Stainless steel cleaning

[Rustic Charm]

I've been reading up on what's best to clean stainless steel with. But there are so many recommendations I'd like to hear from those tried and true.

I purchased a gel during the week called Rusted Solutions which is meant to clean in under 5 minutes. Damn stuff has been on all night and doesn't have any observable impact. At $30 Australian for 500 grams it's damn expensive for snake oil.

[UNCIVILIZED]

What are you trying to clean off of the stainless? And what is the item being cleaned?

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

What are you trying to clean off of the stainless? And what is the item being cleaned?

Rust stains of stantions, pushpit, pulpit, davits. Anything stainless basically.

[UNCIVILIZED]

There's always Flitz metal polish, or for something a bit agressive, mechanic's hand cleaner with pumice in it.
And I hesitate to mention it, due to the learning curve. But jewler's rouge, on a polisher, powered by a compressor.

[s/v Jedi]

Wichard passivating stainless steel polish.

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Wichard passivating stainless steel polish.

^^^ this

Also, there is a product in the US called Nevrdull or something like that. It requires elbow grease but it removes rust. After you use that the Wichard polish will passivate the steel.

[Vasco]

Spotless Stainless.
Spotless Stainless Home

[boatman61]

Over here we have a product called FerroNet.. basically an acid solution one paints on then washes off after 30-60secs..
I use it for really bad spots and where its awkward to get in..
the rest I maintain with a foam non stick pan scrubber, fresh water with a liberal squirt of one of the concentrated detergents with Lanolin like Fairy Liquid.. a rub down.. drying as you go.. every now and then keeps em nice n bright..

[AD28]

+1 spotless stainless. Ospho (phosphoric acid) will passivate

from the British Stainless Assn:

Article: Cleaning methods for stainless steel

[Rustic Charm]

Thanks guys, I'll try to get some 'Spotless' first. Seems its too expensive now to be imported into Australia for resale.

The UK is usually a second best for imports. The USA now has become way too expensive for the freight.

[Reefmagnet]

Call me old skool, but elbow grease and Gumption seems to work ok. If you want to get really serious then head off to your local welding supplies store and buy some "pickling paste".

[Sandero]

Barkeepers Friend

[Jim Cate]

RC, while I agree that Wichards (sp?) is good, it is pretty dear in Oz. So, I have been experimenting with a homebrew equivalent. I mix some oxalic acid with some automotive cutting compound and that does a pretty good job. If you have a source of phosphoric acid, it would work too, perhaps better, but the oxalic crystals that you can get at the local Bunnings are cheap and easy to use.

Jim

[zboss]

Collinite Metal Wax (#850) followed by Collinite Fleetwax Paste (#885).

Gets the rust of stainless very easily when used with bronze wool. Keeps rust off and shine on for many months.

[Pyxis156]

+1 for Spotless Stainless

Literally brush on and rinse off, so easy my wife is voluntarily doing the stainless maintenance now!