How to clean stainless steel?

Stains and “rust” on stainless steel
Stainless steel is an extremely strong and solid material that will last for years. But stainless steel also needs a little attention and care every now and then. If you do not do this, the beautiful shine of the stainless steel will disappear and stains may appear. These stains can be tea stains or flash rust.
 
Tea stains and fly rust can be prevented, but fortunately these can also be removed with the right treatment. Below you will find more information about the origin, prevention and removal of these stains. Do you have any questions after reading this information? Please do not hesitate to contact us. You can easily order the recommended cleaning and care products on our website. (->link to maintenance products)
 
What are tea stains on stainless steel?
Tea stains are light brown spots on the stainless steel. These spots occur on stainless steel surfaces that are exposed to the effects of seawater. The stains do not affect the material, but they do disfigure it.
 
Are you considering installing an outdoor shower in your garden and do you live on the coast? Or are you looking for an outdoor shower for your beach tent/beach club or on a boat? Then read our tips for maintaining stainless steel in coastal areas. And please note: the influences of seawater can still have an effect even on stainless steel that is located at a distance of 20 km from the coast.
 
How do tea stains occur?
The seawater that evaporates is blown towards the coast by the wind and then settles on, among other things, the stainless steel surfaces. The resulting salt remains on the stainless steel and because this process is repeated over and over again, the salt content on the surface increases. This concentration of salt then causes brown spots (tea stains).
 
This process is faster on rough surfaces than on smooth surfaces because on smooth surfaces there are fewer edges, seams and cracks where salt can remain. That is why polished stainless steel is mainly used on the coast and on boats. But even polished stainless steel will eventually develop tea stains if the surface is not properly maintained.
 
How to prevent tea stains?
There are different types of stainless steel and one type is more sensitive to tea stains than the other. Stainless steel 316 is the least sensitive to corrosion and tea stains and we therefore always recommend choosing stainless steel 316 if you want to install a stainless steel outdoor shower in a coastal area. In addition, it is extremely important that the surface is regularly cleaned with a special stainless steel cleaner.
 
Remove tea stains that have already arisen
Prevention is better than cure, but if tea stains have already occurred, they can still be removed with a special cleaning agent. Then make sure that the surface remains clean to prevent new stains from forming.
 
What is flash rust?
Stainless steel doesn't rust, right? Then why is there such a thing as flash rust?
Fly rust occurs when metal particles or contaminants end up on the stainless steel and cause it to rust. This makes it look as if the stainless steel is rusting, but it is actually the metal particles or contaminants that have come onto it from outside that are rusting.
 
How to prevent flash rust?
By regularly cleaning the stainless steel with a stainless steel cleaner you prevent flash rust from developing. Immediately after installation, thoroughly clean the surface of your stainless steel outdoor shower with a stainless steel cleaner to prevent stains, then wipe it with a soft cloth. Additionally, you can also use the stainless steel cleaner spray, which gives a nice shine to the surface.

Remove any flight rest that has already occurred
Flash rust stains that have already occurred can be easily removed using a special cleaning agent to remove flash rust. Then make sure that the surface remains clean to prevent new stains from forming.
 
Additional information
LB Solutions manufactures outdoor showers from high-quality stainless steel and upon delivery you will always receive an information sheet with maintenance tips to prevent the above problems. Do you have any questions after reading this information? Please do not hesitate to contact us. You can easily order the recommended cleaning and care products on our website.