The kitchens of many of our customers are equipped with stainless steel sinks, the popularity of which is due not only to affordability. Steel sinks harmonize with many types of materials and, with proper care, retain their impeccable appearance for a long time. They are also aesthetically pleasing, hygienic, and, most importantly, practical.
From the article you will learn why durable stainless steel sinks need gentle and careful care. We'll tell you how to clean stains from stainless steel sinks and what products can be used to remove plaque and rust.
Image by fiatlux (source – flickr.com)
Characteristics of raw materials
Stainless steel is an alloy based on iron with alloying additives (chrome, nickel, steel). Each additive enhances the positive and reduces the negative parameters of the raw material. The resulting metal is much stronger than conventional analogues.
Advantages of the material Source ua.all.biz
Corrosion resistance is the main advantage of modified iron. When exposed to oxygen, chromium forms a thin layer of insoluble oxide on the surface. The film makes the alloy inert towards aggressive substances. The barely noticeable protection prevents the metal from entering into chemical reactions with the environment.
Nickel in the composition gives the alloy ductility, viscosity at low degrees and increases heat resistance. The material has a wide operating temperature range. The additive reduces the spread of spot and contact rust. Durable modified steel does not collapse when:
- stretching;
- welding;
- bending;
- rental
What can't you do?
When cleaning stainless steel cookware, do not:
Rub the metal with carbon steel (rusting) brushes.
When trying to remove carbon deposits using a more active metal, galvanic couples are formed on the surface, which over time lead to rusting of the base metal.In turn, stainless and copper scrapers leave scratches, but do not affect corrosion resistance.
- Use concentrated acids. Food grade stainless steel (alloys AISI304, 12Х18Н10, 10Х18Н10Т, etc.) is quite resistant to nitric acid, as well as most organic and dilute mineral acids. However, when hydrochloric, hydrofluoric or sulfuric acid is applied, the metal is destroyed. Concentrated formic and acetate acids are also dangerous for these alloys.
- Use chlorine-based products. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach, “Belizna”, etc.) is used to remove dense deposits on the bottom of dishes, as well as for disinfection. Its regular exposure to food-grade steel leads to the appearance of rust stains, pitting corrosion and even through holes. Other products based on chlorine or chlorides are also dangerous for stainless steel. Short-term application of kitchen salt and the use of soda-salt pastes as an abrasive are allowed.
- Use melamine sponges. Melamine foam is a good abrasive, but due to its harmful effects on health, it should not be used on food contact surfaces. For the inside of pots and pans, as well as cutlery, you should choose a safer product. The melamine sponge can be left to clean carbon deposits from the bottom and sides of containers.
- Soak the dishes for a long time. Inexpensive pots and cutlery can be made from an alloy with an uneven distribution of chemical elements. Also, errors may be made during the manufacturing process of each item. This leads to pitting or zonal corrosion of the metal, despite the fact that classic stainless steels are insensitive to fresh water.
You can check the material of a metal brush or scraper using a magnet: it is not attracted to objects made of stainless alloys.
If only the coating of the cookware is stainless, then it cannot be cleaned with hard metal scrapers and abrasive powders.
Mechanical damage to the top layer leads to the following consequences:
- sticking and burning of food;
- loss of shine of the bottom and walls;
- intense oxidation of the base metal in places of scratches and holes (the presence of an inactive coating around the defect accelerates the formation of rust).
When cleaning pots and pans with coatings, do not remove carbon deposits with a knife or stir the contents of containers with a metal spoon or spatula.
Remedies for carbon deposits
Dark spots on stainless steel are carbon deposits (soot), which occurs after drops of fat enter. If you don't clean the dirt right away, it will harden over time. The hard “coating” darkens, so it is difficult to remove using conventional methods.
Before you clean stainless steel from dark stains, it is important to choose the right composition. On the outside, baking soda works best to remove carbon deposits. The raw material has mild abrasive properties, so it must be used carefully. Hot water is poured into the container, and the walls are generously rubbed with a paste of powder and liquid soap. Periodically move the sponge over the surface, removing soot. After the moisture has cooled, the remaining mass is thoroughly washed off and rinsed with vinegar.
How to clean a kettle from stains Source ratatum.com
Food crumbs on cutlery and carbon deposits on the inner walls often grow into a hard crust. A solution of:
- soda ash – 2 tsp;
- liquid soap – 100 ml;
- PVA glue – 100 ml.
The ingredients are diluted in 4 liters of water and poured into the problem container. The moisture should completely cover the soot. The dishes with soot are placed on low heat and boiled for 20 minutes. After the liquid has cooled, dark stains can be easily removed with a sponge.
Special softening pastes will help remove remnants of burnt food (porridge, jam) or traces of escaped milk in stainless steel dishes. For example, activated carbon powder works well. The crushed tablets are poured onto the bottom and covered with water on top. After a quarter of an hour, the soot is removed with a sponge. Drinking coffee grounds have similar properties.
How to remove carbon deposits Source biolshop.com.ua
An acidic environment will help remove greasy deposits from stainless steel. Both table vinegar and lemon juice solution will do. Water is poured into the problematic dishes and a cleaning ingredient is added. If liquid, then 100 ml. Take 20 g of crystals from a bag. Boil the moisture, leave it to cool for 1 hour, then heat it up to 100 C. In advanced cases, you can keep it all night. After time, dark spots are removed with a sponge.
Stainless steel sinks and hoods are washed with an acidic solution. Small stains can be wiped off with a slice of lemon, large stains can only be wiped off with a generous application. For convenience, spread the composition over the surface with a soft sponge. A paste mixed in equal quantities of soda and dry mustard will help enhance the effect. After the fizzing is completed, the ingredients are washed off.
Stainless steel device Source gibbsbrand.info
Effective Ways to Clean Steel Pans
Stainless steel pans are susceptible to various stains, but burnt food and persistent greasy deposits are more common. Home remedies will help you wipe off stains quickly and easily.
Steel pans are in demand among housewives because they are easy to use and care for, and they look stylish and beautiful. To extend their service life, maintain shine and cleanliness, carry out preventive cleaning
Lemon juice
Lemon juice will help remove grease from the pan:
- In a container, mix 1 tbsp. l. juice and 1 glass of water.
- Dampen a soft sponge in the solution and treat all surfaces with it.
- Rinse away any remaining dirt with running water.
- Wipe the pan dry with a soft cloth. To add shine, polish it with a piece of flannel.
Coffee
Aromatic coffee will help get rid of burnt and greasy stains. Apply a small amount of ground coffee powder to a damp sponge and gently scrub the stained areas. After removing stains, rinse the pan with clean water and dry naturally.
After cleaning stainless steel kitchen utensils, wash them well with dishwashing detergent and then with clean water. This is guaranteed to get rid of plaque and return the surface clean and shiny.
Activated carbon
The following method will help you cope with the remains of burnt food:
- Fill the bottom of a still warm container with crushed activated carbon or table salt so that the product covers the dirt.
- Leave the pan for 30 minutes.
- Wash the container with a sponge using dishwashing detergent, and then rinse with a solution of lemon juice.
To make the pan shine and shine, after cleaning, wipe the surface with a cloth moistened with a solution of ammonia (1 drop per 1 liter of water). This method is applicable not only for dishes, but also for any stainless steel surfaces - hood, kettle, stove or sink.
Anti-scale agents
Scale is a limescale deposit that appears when using hard water. The calcium carbonate in the liquid reacts with the metal, eventually forming a dense whitish layer. When boiling, mineral ingredients in the form of flakes settle to the bottom of the pan. A thin, sloppy coating appears on chrome surfaces of radiators, household appliances and furniture.
An acidic solution (lemon, vinegar) will help get rid of limescale deposits inside kitchen utensils. The liquid in the problem container is brought to 100 C, then boiled over low heat and left to cool for an hour. After time, the moisture is removed and the dishes are rinsed.
Removing plaque from the sink Source zen.yandex.com
An acidic environment will help remove a thin layer of limescale on a chrome tap, heated towel rail or furniture elements. The warm solution is distributed using a spray bottle or applied with a sponge. The procedure is repeated every 15 minutes. After an hour, wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.
Heavy limescale deposits in a kettle or pan can be removed with Coca-Cola. Add 50% of the carbonated drink to the kitchen utensils and slowly bring to a boil. The scale is scrubbed off after 30 minutes with a regular sponge.
Recommendations for caring for bronze and stainless steel items
When cleaning bronze and stainless steel, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of preserving the renewed state. The fact is that after removing the plaque with reagents, an invisible oxidation reaction begins to occur in the upper layer, destroying the metal.
After cleaning, bronze products require protective surface treatment. For these purposes, compositions of natural origin based on natural wax are used.
As for stainless steel, to preserve its original appearance, experts do not recommend washing things in the dishwasher. For daily cleaning of food debris, it is better to use a regular sponge in combination with a suitable detergent. Do not use cleaning abrasives, sponges or metal scourers. Their use leads to the formation of scratches and loss of the characteristic shine of the dishes.
Useful tips
In addition to the techniques and methods discussed above, the following recommendations may also be useful:
- Tarnishing of bronze can be easily removed by applying pre-cooked peas and brought to a paste state to the surface. The liquid mixture must dry completely, after which the product is washed in boiling water and wiped with a damp cloth.
- You can restore the natural appearance of bronze objects with toothpaste applied to flannel or suede. After processing, rinse the item with water and dry.
- Ammonia and mustard powder can be used to clean bronze from plaque.
- Coffee grounds are used to restore the characteristic shine of stainless steel.
In conclusion, we note that the procedure for using these funds is similar to the methods discussed earlier
Please note that the listed methods and approaches for cleaning stainless steel and bronze are based on effective time-tested traditions
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Responsibility requires work to give the original appearance to expensive bronze art products. The technology requires restoring their characteristic shade. Only in this case will a bronze figurine or other object become a spectacular addition to the interior or shine at exhibitions.
Bring back decorativeness
Shine is a recognizable feature of stainless steel. Over time and after washing, dishes, household appliances and heating devices lose their former attractiveness. There are ways to help restore decorativeness.
Toothpaste and ammonia will help get rid of rainbow stains on stainless steel. Add a couple of drops of alcohol to the cleaning mixture, then apply it to the defects with a napkin. After a couple of minutes, rinse with clean moisture.
Bring back beauty to the alloy Source aredi.ru
To make kitchen utensils shine, use lemon juice. For a liter of cold water, 1 teaspoon of liquid is enough. Dip a sponge into the solution and rub generously over the surfaces inside and out. Cutlery can be soaked for a couple of minutes. Then the dishes are rinsed and wiped dry with a clean cotton towel.
Raw potatoes will help polish your stainless steel sink, hob and hood. The tuber is cut into halves. The wet side is rubbed over the problematic surface, then rubbed with a dry cloth.
Preventing corrosion on stainless steel
Well, we have cleaned up the corrosion, our steel is now like new. But what can be done to prevent contamination from happening again? For this, there are such means as: rust converter , anti-corrosion compounds and many other chemicals, the names of which speak for themselves. After application, they create a protective film that prevents further corrosion.
There are different types of chemical coatings for different types of metal and stainless steel. After application, objects can be coated with varnish or paint.
Household chemicals
Ready-made industrial products are ideal for those who do not have time to boil or mix homemade solutions for a long time. Household chemicals act very quickly. During the procedures, it is important to adhere to the period specified in the instructions. Contact with stainless steel for too long will destroy the chromium oxide.
The Russian product “Sanita anti-grease” will do an excellent job of removing dark carbon stains on dishes, sanitary and household appliances. The chemical is produced in different forms. To clean the hob, hood and sink, use a spray liquid. Concentrated gel is ideal for dishes. On average, exposure should not exceed 20 minutes, after which it is washed off generously.
Household chemicals for alloy Source shop.nissa-biysk.net
“CIF” and “Shumanit” have similar characteristics and are marked “Anti-grease for stainless steel.” The alkaline preparation “Lyma Professional” does an excellent job of removing carbon deposits on metal surfaces. The only requirement for all chemistry is to work with gloves.
To combat limescale, “CILLIT BANG” has proven itself well. Simply spray the liquid and leave for 15 minutes. After a quarter of an hour, wipe off the remaining scale with a rag. Additionally, it eliminates bacteria, which is important for washing.
Concentrated products are used to remove congealed fat on the hob and hood. Aerosol “HD” is classified as a professional household chemical. The drug is evenly applied to dark spots, left for 5 minutes, then removed with a cloth. The treated part must be thoroughly rinsed with water.
Shine product Source deshevle-net.com.ua
To add shine to stainless steel household appliances, use Indesit for polishing and Kenolux Shine. The products have a similar operating principle. The liquid from the spray bottle is distributed over the problem surface, then wiped dry with a rag. Chemicals perfectly remove dirt, plaque and fingerprints on the capricious alloy.
Video
To familiarize yourself with the nuances of cleaning stainless steel items, watch the following videos:
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Fresh lemon is not only suitable for tea: clean dirt from the surface of an acrylic bath by rubbing with half a cut citrus, or quickly wash the microwave by placing a container of water and lemon slices in it for 8-10 minutes at maximum power. The softened dirt can simply be wiped off with a sponge.
The habit of using an automatic washing machine “sparingly” can lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor in it. Washing at temperatures below 60℃ and short rinses allow fungi and bacteria from dirty clothes to remain on internal surfaces and actively multiply.
How to properly care
In order not to look for how to clean stainless steel from dark stains, it is important to remember the rules of care. After each cooking, carefully remove any remaining food and fat from the dishes. During heat treatment, food should not burn to the bottom. Leaked traces are removed from both the utensils and the cooking surface of the stove.
The joints of the handles are the vulnerable part of the cookware. When washing with aggressive chemicals labeled “anti-grease,” you should not apply them to these areas. Contact with an unfavorable environment may cause corrosion stains.
Features of care Source takprosto.cc
Preventative measures
To avoid problems and make the cleaning process easier, you need to remember about prevention.
- Do not use products that contain abrasive particles. Powdery substances will cause small scratches on the sink where dirt and bacteria will accumulate.
- Do not leave food waste on the sink. As soon as you wash the dishes, immediately clean the drain of any remaining food, otherwise new stains will form and eat into the surface.
- Do not use metal brushes. These devices cause defects.
- Polish regularly. The sink should maintain a shiny appearance, so it needs to be treated with vegetable or olive oil 2 times a month.
- Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink for a long time. Because of them, an unpleasant odor, plaque, and rust will appear.
Thanks to the above steps, you can keep your kitchen sink looking flawless and avoid serious problems.
Main stages of working at home
Removing the grille
- make sure that the structural element is cooled down and remove it from the slab;
- place the grates in the sink and rinse off the surface layer of dirt with hot water;
- to speed up the process of fat removal, apply any abrasive detergent - the product is made of wear-resistant materials, so you don’t have to worry about scratching it;
- leave the grates for a while and proceed to the next step.
Processing
- spray or spread the selected product with a sponge on all open areas of the kitchen appliance, treat areas with stubborn stains with special care, but under no circumstances try to scrub them off - let them soak thoroughly in the cleaning solution and then it will be much easier and safer to remove them;
- While the cleaning agent remains “working” on the stove, return to the grates: treat all parts of the structural element in its upper and lower planes with an abrasive agent, rinse and dry.
- wash the stove without effort, with light movements;
- if there are stains or food residues on its surface, reapply the cleaning agent and wait a little longer;
- After this, remove the stubborn dirt and preparation with a sponge, treat it several times with a sponge soaked in water.
Wipe dry and collect
Use a soft cloth or towel to dry the stove while polishing it. Replace the burners and grill.
Expert advice
- Regardless of the degree and types of contamination of the surface made of stainless steel, avoid using products containing caustic alkalis, chlorine, concentrated acids, and preparations with coarse abrasive particles;
- Only competent selection of a solution cannot guarantee the integrity of the protective layer of the slab - what you use for cleaning is also important: it is unacceptable to use brushes with hard bristles or metal sponges;
- If scratches cannot be avoided, cover the surface with a special polishing agent or treat it with vegetable oil, followed by rubbing with paper.
Putting a stove in order that is in a neglected state can take a lot of your time and effort.
Give the “queen” of the kitchen daily attention - at least for 10-20 minutes: try to clean it after each cooking, immediately remove burnt food, and the stove will always look neat and well-groomed.
