Stainless steel is a beautiful material. OK we may be biased, but its elegant, modern appearance is one of the reasons why it has been specified in some of the world’s most prestigious architectural projects.
But, as with all things of beauty, its lasting appearance can’t always be taken for granted and a little regular maintenance can go a long way to ensuring a long, attractive life.
To some degree, all grades and finishes of stainless steel may in some conditions be prone to staining or discolouration and to maximise the aesthetics of stainless steel, it’s important to keep it clean.
Assuming the grade, condition and surface finish are all correctly selected for the particular project (we’re always happy to offer advice on this) and the fabrication and installation procedures are correctly followed (again, we can handle the whole process for you, if required) then an appropriate cleaning schedule will assure continued good performance and long life.
In terms of frequency of cleaning, there is really no hard and fast rule: quite simply, it’s best to clean the material when it is dirty and you should be able to restore to its original condition. This may be once a year or it may be daily – simply depending on the application and environment.
However, whatever the frequency, stainless steel is easy and quick to clean. Washing with a soft cloth and using soap or a mild detergent and warm water, followed by a rinse of clean water is normally all that is needed for domestic or architectural applications. An even better appearance will be achieved if the surface is then wiped dry – again with just a soft cloth.
