How to Maintain Stainless Steel


Stainless stays stainless when you keep contaminants off, clean routinely, and restore the passive layer after fabrication. Here’s a simple maintenance routine you can hand to the team.

Daily/weekly

  • Wipe with warm water and a mild neutral detergent; rinse and dry to stop water marks.
  • Avoid chlorine bleach; if used, rinse quickly and thoroughly.
  • Use soft cloths or non‑woven pads; no steel wool or carbon‑steel brushes.

Monthly/quarterly

  • Remove fingerprints and light oils with alcohol‑based cleaners.
  • For tea staining outdoors, wash with a pH‑neutral cleaner and fresh water.

After fabrication or repairs

  • Clean weld discoloration and heat tint; pickle and passivate per product instructions; rinse thoroughly.
  • Keep carbon‑steel grinding dust away from stainless areas.

Common issues and fixes

  • Rust spots: Often from contamination—clean, repassivate.
  • Scratches: Follow grain with a fine abrasive (No.4/320) and re‑blend.
  • Fingerprints: Switch to a finer satin or apply a clear protective coating if appearance is critical.

Share the environment and cleaners you use. We’ll suggest a finish and maintenance interval that keeps surfaces bright with minimal effort.