Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel

Stainless steel trends are on the rise, and they’re not just for appliances anymore. Several office and household commodities are being introduced to the market in stainless steel versions. Items like countertops, kitchen and office back-splashes, phone cases, laptops, furniture, jewelry, electronics, and more can be bought in stainless steel. Steel finish, however appealing, is not actually stainless. In fact, one of the downsides to this type of finish is that it retains every single fingerprint that seems to come in contact with it. For this reason, it is helpful to learn some easy methods and techniques for cleaning stainless finishes, and keep your stuff shiny and finger-print free!

Stainless Steel Cleaning

Stainless steel requires more than a simple wash rag and wipe-down. It requires certain specialized products and cleaning techniques for optimal shine and protection. You won’t get far using dish detergent and water. It is best to purchase a store-bought stainless steel cleaner and polisher. These generally come in kits with the proper brush and polishing tools as well.

Now this may sound tedious, but it’s actually quite simple and only needs to be done once or twice a week. Simply apply the cream solution or polish to the surface, and then scrub in with the included abrasive. Use circular motions and adequate pressure. You are not just wiping imperfections away, you are conditioning and polishing the finish.

Once the polish is wiped in, you will notice a white powdery residue left over. Simply use a dry paper towel to clear this away. Last, use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the surface down in circular motions, to remove any lasting streaks or marks. And you are done!

Restoring Stainless Finishes

When polishing doesn’t do the trick, or when steel items are past their prime, a professional cleaning company can restore the look of steel finishes with acid chemical treatments. These are called “Pickling” and “Passivation” acid treatments. They are meant to remove any free iron deposits and low chromium layers from the surface, to reveal shiny better-looking metal. This is a very popular service for commercial properties with stainless steel cleaning and restoration needs. Properties like movie theaters, restaurants, bars, casinos, office buildings, medical facilities, museums, schools, cafeterias, malls, and more typically retain specialty furnishings and surfaces like this that require routine cleaning and care by a professional service. Contact a professional commercial cleaning company for these kinds of service and more.