Friday, January 20, 2012

Tips from the Galley: Caring for your Stainless Steel Sink

 



Cleaning Guide
 Rinsing is the most important part of sink care.  Your stainless steel sink finish will retain its original bright appearance if the sink is rinsed thoroughly after each use.  This can be done by running water from the spray hose for a few minutes.  A rinse and towel drying after each use takes care of most everyday clean ups.  Once a week the sink should be scoured with a mildly abrasive cleanser, rubbing back and forth in the direction of the polish or in a circular motion to remove stubborn stains and greasy film buildups.  This will blend any scratches into the satin finish of the sink.  Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry and your sink will shine like new.


Scratches
 Like most metals, your stainless steel sink will scratch.  The featured benefit of the unique satin finish is the ease with which these scratches blend into the uniform finish of the sink.  This is accomplished with a periodic scouring with a mild abrasive ScotchBrite pad and cleanser.  To clean your sink, use the mildest cleaning procedure that will do the job effectively.  On the mirror finish deck we recommend using a liquid detergent with a soft cloth.  Do not use any abrasive materials on the mirror finish.  Inside the sink bowl we recommend using a mild abrasive cleanser such as Old Dutch or Comet.  Use a product such as Nevr-Dull to restore the original luster to your sink.

Discoloration
 Wet sponges, clothes, cleaning pads and rubber mats left on the sink can lead to discoloration.  Remove any mats after each use.  Steel wool pads should never be used to clean your sink as they leave small iron particles in the grain lines, which rust and can damage the sink. Continued usage in this manner may eventually lead to the sink itself rusting and pitting.

Knives
 Do not use your sink as a cutting surface.  This type of use will lead to deep scratches in the ink finish and will dull your knives.

Chlorides
 Chlorides are found in almost all soaps, detergents, bleaches and cleansers.  Chlorides are not friendly to the stainless steel surface.  They should not come in contact with the sink for extended periods.  When these chemicals are used in your sink, it should be thoroughly rinsed.  Chlorine bleach is not recommended, as it will attack the protective layer that makes stainless steel truly stainless.  The risk of damage is proportional to the concentration of the chlorine and duration of exposure.  Exposure can cause rusting and pitting.  Do not allow concentrated liquid detergent to dry in your sink.  Most brands contain chemical additives, which will affect the original high luster finish. 

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