weebly analytics
Blog
Dec 2, 2011
admin
Comments Off

Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel has become very popular in many households these days. If you have this metal alloy that has become popular for sinks and appliances, you have a great surface that doesn’t corrode or rust easily. Stainless steel is easy to sanitize and clean. It actually isn’t stain-proof, it simply stains less than other steel. Chemical residues, dirty water, and even hard water can leave stains and spots on stainless steel. It can also be dented and scratched fairly easily. Manufacturers are now offering new types of finishes that diminish scratching and fingerprints.
Anyone with an appliance with a stainless steel finish, such as a dishwasher, refrigerator or oven, likes to see a streak-free surface. Clean it properly, and you will have a beautiful result.
The following will be the Do’s and Don’ts when maintaining your appliances.
Do’s
Safest Way
One easy way to clean the exterior of a stainless steel appliance is with two soft, clean lint free cloths. A portion of the first cloth should be soaked with very hot water. Wipe a section of the surface with the hot, wet cloth and immediately dry the same spot with the dry cloth. Wipe in the direction of any polish lines and you should have a streak-free result. If there are significant stains, try adding a small amount of a mild soap to the water. Rinse the surface thoroughly with warm water and immediately dry it with a clean cloth. Some manufacturers recommend lightly wiping the surface with a water dampened microfiber cloth, followed by a dry polishing chamois.
Stainless Steel Cleaners.
Some Manufacturers recommend using a soft, non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner on the stainless steel finishes. Apply the cleaner with a soft 100% lint free cloth. All work should follow the direction of the grain, and better results are obtained by keeping the cloth in continuous contact with the metal.
If you’ve had staining or scratching, or need to polish your stainless steel, a stainless steel cleaner may be a good option. Some of these cleaners and polishes can help minimize scratching and remove stains. They also can polish stainless steel surfaces nicely. Read the directions on the stainless steel cleaner and test in an inconspicuous spot. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.
Keeping that Shiny Look
Simple has its seems and works like a charm, Pledge wipes work the best on stainless steel and are great for quick touch ups. They also contain just the right amount of polish.
Don’ts
Do not use abrasive cleaners that will scratch the surface.
Depending on the surface finish of your stainless steel, abrasive cleaners can cause scratching.
Do not forget to rinse.
Gritty or dirty water, or residue from cleaning solutions left on a stainless steel surface can stain or damage the finish.
Do not use cleaners containing chlorine.
While it may be second nature to bleach everything, stainless steel and chlorine don’t mix. Stay away from the bleach when you clean stainless steel.
Do not use steel wool or steel brushes.
These products leave little particles in the surface of the steel and inevitably these particles begin rusting and staining the surface of the steel. They also can excessively scratch the surface of your stainless steel.
Do not assume it’s the cleaner.
If you do have some spotting or staining, and you’ve followed all of the rules, it may not be the cleaner. Water, especially hard water, can leave spotting and staining on stainless steel surfaces. Using distilled water or towel dry after rinsing can end the problem.
The info was gathered by Leahy’s Inspections. Providing quality inspections in Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Burleson, Joshua, Crowley, Everman, Rendon, Aledo, Benbrook, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Midlothian, Dallas, Hurst, Euless and surrounding areas.

Comments are closed.

Popular Articles

  • Home Savers Foundation Repair

    The number one question I get during home inspections is “How is the Foundation”. I decided to write this post to help people understand the North Texas area conditions regarding foundations. Movement in the foundation can be caused by many factors, the most common reason is differential soil movement. In the North Texas area many homes are sitting on top of expansive clay soils. Another term for this type of soil is “Sponge Soil”, increasing in volume in moisture gain and decreasing in moisture loss. When this volume increases or decreases in a uniformed matter all around the home, problems may not develop.… Read the rest

  • Caring for Your Landscaping During Heat Wave

    During the hot Texas summer heat waves, all our hard work from the spring can go right out the window on our lawn and landscapes. Extra care needs to be done in order to keep the plants in our landscapes alive during the summer and especially during a heat wave. Here are some tips to keep your plants healthy and help them survive a heat wave.
    Water, of course, is essential to keep your plants alive. If you are used to watering once a week, you will need to increase that to twice, and possible three times a week.
    Note that young plants and trees that were planted during the spring will need extra care.… Read the rest

  • The Truth About Replacing Windows

    I’ve listened to some outrageous claims from window replacement companies. The usual sales tactic is how much return on your investment by replacing your windows you’ll get. The fact of the matter is the new windows could take anywhere from 13 to 20 years to receive your investment back. Unfortunately, a lot of consumers believe the window company’s claims. I hear this myth repeated many times while doing home inspections throughout the Dallas and Fort Worth areas.
    Don’t get me wrong, new windows can be a very good thing, but it miffs me just a bit that a vast amount of dealers in the market try to hype the return to make it sound as if your investment will be recouped in no time at all.… Read the rest

  • 7 Easy Steps to Shipping Your Plants Safely

    The thought of moving into a new house or apartment is known to cause a lot of stress onto the average person. Added onto that stress is the thought of your plants and flowers, of which you’ve spent precious hours and effort to grow, either dying during the move or needing to be thrown out. We’ve listed 7 easy steps for you to keep your green thumb alive as you move and transport your plants from one location to another!

    Step 1:

    Get some shipping boxes from your local grocery store, Wal-Mart, or post office. Aim to ship your plant(s) out early in the week so that your package doesn’t get stuck in transit at the Post Office over the weekend.… Read the rest

  • DIY Family Command Center

    If you find the constant scheduling of tasks or general chaos in your household is too much to handle, then perhaps investing in a family command center is good idea. There are many versions of a family command center and each one is specifically designed to fit different household and family needs. The best thing about creating a family command center is that it is a great DIY project, so it won’t end up costing a fortune to get your family’s duties back on track.

    How to Create a Family Command Center

    Materials & Location

    The general materials you will need to create a simple family command center are:

    • Bulletin/dry erase/chalk board
    • Nails/screws
    • Hammer/electric drill
    • Measuring tape
    • Writing utensils (markers or chalk)

    Depending on the complexity of your creativity skills or budget, you can also add decorative measures, such as ribbons, bows or picture frames of each family member, but feel free to be as basic as possible.… Read the rest

  • Inspecting with a Moisture Meter

    A moisture meter is a device designed to measure the moisture content of various building materials, such as roofing, siding, insulation, drywall, plaster, wood, tile and fiberglass. Structural and safety hazards, such as mold, rot and decay are all potential consequences of elevated moisture levels in these materials. An inspector can use a moisture meter to locate moisture that would not otherwise be apparent.
    Here are a few ways that inspectors may find moisture meters useful:
    •A moisture meter can be used to determine whether a material is moist enough to allow mold to grow. Mold will begin to accumulate on surfaces that contain approximately 20% moisture, although this value varies based on vapor pressure and other factors.… Read the rest

  • SMA and Aurora Solar Inverters - Premium Solar Inverters

    Keeping the Lights on With High Quality Solar Inverters

    No matter the size of a solar photovoltaic installation, it requires a solar power inverter in order to convert the current provided by the solar panels into usable AC current. Due to this, hobbyists and industrial concerns alike should only select the highest quality inverters for their use. Fortunately, SMA and Aurora solar inverters are examples of premium inverters.

    The Importance of Quality

    When selecting a solar power inverter, quality should always be the most important consideration. Not only are premium solar inverters more efficient and cost effective, but they also are more reliable.… Read the rest

  • Roof Flashing

    The main purpose of a roof is to protect the home from the elements. Rainfall is the #1 culprit of water getting underneath the roof structure. Water needs to be shed away from valleys, chimneys, ridges, eaves, rakes, skylights, roof penetrations and roof to wall intersections. Water built up in these particular locations can cause serious damage to the structure in wood rot and not to mention mold which is known to cause respiratory problems. The water usually doesn’t just stop there, it can penetrate down the attic structure, to the ceiling sheet-rock or down a wall and cause even more serious issues.… Read the rest

  • TLC Hoarders - Are you a hoarder?

    Many Americans are obsessed with their collections. Collectors search the world for the items that they need to complete their collection, often paying thousands or even millions of dollars for that perfect piece. Some collectors search for nostalgic items like action figures, baseball cards or metal lunch boxes while others search for items of great beauty like sculptures and paintings. Others collect coins and other possibly valuable items, searching for the piece that will allow them to retire to a private island in the Caribbean.

    Hoarders, on the other hand, collect everything. Their houses fill to the brim with items that most of us would consider trash because they are unwilling, or unable, to throw anything away.… Read the rest

  • The Advantages Of A Canopy

    Perhaps one of the most practical ways to add a bit of character to the home is through the addition of a canopy. These decorative accents are available in a number of styles and can be fitted over doors, windows, patios and many more. Not only do they look good, but they also have a number of practical purposes as they can offer protection to you and your home in a number of circumstances. Here are a few reasons your home could benefit from a canopy

    Aesthetics

    No matter what the style of your home is, you should be able to find a canopy to suit.… Read the rest