Stainless Steel Cleaning Tips
Stainless Steel Cleaning Tips
Stainless Steel Cleaning Tips
no. 5
Cleaning, Care & Maintenance of
Stainless Steel
The attractive and hygienic surface appearance of stainless steel products cannot be
regarded as completely maintenance free. All grades and finishes of stainless steel may
in fact stain, discolour or attain an adhering layer of grime in normal service. To achieve
maximum corrosion resistance the surface of the stainless steel must be kept clean.
Provided the grade, condition and surface finish were correctly selected for the
particular service environment, fabrication and installation procedures were correct and
that cleaning schedules are carried out regularly, good performance and long life will be
achieved. Frequency and cost of cleaning of stainless steel is lower than for many other
materials and this will often out-weigh higher acquisition costs.
These principles apply whether the item concerned is a simple kitchen utensil or a large
and complex architectural installation.
Aggressive operating environments can increase the speed of corrosion and therefore
require more frequent maintenance. Modern processes use many cleaners, sterilisers
and bleaches for hygienic purposes. These proprietary solutions, if appropriate for use
with stainless steel and when used in accordance with their makers' instructions are
safe, but if used incorrectly (e.g. warm or concentrated) can cause discolouration and
corrosion on the surface of stainless steels.
Strong acid solutions (e.g. hydrochloric acid or “spirits of salts”) are sometimes used to
clean masonry and tiling during building construction but they should never be
permitted to come into contact with metals, including stainless steel. If this should
happen the acid solution must be removed immediately by copious water flushing, but
even if promptly removed the appearance of the steel may be unacceptably changed.
Cleaning Methods
Sections below give passivation treatments for removal of free iron and other
contamination resulting from handling, fabrication, or exposure to contaminated
atmospheres, and pickling treatments for removal of high temperature scale from heat
treatment or welding operations.
Passivation Treatments
• Grades with at least 16% chromium (except free machining grade such as 303):
20-50% nitric acid, at room temperature to 40oC for 30-60 minutes.
• Grades with less than 16% chromium (except free machining grades such as 416):
20-50% nitric acid, at room temperature to 40oC for 60 minutes.
• Free machining grades and grades with less than 16% chromium such as 303, 410
and 416:
10-15% nitric acid + 0.5-1.5% hydrofluoric acid, at 20 to 60oC for 5-30 minutes.
Precautions
Acids: should only be handled using personal protective equipment as detailed in
relevant MSDS and other product-specific information. Care must be taken that acids are
not spilt over adjacent areas. All residues must be flushed to a treated waste stream
(refer to local water authorities for regulations and assistance). Always dilute by adding
acid to water, not water to acid. Use acid-resistant containers, such as glass or plastics.
If no dulling of the surface can be tolerated a trial treatment should be carried out;
especially for pickling operations. All treatments must be followed by thorough rinsing.
Solvents: should not be used in confined spaces. Smoking must be avoided when using
solvents.
Chlorides: are present in many cleaning agents. This entails risk of pitting corrosion of
stainless steel. If a cleaner containing chlorine, chlorides, bleaches or hypochlorites is
used it must be afterwards promptly and thoroughly cleaned off.
“Successful use of Stainless Steel Building Materials”, Japan Stainless Steel Association
(Nickel Institute publication 12 013).
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The information contained in this Technical Note is not an exhaustive statement of all relevant information. It is
a general guide for customers to the products and services available from Atlas Specialty Metals and no
representation is made or warranty given in relation to this Note or the products or processes it describes.