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True Food International Equipment, Inc.
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CAUTION: Do not use any steel wool, abrasive or chlorine based products to clean stainless steel surfaces. Please ensure
that you use appropriate products when cleaning and polishing your TRUE unit. Cleaners containing chlorine must not
be used as these will attack the stainless steel causing damage and in some cases corrosion. Your supplier of cleaning
products should be able to advise you of the products suitable to keep your TRUE unit looking like new.
• Stainless Steel Opponents
Therearethreebasicthingswhichcanbreakdownyourstainlesssteel’spassivitylayerandallow
corrosiontorearitsuglyhead.
1)Scratchesfromwirebrushes,scrapers,andsteelpadsarejustafewexamplesofitemsthatcanbe
abrasivetostainlesssteel’ssurface.
2)Depositsleftonyourstainlesssteelcanleavespots.Youmayhavehardorsoftwaterdependingon
whatpartofthecountryyoulivein.Hardwatercanleavespots.Hardwaterthatisheatedcan
leavedepositsiflefttosittoolong.Thesedepositscancausethepassivelayertobreakdownand
rustyourstainlesssteel.Alldepositsleftfromfoodpreporserviceshouldberemovedassoonas
possible.
3)Chloridesarepresentintablesalt,food,andwater.Householdandindustrialcleanersaretheworst
typeofchloridestouse.
8 steps that can help prevent rust on stainless steel:
1. Using the correct cleaning tools
Usenon-abrasivetoolswhencleaningyourstainlesssteelproducts.Thestainlesssteel’spassivelayerwillnot
beharmedbysoftclothsandplasticscouringpads.Step2tellsyouhowtofindthepolishingmarks.
2. Cleaning along the polish lines
Polishinglinesor“grain”arevisibleonsomestainlesssteels.Alwaysscrubparallel
to
visiblelinesonsome
stainlesssteels.Useaplasticscouringpadorsoftclothwhenyoucannotseethegrain.
3. Use alkaline, alkaline chlorinated or non-chloride containing cleaners
Whilemanytraditionalcleanersareloadedwithchlorides,theindustryisprovidinganeverincreasingchoice
ofnon-chloridecleaners.Ifyouarenotsureofyourcleaner’schloridecontentcontactyourcleanersupplier.
Iftheytellyouthatyourpresentcleanercontainschlorides,askiftheyhaveanalternative.Avoidcleaners
containingquaternarysaltsastheycanattackstainlesssteel,causingpittingandrusting.
4. Water Treatment
Toreducedeposits,softenthehardwaterwhenpossible.Installationofcertainfilterscanremovecorrosive
anddistastefulelements.Saltsinaproperlymaintainedwatersoftenercanbetoyouradvantage.Contacta
treatmentspecialistifyouarenotsureoftheproperwatertreatment.
5. Maintaining the cleanliness of your food equipment
Usecleanersatrecommendedstrength(alkaline,alkalinechlorinatedornon-chloride).Avoidbuild-upofhard
stainsbycleaningfrequently.Whenboilingwaterwithyourstainlesssteelequipment,thesinglemostlikely
causeofdamageischloridesinthewater.Heatinganycleanerscontainingchlorideswillhavethesame
damagingeffects.
6. Rinse
Whenusingchlorinatedcleanersyoumustrinseandwipedryimmediately.Itisbettertowipestanding
c
leaningagentsandwaterassoonaspossible.Allowthestainlesssteelequipmenttoairdr y.Oxygenhelps
maintainthepassivityfilmonstainlesssteel.
7. Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) should never be used on stainless steel
8. Regularly restore/passivate stainless steel
STAINLESS STEEL EQUIPMENT CARE AND CLEANING
MAINTENANCE, CARE & CLEANING