There’s a reason stainless steel is the most popular bench material. Stainless steel is a long-lasting and easy-to-clean material. Furthermore, some stainless steel grades are bacteria-resistant and can be utilized as a food-contact surface. The stainless steel bench in Perth, like any other metal, can corrode if it is not properly cleaned and maintained.
What Characterizes Stainless Steel?
On the outside of all stainless steel surfaces is a thin layer of chromium. The chromium layer reacts chemically with air to provide a smooth, hard surface that is stain and corrosion-resistant. Stainless steel will discolor, corrode, or rust if something damages or interferes with the chromium/air contact (such as dirt, oil, or scratches). As a result, constant cleaning is required, particularly in restaurants.
How to Keep Stainless Steel Benches Clean
The chromium layer on stainless steel will never wear away, unlike other stain-resistant coatings that might wear away after repeated cleaning, therefore you can never clean stainless steel too much. To effectively clean your stainless steel benches, follow these cleaning instructions:
- Use a damp towel and a mild detergent to clean. A wet bar towel is usually the finest cleaning solution for stainless steel benches, but if you must use a cleaning agent, add a mild detergent to the wash water.
- Wipe in the finish’s direction. A brushed finish or grain can be found on some stainless steel surfaces. Scrubbing across the grain might ruin the finish, so go with the grain when cleaning.
- Baking soda can be used to remove baked-on oil. When water and detergent aren’t cutting it, mix baking soda with water to produce a paste for tougher stains. You can also use a commercial cream cleanser that isn’t harsh.
- Spills should be cleaned up right away. Spilled food, particularly acidic food, can harm the protective chromium layer if left too long, so clean up spills as quickly as possible with a moist towel. Because the food will not have been dried or baked on, it will be easier to clean afterward.
- Detergent for Glass To remove fingerprints, use a glass cleaner. Fingerprint oil has the potential to etch or discolor stainless steel, particularly mirror-polished coatings. Use a glass cleaner to remove fingerprints anywhere stainless steel is visible at the end of the day before the finish is irreversibly destroyed.
- After cleaning, give the surface a good rinse. After cleaning, rinse your stainless steel benches with clean water and a moist towel to remove any remaining soap or detergent, which can be dangerous if kept for a long time.
- Dry as soon as possible. Hard water stains can also tarnish a stainless steel sheen. To prevent watermarks from appearing, simply dry the surface after cleaning.
Cleaning Stainless Steel Benches: What to Avoid
There are a few things to bear in mind when cleaning stainless steel benches.
Chlorine is more harmful than beneficial. Chlorine, or chlorine-based cleansers, will kill any bacteria on the stainless steel surface, but it will also dissolve the protective chromium coating. If you need greater bacteria-killing strength, use an ammonia-based solution instead.
Steel wool and abrasive sponges should never be used. Brillo pads and steel wool are abrasive cleaning equipment that damages stainless steel and cause it to rust. When additional scrubbing strength is required, only use brushes and pads made of nylon, soft plastic, or any other soft flexible material.
Stainless steel cleansers should only be used as a last resort. Because it is an actual coating created to repair the damage, stainless steel cleansers or polishes should only be used if the surface becomes damaged or discolored. Polishing isn’t necessary if the steel isn’t damaged. The polish can help eliminate the stain and prevent corrosion in the scratched areas.
