Stainless steel is like a mixture of mainly iron (71%), chromium (17-19%), and nickel (8-10%). Although it sounds tough, it can still stain or rust if it comes into contact with certain products or if we don’t give it the care it needs, so keep it in mind to keep it looking impeccable!
The types of stainless steel
In the case of cooker hoods, two types of stainless steel are commonly used:
— Aisi 304, or NON-FERRITIC, with a higher percentage of chromium and therefore greater resistance to corrosion. Used in the great majority of Frecan cooker hoods and also used in all FrecanTEK steel worktops. In this type of steel a magnet does NOT magnetise.
— Aisi 430, or FERRITIC. with a lower percentage of chromium and resistance to corrosion. This is used in more economical range hoods, kitchen utensils, etc. In this type of steel a magnet DOES magnetise.
In the case of sinks, 18/10 Aisi 304 steel is used.
What can affect the stainless steel?
– Liquid detergents containing chlorine or some of its derivatives: salfuman, anti-limescale product, or degreaser or similar. Even ammonia or salfuman vapours can affect steel, even if they are not applied directly.
– Abrasive cleaning agents such as scouring pads, nickel scouring pads, etc. may scratch it.
– Contact with any wet or rusty ferritic element.
– The rest of some sugary foods or liquids if they are in contact for any length of time.
– Nothing should be left on the steel that is wet, for example: rags, soap bottles, aluminium cans, etc.
– External materials: paint, cement, varnish, tile or granite cutting dust.
Daily maintenance
FrecanTEK sinks and worktops should be cleaned with liquid soap and water after each use. Rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue and dry to remove any limescale. The cooker hoods should be cleaned in the same way.
How to deal with a stain on steel?
As we have already mentioned, there are many reasons why a steel can become stained. In view of this, the possible solutions are as follows:
— Cooker hoods and worktops
Use “Stahl Fix“, a very fine-grained polish available from Frecan. Place a small amount on a clean, dry cloth and apply to the damaged surface, wiping the cloth over the stain in the direction of the grain of the steel. Leave for a few seconds and then wipe off the residue with a damp cloth. Then dry thoroughly. If necessary, repeat the process until the stain is completely removed.
— Sinks
In these cases, you can use “Stahl Fix” or “Sidol” or “Netol”. The difference with these polishes is that the grain is coarser and they are more abrasive, which allows us to use them without fear on a sink or teppan. The application method is the same as in the previous case. These products can be bought in any drugstore, etc.
Black stains on sinks
These are rare, as they are residues of industrial polish used to polish basins. These stains are already visible when the sink box is opened, i.e. before the sink is installed. They are easily removed with “Sidol” or “Netol”.
CONCLUSION
After a period of time with the sink installed, the sink is not considered defective if rust stains appear. Therefore, it is not covered by the warranty and no returns or exchanges are accepted.
Under no circumstances does Frecan’s Technical Service go to the user’s home to attest to this. The Technical Service repairs, not cleans.
A stainless steel cleaning and maintenance guide is included with all Frecan sinks.
Cleaning treatment with “Stahl Fix”
After daily use of the stainless steel sink or hob, stains (whitish, iridescent or rust-coloured) may appear, which in no case are the result of poor quality or defects in the steel.
The most common situations are evaporated water stains that present deposits of mineral residues, washing residues or cleaning products rinsed incorrectly, cooking liquids, salt, lemon or tomato juice, etc.
It is possible to treat any stainless steel surface that has suffered an aggression using Stahl Fix“>Stahl Fix repair cream, which can be found in the Frecan catalogue (ref. 90213).
The strength of the cream ensures the removal of surface-damaging residues, allowing the regeneration of the protective layer of the steel.
In case of pitting corrosion, it is necessary to repeat the treatment several times to “clean” the contaminated area and ensure the correct formation of the natural passivating layer of the stainless steel.
Apply a good amount of cream on the steel and rub with the help of a soft cloth (e.g. microfibre).
We recommend rubbing in the direction of the polishing grain and applying pressure when rubbing.
To verify that the right strength is being applied, observe if the cloth turns a dark grey tone, which indicates that the product is acting correctly on the surface.
The cream should be rubbed vigorously over the entire surface of the steel until it dissolves completely, turning into a light layer of white powder.
At the end of the treatment, rinse with plenty of water to completely remove the residues of the used cream.
Dry the steel and check if it is necessary to repeat the operation.
The result is the complete recovery of the steel surface.
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