How to Maintain the Look of New Stainless Steel Equipment – General Parts Group

In 1913, Harry Brearley attempted to improve rifle barrels by creating a corrosion-resistant alloy; instead he discovered martensitic chromium stainless steel. Since then, stainless steel has been widely used in kitchens due to its resistance to heat, fire, corrosion; its easy-to-clean properties; and its strength-to-weight advantage.

General Parts Group, an independent distributor of commercial kitchen equipment parts, has experience with stainless steel equipment and are offering tips on how to maintain the look of the stainless steel restaurant experience.

What is Stainless Steel Made of?

Before you can determine how to maintain stainless steel, it is vital to know what it is made of and, as a result, what damages it. Stainless steel contains a thin outer layer of chromium which is what makes it resistant to corrosion, stains, and fire. However, dirt, oil, and scratches can interfere with the chromium making is susceptible to rusting, which is why it is important to clean it often.

How to Properly Clean Stainless Steel

In order to properly clean stainless steel, there are several tips that you should follow:

1. To begin, use a wet or damp cloth, along with some detergent, and proceed to wipe in the direction of the finish.

2. For more stubborn stains use baking soda.

3. When spills happen, wipe them up immediately.

4. Use a glass cleaner to remove any unwanted fingerprints.

5. After cleaning, rinse the entire surface with plain old water.

6. Once everything is rinsed, use a cloth or paper towel to dry the surface.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Stainless Steel

In addition to the proper stainless cleaning techniques, keep in mind that there are also some things you should avoid doing when cleaning stainless steel:

1. Do not use chlorine or any cleaners that may contain chlorine. Even though they may kill bacteria they may harm your stainless steel equipment. Instead, use an ammonia-based solution to kill unwanted bacteria.

2. Do not use steel wool sponges or any abrasive tools for cleaning because, as aforementioned, scratches cause stainless steel to rust. Instead, use nylon, plastic, or soft material tools for scrubbing.

3. If your stainless steel surface becomes scratched or stained, use stainless steel cleaners, but only as a last resort.

General Parts Group has two divisions, one dedicated to providing customers with parts and the other to providing customers with service. Whether your restaurant requires new parts, commercial appliance repair, or other services, a trained and experienced commercial appliance repair technician will help you quickly and efficiently. For more information on the products and services available from General Parts Group, visit their website at https://generalparts.com/. They stand ready to meet the needs of their customers and are proud to serve those who feed the nation.

About General Parts Group

General Parts Group is a provider of Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair Services. Founded in 1939, the company has grown to be distributor of O.E.M. parts and provides service for over 60,000 customers and 400 manufacturers of commercial foodservice equipment. Corporate headquarters are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and with major branch operations strategically located in Arizona(3), Colorado, Florida, Idaho(2), Illinois, Indiana(2), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri(2), Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma(2), Oregon(2), Tennessee, Texas(2) and Wisconsin(2), we are ideally positioned to provide Quality Service for over one third of the United States. We are viewed as the market leader in most of the markets we serve and in terms of overall sales, General Parts Group ranks in the top five of independent service companies nationally.