Cleaning Tips For Belfast

How to clean stainless steel

Well, the name implies its steel that's stainless, it might imply it's steel that won't stain. But actually my stainless steel can stain, and the big problem with it is that although it's supposed to be resistant to rust and corrosion, if you don't look after it properly and clean it well, the dirt that builds up on it can cause exactly that.

The first thing to know is that if you clean your stainless with water or any other loose liquid you MUST make sure that any and all liquid is thoroughly dried off, as otherwise you can leave drip marks, water marks or other such marks on the steel, which then become really difficult to remove, if not impossible. Stainless steel specialists can actual resurface the steel, which involves taking a layer away, but of course this a very expensive, often cheaper to replace the item, and can be avoided altogether.

You will need some microfibre towels, some dish soap, and a little water. The key thing here is to establish which way the grain is running in your steel, you will see tiny marks that look like scratches, but they will all be pointing the same way. When rubbing and cleaning your stainless steel always rub with the grain never across it.

Apply a little soap and water, use one microfibre towel to do the cleaning part, and another to do the drying part, and you must ensure the drying is really thorough.

Now, I might recommend dish soap because I can control the amounts more easily, and the product has a degreasing property, but you could also use a glass cleaner, ammonia, or a specialist stainless steel cleaner. Always best to check with your manufacturer for their recommendations on best cleaning practises - although do remember, some of them will only recommend a cleaning product that only they supply, and it's usually very expensive! You should also check the terms and conditions of any warranties and guarantees before using any product other than that which the manufacturer recommends.