soap. There is a danger that particles of plain carbon steel from the pads may be left behind after rinsing and leave unsightly rust stains.

Cleaning Schedule

Interior      Clean well once a week to maintain appearance

Exterior      Clean thoroughly every 6 months.

Inspection Procedures

Routine inspection is integral part of the ongoing care and maintenance of stainless steel. This is particularly true for safety-critical, load bearing components.

All stainless steel components should be examined visually at least twice a year. Safety-critical, load bearing components subject to corrosion should be tested specifically for Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC).