The influx of stainless steel appliances in commercial kitchens and the kitchens of commercial settings has meant knowing how to properly clean these surfaces. Stainless steel is notorious for its ability to retain smudges and fingerprints, unlike its competitors in appliance finishes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that though if the steel is being cleaned regularly. Fortunately there are a number of commercial cleaning products that will work wonders keeping stainless steel clean.
The first rule of cleaning stainless steel is avoid abrasives. Stainless steel is easily damaged with abrasives, including some of the harsher commercial cleaners and/or pads. It is recommended to employ a clean cloth – preferably microfiber – when wiping down stainless steel. Also, ensuring that the cleaner being used does not contain any acid or scrubbing particles will help in ensuring that the stainless steel is not being unnecessarily damaged.
As a sort of DIY trick, some smaller offices and similarly sized commercial businesses might choose to save some money by employing vinegar instead of a professionally treated chemical cleaner. If this is the case, the only rule we recommend is to use a clean cloth to do the wipe down with and ensure that the cleaner is wiping in the direction of the grain of the steel surface. In the majority of cases, that will be from top to bottom. A mix of dishwashing liquid and baking soda has also been known to remove dirt and food particles from stainless steel. As good as these may be for residential use, they can get time consuming to mix and put together, and then the act of performing a clean can take longer to do.
When it comes to commercial spaces and the sheer amount of stainless steel that commonly needs to be addressed, using a stainless steel cleaner is usually the most effective choice. Though it might seem more expensive than household mixes, a stainless steel cleaner will get the job done so much faster which will save on the time workers need to put in to their clean. No matter what material is used, many commercial cleaning companies like to touch up a clean at the tail end with a small amount of mineral oil or glass cleaner. This technique is meant to restore that characteristic stainless steel glow which might dull in the cleaning process.
If the stainless steel is linked to an appliance, we always recommend checking the owners’ manual to ensure that the cleaner being used is safe. There is nothing worse than seeing an otherwise brand new, well-done appliance having been completely destroyed with the wrong chemical or after having had an abrasive applied to it. So always, when it comes to how to clean stainless steel, consult with the manufacturer’s instruction just to verify.
At the end of the day, stainless steel is very easy to clean. Thankfully there are also several commercial cleaning supplies and products that work great in commercial kitchens, serving to clean appliances and similar stainless steel surfaces. Commercial cleaning companies consistently depend on these specialty cleaners to get the job done. Environmentally safe, inexpensive, and highly effective at getting the job done, using a stainless steel cleaner can help simplify the cleaning process.
Please feel encouraged to do some research into what stainless steel cleaners may interest you as it will save a ton of time in the long run – which is something any small business owner can appreciate.
