When the steel is stainless

Stainless steel is a staple in commercial kitchens and all around commercial buildings. It is durable and an easy to care for metallic surface that, if cleaned and maintained properly, can stay shiny and looking like new for years to come. Also, cleaning and maintaining your stainless is easier than you may think. The secret is Sheila Shine!

It’s important to understand the properties of stainless steel and what can cause it to corrode and deteriorate if not taken care of properly. Basically, we’ll explain what causes your stainless steel to rust and stain.

Stainless steel is a steel alloy containing iron, chromium, and nickel with a minimum percentage of chromium content that forms a protective film to keep the metal corrosion-resistant with little maintenance, unlike iron or regular steel that easily corrodes. The percentage of iron in any stainless steel material (about 70-80% in kitchen-grade steel) makes it capable of rusting under certain conditions. Practicing good maintenance and cleaning will help keep your stainless steel in great condition.

The main series of stainless steel used in foodservice equipment include austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic stainless steels.

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Austenitic stainless steel is used in over 70% of stainless steel production. It has a face-centered cubic crystalline structure which means its molecules have multiple points of attaching to one another which gives it structural strength but also flexibility. Austenitic stainless steel can be polished to mirror finish, is non-magnetic, maintains structure at high and low temperatures, and is extremely corrosion resistant. Work tables are often made of this material and are generally more expensive due to its corrosive resistance.

Ferritic stainless steel has a much lower chromium and nickel content than austenitic. It does have some corrosive resistance and can be polished but has limited temperature range before its structure is weakened. It also has magnetic properties thanks to its body-centered cubic structure.

Martensitic stainless steel is extremely strong and tough especially after tempering or heat treatment. It is magnetic and is often used for medical instruments or lightweight precision tools.

So what causes corrosion? Corrosion can develop on stainless steel if the passive film has been broken down due to mineral deposits from hard water, use of harsh cleaning tools, cleaners containing chloride, food particles that have been left behind and salt. Over time, these causes create tiny pits and cracks on the surface of the steel (unseen to the naked eye) that increase in size and depth over time, resulting in the typical red-orange rust.

Stainless steel actually thrives with frequent cleaning, and unlike some other materials, it is impossible to wear out stainless steel by excessive cleaning. To keep all of your commercial grade stainless steel looking its best and continuing to perform for a long time, you need a cleaner that is going to clean, protect, and shine at the same time. That cleaner is Sheila Shine! Sheila Shine is the ultimate three-in-one stainless steel cleaner and the only one on the market that can clean, protect, and shine your stainless steel in one application.