Care and maintenance
Stainless steel is inherently non-porous, antibacterial, and remarkably hardwearing. However, preserving its uniform lustre and preventing accidental surface damage requires simple, consistent habits. The fabricator will be able to advise you on care and maintenance.
Daily Cleaning Routine:- Warm soapy water & microfibre cloth: For day-to-day wipe-downs, warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap and a clean microfibre cloth is all you need.
Follow the grain: On brushed or satin worktops, always wipe and buff along the direction of the metal’s grain lines. Wiping across the grain can leave dull streaks and highlight superficial micro-scratches over time.
Buff dry: Never leave water to air-dry. A quick final buff with a dry microfibre towel prevents hard water spots and limescale rings from forming, particularly in hard-water postcodes.
Tackling Stubborn Marks, Grease & Limescale. Grease and dried spills: Use a specialist non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner, or mix a gentle paste of bicarbonate of soda and warm water. Apply with a soft sponge, work gently in line with the grain, rinse thoroughly with fresh water, and towel dry.
Limescale buildup: Around sinks and mixer taps, mineral deposits can form quickly. Treat these with a mild solution of white vinegar and water (50/50 mix), leave for a minute or two, wipe away, and rinse clean immediately.
Products to Strictly Avoid: Never use bleach or chlorine-based cleaners: Chemical bleaches, pool sanitisers, and mould sprays aggressively break down the stainless steel’s invisible chromium oxide “passive layer”, causing permanent brown discolouration and deep surface pitting.
No wire wool, Brillo pads, or scouring powders: Abrasive pads drag steel fibres across the worktop, leaving visible scratches and embedding carbon steel particles that can rust on the surface. Use only non-scratch, nylon-safe sponges.
Avoid resting wet cast iron or wet steel cans: Leaving wet cast-iron pans, food tins, or wet metal wire racks sitting on the surface can deposit external rust onto the stainless steel—a problem called “free iron contamination.”