Cleaning & Disinfecting Stainless Steel
As well as its many uses in industrial environments, stainless steel is also widely used for catering and medical applications. Along with being strong, robust, durable and resistant to corrosion and extreme temperatures, the metal can also be cleaned easily, which is especially important since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The specific type of coronavirus that is currently affecting the world's inhabitants is called SARS-CoV-2. This type of coronavirus has an especially fragile outer shell, which makes it less stable and more easily damaged by cleaning and disinfecting. As well as handwashing, it is now more important than ever to make sure that all surfaces are regularly and properly cleaned.
Stainless steel is known as one of the most hygienic industrial materials available. Both the anti-corrosive and hygienic properties of the metal is due to its passive layer: this comprises a thin coating of chromium oxide which forms on the surface of stainless steel as its chromium content reacts with air in the surrounding atmosphere. The layer is termed 'passive' because it is so unreactive with other chemical elements.
Though stainless steel is easy to clean, it is important to take care when choosing cleaning products like chemicals and cloths. For routine cleaning, use a soft, non-abrasive cloth with warm soapy water or detergent; you can also use 1% diluted ammonia. If using a cleaning cream on stubborn stains, it should be a non-scratching cream as abrasive formulas can damage the surface of the metal.
Cleaning chemicals containing chloride should never be used on stainless steel so always check the label on the product. After cleaning with detergent or soap and water and rinsing, you can safely use an alcohol solution (70% or greater) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As well as standard stainless steel products, BS Stainless also supply specialised anti-bacterial stainless steel which incorporates integrated Silver technology in its coating. To find out more about this product along with details about cleaning stainless steel effectively, please check out the BS Stainless website.