How to Maintain Stainless Steel Surfaces in a Commercial Kitchen
Working in a commercial kitchen comes with its challenges and rewards.
One crucial factor to consider when working in a commercial kitchen is maintaining stainless steel surfaces.
Knowing how to clean and care for them properly will keep your work easier and safer for you and your customers.
Maintaining stainless steel surfaces goes beyond a simple wipe-down and involves various processes that ensure clean, contaminant-free surfaces.
If you work in a food service environment, follow this guide to ensure that you properly maintain your stainless steel surfaces and provide the best service possible.
1. Use the Right Safety Equipment
Safety should always come first in a food service environment.
Clean stainless steel surfaces are essential to how well you maintain your commercial kitchen.
However, you must also ensure that you have the proper safety equipment for your stainless steel appliances.
When selecting a cleaning product, double-check that you have the suitable materials to avoid potential harm caused by chemicals in the solution.
Ensure that anyone cleaning your stainless steel appliances has gloves and aprons when handling cleaning solutions.
It would be best if you only used any solutions with acid or corrosive ingredients with protective glasses or goggles.
2. Use Dishwashing Liquid to Improve and Maintain Appearance
Maintaining your stainless steel equipment is essential to running a safe commercial kitchen.
You can easily remove fingerprints and smudges on your stainless steel appliances by filling a clean sink or bucket with warm water and diluting dishwashing liquid into the water.
Once the solution is mixed, you can take a clean microfiber cloth and apply a small amount of the solution.
You can use the cloth to eliminate these imperfections.
Once you have wiped the appliances with the grain, apply a small portion of baby oil to another cloth to keep your appliances shiny and in top shape.
3. Avoid Abrasives
Avoid using any abrasives on your stainless steel appliances when you’re doing your routine cleaning.
Materials like steel wool, metal pads, or any abrasive brush can damage the surface of your stainless steel appliances.
Avoid any harsh, abrasive cleaners, and always perform a spot test if you decide to test out a soft abrasive cleaner.
4. Make a Baking Soda and Water Paste
If you want a safe and simple way to clean any smudges on your stainless steel, you can make a paste containing baking soda and water to clean the surface.
Once you make this paste, you can use a clean microfiber cloth and gently apply the paste to the surface along the grain.
Use a wet cloth to clean the surface before towel drying.
5. Get the Natural Shine Back With Specific Cleaners
While creating your solution helps maintain the appearance and cleanliness of your stainless steel appliances, you can also find some explicitly made-for stainless steel cleaners.
Some cleansers contain natural protectants to help eliminate soil or fingerprints in the future, meaning you won’t have to clean off smudges or fingerprints as frequently.
Always follow the package instructions when using stainless steel cleaner and wipe the solution toward your appliance’s grain. Avoid wiping in a circular motion, as this will cause streaks.
When you finish wiping your surface with the cleaner, take a clean microfiber cloth to buff the surface.
6. Add Olive Oil to the Surface
A simple way to help your stainless steel stay clean for an extended time is to add a light coating of olive oil onto the surface.
Olive oil helps to protect it between deep cleaning sessions and can reduce the appearance of smudges and fingerprints while masking scratches on the surface.
To apply olive oil, place a small amount onto a microfiber cloth. You can wipe the cloth back and forth along the appliance’s grain for this solution.
7. Try a Vinegar and Olive Oil Combination
Another natural solution to maintaining your stainless steel surfaces is a combination of vinegar and olive oil. White vinegar helps clean greasy and grimy surfaces, while olive oil is an excellent protectant for your appliances.
Mist your surfaces with white vinegar and wipe with a paper towel with a light amount of olive oil. Wipe in the direction of your appliance’s grain to keep your surfaces clean and polished.
Always Care for Your Stainless Steel Appliances
Part of maintaining your stainless steel appliances is caring for them to avoid any signs of rust or aging. Rust damage can cause numerous issues for your commercial kitchen, including contaminated food and foodborne illnesses. Aside from regularly cleaning your appliances, ensure they are in a safe environment that won’t lead to corrosion.
High temperatures and humidity are harmful to stainless steel appliances and any environments that are chloride-rich or oxygen-depleted. Additionally, scratches on the surface can cause trouble by trapping moisture and leading to rust. Always clean your equipment after use to maintain a clean, smooth surface.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean With Lotus Commercial
Anyone working in a food environment must follow specific cleaning practices to ensure that their stainless steel surfaces are safe for workers and customers.
While you might try to clean and maintain them yourself, it’s always helpful to enlist professional help to ensure that your kitchen is disinfected and safe.
Lotus Commercial is a professional service that will help you disinfect your commercial kitchen environment and protect stainless steel surfaces and appliances from damage.
Turning to Lotus Commercial for your kitchen cleaning needs ensures that your commercial kitchen is always safe and in top-notch condition.
Contact the cleaning experts at Lotus Commercial today to find a solution for maintaining your kitchen.