Dishes made from this metal look beautiful, are not subject to oxidation in water, and are resistant to wear and corrosion.
To avoid the formation of stains on the surface of stainless steel, you need to follow the rules of caring for it and choose the right detergents.
We'll talk more about cleaning products for stainless steel cookware in the article.
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
Cleaning: what is special?
A stainless steel sink is very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful to look at, but is difficult to maintain. This is the most versatile and frequently used type of kitchen equipment. Easily fits into any interior. However, despite all the inherent advantages of a bowl-shaped device, there are also several disadvantages in using stainless steel sinks:
- small scratches, marks and stains on its surface are always noticeable;
- poor sound insulation;
- predisposition to oxidation;
- various negative reactions to cleaning products.
To keep your sink in good condition, you need to take care of it and do general cleaning at least once a week. This will not only give the kitchen an aesthetic appearance, but will also protect the whole family from various diseases.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Adding shine
You can restore the original appearance of stainless steel kitchen products and extend their service life by polishing.
The procedure is carried out as follows:
- A soft sponge is soaked in vinegar or a special product designed for polishing steel, then the dishes are wiped with it. You can also use lemon juice. Before use, the juice is diluted in the following proportions: 1 tablespoon of juice per 1 glass of water.
- The polished dishes are washed with clean water and wiped with a dry towel.
- If you wipe a pan with raw potatoes, its surface will become glossy.
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.
Reviews about cleaning stainless steel
And I wash my stainless steel sink with the addition of vinegar, and where there is a coating in the form of white stains and scale from hot hard water, I pour vinegar essence into it, add a little hot water. A reaction occurs immediately, hisses and foam is released. After this it is clean and shiny. And our refrigerator, also made of stainless steel, is huge with two doors and an LCD display on the door, you can’t rub it with vinegar. I take a lemon, cut it in half and rub the refrigerator with half, after which I wash off the remaining lemon with a soft cloth and wipe it dry. And it’s clean, there are no scratches, and it doesn’t smell like chemicals.
zizi9
https://forum.domik.ua/nerzhavejka-na-kuxne-kak-uxazhivat-t20542.html
I also have SIF-gel for stainless steel, but when I ran out, I washed it with ordinary products, then washed them off clean, and the most important thing that I understood is that I need to wipe it dry, at first it seemed boring to me, but now I’m used to it, I wiped it dry and ok, the stains remain from water that has not dried up.
Marisha
https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/domovodstvo/1693128
If the case is advanced, then only Schumanit will help (and not always), but this is just a nuclear agent, it would be better to use it in a respirator, with thick gloves and then wash it off with I don’t know how much water in the hope that Schumanit did not penetrate inside dishes and its poison did not take hold there... In general, I’m afraid to wash dishes with it. If only the outside.
Arabesque
https://forum.cofe.ru/showthread.php?t=109941
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
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.
"Rainbow" on the bottom and walls
In addition to pinpoint stains, large colored (usually blue-violet) stains may also appear on stainless steel cookware. Their formation is also based on chemistry.
The fact is that stainless steel always has a thin translucent oxide film. Its thickness is hundredths of the thickness of the hair, however, when the metal is heated above 100°C, it gradually increases, and when it reaches a size of 0.1% of the thickness of the hair, it becomes noticeable to the eye due to the appearance of color (interference/oxide staining). The result of this process is also not a defect, since it does not affect either the characteristics of the cookware or the taste of the food.
Activated carbon
It is not only an excellent absorbent and first assistant in case of poisoning, charcoal will help restore order in the kitchen. Coal is especially effective when milk is burnt in a stainless steel container. You need to take at least 5-7 tablets, grind them into powder and sprinkle on the contaminated area. Then just fill the container with cold water and wait 10 or 15 minutes. Wash the pan under running warm water, order!
Secrets of care
Caring for stainless steel cookware is easy. There are three rules that must be followed during operation.
Regular cleansing
After finishing cooking, do not delay in washing pots and saucepans. Dried traces of food on the walls are much more difficult to wash off than fresh ones.
Difficult stains need to be soaked. Scrub using special sponges and gels.
Delicate wash
It is better not to use cleaning products containing abrasive and aggressive substances. The use of soft gels extends the life of dishes.
Perfect dryness
Do not put a wet pan in the cupboard. After each wash, you need to wipe it dry with a towel. If you follow this rule, there will never be streaks on the bottom and walls.
