Stainless Steel Cooktop Cleaning

There are 4 main types of discolouration.
1. A general slight dulling/tarnish, which you just have to live with (it's not too unatractive) unless you want to be constantly using harsh chemicals which will still leave smear problems.

2. Abrasion . Not much you can do about this except stopping well meaning individuals using scourers on the surface, or resorting to expensive/risky re-polishing.

3. Heat marks, if it has got hot enough and blued, again you are stuffed unless you try the expensive/risky re-polishing.

4. Chemical attack ...as above.

Best answer is learn to chill out, as long as it is clean.... (ish), whatever you clean with, buff over with a dry cloth after (he hob not yourself ) this minimises smearing.

We agonised for ages over 'should we have stainess still cooker/hob'... we went for it and it's been ok...except for a few little scratches (Son's girfiend being helpful?)

Del

You can use a high temp appliance paint. Scrub with scotch brite and paint 'em up.

They also sell new for about $5.00 US.

cr3

Hello Labyguy

That simple household chemical has worked for me on Stainless Steel, windows, and other surfaces, ever since being told about it some 50 years ago, by an aunt.

Take a Good Answer mark please.

Kind Regards....

Greetings!

If the white vinegar does not work, Phosphoric acid will do a great job.

It is available from any commercial cleaning supply company and is sold specifically for cleaning stainless and other kitchen/restaurant equipment surfaces.

Be careful! Thoroughly read the MSDS before using the product and follow all personal protective criteria as it can cause extreme skin, eye, and/or nasal discomfort.

Good luck!

I am not a metal finishing expert, but my wife performs routine cleaning with Windex and it works fine. She is fussy, and after ten years the appliances look like new. The original finish is a brushed finish, which is a series of parallel scratches. If the original brushed finish is disturbed, or overheating has caused a colored oxide layer to form, I would use wet or dry silicon carbide paper in straight line motions to replicate the original brush pattern. You would have to test different grades of paper to determine what matches best, but my guess would be about 100 grit.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I recall now that Naval Jelly is primarily phosphoric acid, and that stuff is supposed to clean off just about anything from metal surfaces.

Be certain that you do not have a plated surface as your results might become very undesirable.

Yesterday, we were cleaning windows, today stainless stovetops.

I love it.

I've always used a product called Cameo to clean kitchen stainless. It is basically very fine abrasive powder with other cleanser additives for stainless. Unlike the Ajax and Comet cleaners that are relatively coarse, Cameo, leaves shiny stainless surfaces shiny and does't seem to damage brushed stainless as long as some care is taken to not rub in one spot. There are a couple of other products out there like Barkeeper's Friend and another I can't think of right now that probably work along the same lines although not having used them I cannot attest to it.

Bon Ami is the other low-abrasive brand cleaner here in the US.

That's it! The name escaped me when I started to type it in. Thanks!

Much Thanks Robin... I couldn't remember the name. A friend of mine (who was into racing) used to use the stuff for cleaning windshields during pit stops. Rub it on... Hose it off... and the driver is on his way. He specifically used Bon Ami because it is low abrasive. Comet or Ajax would scratch up the windshield.

Bill

Another fine abrasive cleaner is Kleen King stainless steel and copper cleaner, from the same company that makes Bon Ami. I just looked, and neither the container nor their web site say so, but I believe it contains (or used to contain?) an acid. I'm pretty sure that the container used to list the acid, but I just checked three of various ages, and none of them do now. I can't quite remember which acid it was, but if you use it on thinly oxidized copper (I've used it for years prior to etching copper PC boards), the copper changes color almost instantly. I rub it in with my fingers, and have never experienced any discomfort, so it can't be very strong.

Yes vinegar is often over looked it's acidic properties are useful for blanching raw vegetables and cleaning bugs off chrome and glass too.

The institutional kool aide mix not containing sweetener add small amount of "HOT" water, is an excellent metal cleaner.

Cream of tartar is a very fine abrasive used to clean metal finishes, mix with vaseline intensive care to a paste apply and let set a spell, cleans coins, fine jewelry, copper and stainless steel cookware.

Simple green is my favorite for removing organic residues. I've heard of using waterless hand cleaner without pumice but not tried.

Hello bwire

Simple Green stripped the paint off an engine block years ago.

I was using it as a degreaser agent, and when I put the hose onto the block after the advised 2 minute spray was first applied, all the original engine paint slid off in lumpy pieces.

The engine was made by LandRover, 2286cc 4 cylinder.

That left me with further work, spraying the clean block, with VHT enamel spray paint.

I advised the supplier, but they were totally disinterested in what had happened.

I have stayed away from "Simple Green" products ever since.

Kind Regards....

But getting to the bare metal is what the question implies...

Dilution ratio is and important tool, I used simple green the other day to wipe paint ball splatter from my car, the finish wasn't marred.

I remember recommending the old STP to a friend for a specific application but he filled his new generator crank case with it and has had the same feeling towards it as you do with SG.

John

Hi!

Removal of stains, residues and oxidation from food preparation surfaces. (Never use pine oil on stainless- it can encourage bacterial growth)

For organic residue simple green can't be beat.

Remove oxidation and stains from metal with koolaid powdered mix the type you have to add sugar to. Mix powder with small amount of water and apply to stainless, copper, brass, bronze even linoleum and presto!

Vinegar will clean oxidation from metals also bugs from glass and chrome; beauty!

If a mild abrasive is needed combine cream of tartar with vaseline intensive care lotion to a paste consistency. Gently apply to fine jewelry and various metals, ceramics where ever you may need a very light abrasive.

A wire brush in an electric drill will make stainless steel look like it is brand new. I have used this technique on old, stained sinks and when I finished, you could not distinguish it from a brand new sink.

Hold the brush in a consistent direction so the brush marks blend together.

Bill Morrow