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Why is Maintenance necessary?

While stainless steel is "stain-less", it is NOT stain-free: there is no stain-free material known to man. One of the main reasons for using stainless steel is because of its resistance to corrosion. Unlike carbon steels, stainless steels rarely fail through uniform corrosion. However, they do suffer from localised corrosions mainly through lack of maintenance or through incorrect grade selection.
Cleaning and maintenance is very necessary when stainless steel is exposed to an aggressive environment or the surface is finished iwth a rough finish. Inappropriate design and poor fabrication methods can necessitate the need for more regular maintenance. Stainless steels do  not need additional protection ton enhance their appearence and durability.


Stainless Steel Indoors -
Ordinary household cleaners with low chloride used regularly with plenty of water is all that is required. Drying afterwards will avoid leaving streaky marks.

Guide to Cleaning Intervals
Environment Description Cleaning Intervals
Mild More than 15km from the beachfront or a sheltered bay
Every 12 months
Moderate 1 to 15km from the beachfront or a sheltered bay
Every 4 - 6 months
Marine/Industrial/Urban 500m to 1km from the beachfront, or 100m to 1km from a sheltered bay
Every 3 months
Severe Marine/ Industrial/
Busy Urban
Within 500m of the beachfront or within 100m of a sheltered bay Weekly


Fingerprints, Oil and Grease Marks -
Mild detergent can shift most light marks. CSG Cleanox minimises and prevents finger prints in high usage areas. No rubbing or rinsing is necessary, the application of CSG Cleanox also provides extra protection against staining, preserves the stainless steel surface and minimizes the need for cleaning.


External Applications -
Rainfall can be expected to wash off accumulations of dirt and other deposits efficiently from well designed facades and fittings . However, it is usually recommended to supplement this natural process by washing the stainless steel  once or twice a year. A lot depends on the amount of exposure and severity of the environment. Special attention needs to be given to sheltered areas during routine cleaning.


Rust Marks and Tea-Staining -
Early action after the onset of tea-staining is most desirable to avoid the underlying surface from being affected. Once the surface suffers from pitting then it will probably require mechanical re-polishing and passivation. Tea-staining can removed by using Polinox US Stainless Steel Rust and Stain Remover. This product will clean and remove rust and stains, such as those caused by coastal environments , this is achieved without affecting the finish of the material.


Grease, Oily Film and other Organic Contamination -
Oils and grease may be removed by alkaline formulations or hot water and detergents or, if necessary, by hydrocarbon solvents such as alcohol, acetone, thinners or eucalyptus oil. In cases the surface should be rinsed with clean water and preferably dried. For directionally polished finishes, wiping along the polish direction with very hot clean water and a soft, absorbent cloth is a very good final step to reduce smears.