Stainless steel is as sensitive as the human skin, says Ruud van der Meulen, who writes about the importance and methods of cleaning stainless steel.

The lustrous look of stainless steel (SS) offers buildings a feel of cool interiors, a classic look and sophistication. It is also the chosen material to adorn small spaces like the elevator, to look bigger and more spacious. Another application of stainless steel is on the façade of buildings, and in street furniture where the material is exposed to harsh weather changes and dusts, rain and other elements. However, maintaining this beautiful alloy of various grades of metal is quite a task given its vulnerability to rusting and scratches – especially in the aforementioned elevators and other closed spaces. Hence, it is important to understand the importance, methods and skills of cleaning stainless steel to ensure maintenance of its lustrous finish.

FVH Facility Middle East, which I head in the Middle East, specialises in the cleaning of elevators, escalators and stainless steel polishing and cleaning. The latter is a service that we introduced just recently in January 2015. With our roots in the Netherlands, our subsidiary in the Middle East has been operating for the past three years. Cleanliness and stainless steel are closely related and, are interdependent in many applications. In the Middle East, not much is known about cleaning stainless steel, but its use is considerable in this area.

The use of SS

According to a report by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America, SS is used in several applications related to hygiene - food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and also construction material. It however performs its best when clean since it offers maximum resistance to corrosion. Being a combination of several materials, depending on the grade, SS imbibes several qualities and keeping it clean helps mitigate the vulnerability of those qualities. Essentially, SS is a group of iron-based alloys containing minimum 10.5 per cent chromium. Other elements are added, and the chromium content increased to improve the corrosion resistance and heat resisting properties, etc.

One of the main reasons for cleaning stainless steel is corrosion resistance maintenance. Stainless steel is protected from corrosion by a thin layer of chromium oxide, which formed by a reaction between the existing chromium in the SS with the oxygen from the atmosphere. Any contamination on the surface of the SS hinders this process and reduces corrosion resistance. While cleaning is important, how one must NOT clean stainless steel is equally paramount. Most often, cleaning personnel use one cloth to clean SS and other surfaces. SS is like the human skin, sensitive to abrasion and touch – and even the slightest wrong move can result in etching.

Some form of routine cleaning is necessary to preserve the appearance and integrity of the SS surface, which thrives with frequent cleaning, and is difficult to wear out. The first step of cleaning is to consider the effect of surface roughness, grain orientation and designs that allow for maximum exterior applications. Typically a microfiber cloth that is used specifically on that SS surface must be used along with a special solution to clean of any etching or dirt, etc.

Cleaning methods

Frequently, warm water with or without a gentle detergent is sufficient. One may also use mild non-scratching abrasive powders such as typical household cleaners. Water contains chloride and chloride is a catalyst for the stainless steel rusting process. The best way to clean non etched stainless steel is with a special stainless steel cleaner and polish. We, on the other hand, use special imported liquids which give an optimum result.

Ordinary carbon steel brushes or steel wool should be avoided as they may leave particles embedded on the surface which can lead to rusting. Fingerprints and stains are most common in consumer and architectural applications. Fortunately, these usually affect only appearance and seldom have an effect on corrosion resistance. When it comes to etching, we use a special solvent from Europe that is ideal in ensuring that the stainless steel surface is cleaned properly. When it comes to scratches, our expertise lies in our manpower, who we bring down all the way from Europe due to their highly skilled training and performance.

Apart from this, we also have the technology and expertise to apply different finishes to the stainless steel surface – like brushed or mirrored. Some of the applications where our expertise is required include healthcare and food hygiene. Rust is another aspect of the damaged stainless steel. In a weather like in the UAE, the changing seasons and the increased exposure to sand can result in SS corroding rather quickly. Sand contains iron and this in turn reacts with the steel – not to mention the scratches that these particles can instill on the surface of SS. One of the most ideal machines to use must be used manually – it has different brushes that are used in different applications for different grades of steel. Sometimes, when it comes to scratches, the use of a cleaning agent is quite minimal since taking off some microns of the layer of SS helps in cleaning it as well – cleaning off the superficial layer of grime and dust – almost like fresh, new skin. Of course, the amount to take off the surface depends on its thickness – 5-8 times in a lifetime is enough to allow the SS to remain intact, while ensuring that it is also clean.

All in all, stainless steel cleaning is quite important to maintain its shelf-life and its lustre to maintain the appearance of the facility, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

About the Author: Ruud van der Muelen is the Managing Director of FVH Facility Middle East, which specializes in specialized cleaning of escalators, travelatrs and stainless steel cleaning. He has spearheaded the company in bagging projects like the Audi and Porsche showrooms, Dubai Metro Link, etc.