Here’s how to clean stainless steel handles and remove rust in a safe, quick and easy way.
Many think their stainless steel handles have gone rusty when in fact it is what is know as tea staining. If the handle is made from 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel – like our BLU Range of Door and Window Hardware - then it cannot rust. What you are seeing on your handle is tea staining.
Like all materials, unless cared for properly, stainless steel will be stained or discoloured over time. As it’s name suggests, stainless steel is ‘stain less’ not ‘stain free’. Tea staining is when the surface of the stainless steel is discoloured by corrosion. It is a cosmetic issue that takes place on the contaminants sitting on the surface of the metal. It does not affect the structural integrity or the lifetime of the 316 Stainless Steel.
Tea staining can take place in coastal areas where there is a higher salt content in the air, areas of high humidity such as around swimming pools, construction sites, and even in cities where there are often many pollutants and fumes in the air..
Good news is that with regular cleaning using our DR121 Stainless Steel Cleaner, the corrosion and tea staining can be prevented.
It can easily be avoided through regular cleaning of the hardware using a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then drying with a clean, soft cloth. Rubbing or wiping should be carried out in the direction of the brush or polish lines.
Firstly we shake the DR121 cleaner in the bottle then apply it undiluted to the hardware using a slightly damp, clean soft cloth or sponge. Allow the DR121 to soak into the metal for approximately 1 minute then, using some pressure, start to rub the cleaner into the metal using the cloth or sponge.
Note:
rubbing or polishing should only be carried out in the direction of the brush or polish lines of the metal.
When finished cleaning, the residue should be carefully removed using clean water and a clean soft cloth. Only light pressure should be used at this stage to prevent loose dirt from being rubbed back into the pores or grain of the metal.
For additional protection we recommend you go on to use our DR121 Conditioner. This leaves an additional protective nano layer on the metal.
You can purchase the DR121 Stainless Steel Cleaning Kit on its own or as part of our Hardware Care & Maintenance Kit. Many door manufacturers are going the extra mile on Customer Experience and including one of these kits as part of their door package.
If you would like more detail on the DR121 Cleaner or the Care & Maintenance Kits please contact us on sales@coastal-group.com or
