How to Clean Stainless Steel Bench?

If you’ve got a stainless steel kitchen bench, you’re probably wondering how to clean it. Many homeowners and commercial businesses are opting to use stainless steel these days because it doesn’t absorb bacteria or odours.

However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get dirty! It’s important to regularly wipe up your stainless steel with the correct cleanser. The pros at Cafe Solutions are here to give you the breakdown on how to clean a stainless steel bench. Let’s scrub in some tips to clean up your stainless steel!

Key Takeaways

Cleaning stainless steel is essential for long-term durability, improved aesthetics, and good hygiene.
Soap, detergent, and warm water are sufficient for daily cleaning.
Heavy stains may require a baking soda and water paste.
Olive oil on a soft cloth is a great method of polishing your bench.

Why Clean Stainless Steel?

The most important reason you should invest in stainless steel bench care is to prevent stains and damage to your bench. Whether you have stainless steel kitchen benchtops in your home or commercial kitchen, here are the main reasons you should clean stainless steel:

Durability: While stainless steel is quite resistant to rust and corrosion, it still requires regular cleaning to maintain its durability. This keeps your residential or commercial stainless steel benches strong and sturdy for years to come.
Aesthetics: If you consistently clean your stainless steel benches, you maintain the shimmer and shine. When you rinse your stainless steel benches the right way, you can bring back the shine, and it will always look brand new!
Hygiene: Routine cleaning can help prevent the buildup of bacteria and contaminants. If you regularly prepare food on your benches, you’ll need to clean up spills as quickly as possible to avoid contamination of future meal prep.

The Consequences of Not Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Benchtop

If you avoid cleaning your stainless steel, you could be facing awful consequences for your bench. Stainless steel is easy to clean, and cleaning can be done rather quickly. These are the general consequences of not cleaning the surface of stainless steel products:

Heavy stains: When grease and good particles build up on even the best quality stainless steel, it will leave marks, and you may possibly be stuck with permanent stains.
Unpleasant appearance: It’s essential to ensure messy benches aren’t left too long, as it can completely take away from the aesthetic appeal of your stainless steel.
Decreased lifespan: If your benches are kept for a long time without regular maintenance and cleaning, it can eventually lead to rust.
Health risks: If you don’t maintain hygiene, your bench can pose a health risk in the form of bacteria growth.

Daily Cleaning Routine

Here is a comprehensive guide to keeping your stainless steel benches spotless. Make sure to read the instructions carefully to ensure your daily cleaning routine is correct! Let’s start with the required materials first.

Materials Needed

A microfibre cloth (though you can use a soft cloth, too)
Soap or detergent
Warm water

Cleaning Steps

Start off by wiping the surface with a soft, damp, clean cloth soaked in warm, soapy water. A few drops of dish-washing liquid will suffice.
Rinse the surface with clean water to get rid of any soap residue. There’s no need to use a commercial cream cleanser for regular cleans.
Finally, carefully dry with a soft cloth. A bar towel is usually too dirty for this, so make sure you dry the surface after cleaning with a soft cloth. This will prevent water spots and water stains.

Deep Cleaning Techniques

Have some heavy stains on your stainless steel bench? Water and detergent aren’t going to cut it! Here are a few specialised techniques:

Getting Rid of Stubborn Stains

Use a mixture of baking soda with water to create a cleaning paste. Gently scrub this mixture into your stain with a soft cloth, and it’ll look mirror-polished in no time. This mixture can also get rid of baked-on oil. Baking soda paste is a popular choice to prevent corrosion, too, along with a cream cleanser that isn’t harsh.

If you have tea or coffee stains, you can simply soak the area with boiling water and baking powder, then rinse and dry it carefully. A vinegar solution can also work for these stubborn stains.

Cleaning Different Types of Stains

There are various types of stains that can appear on your stainless steel bench. Here’s our guide on how to clean some common stains:

Grease and Oil Stains: Luckily, grease and oil are extremely common and easy to clean. A clean towel and a mild detergent with warm water should do the trick! Just make sure you rinse the area thoroughly and dry it properly afterwards.
Limescale and Hard Water Deposits: The baking soda and water paste will work perfectly for limescale and hard water deposit stains. Scrub gently, rinse with water, and dry.
Fingerprints and Smudges: These stains are very minor and can easily be removed. Spray a small amount of olive oil on a paper towel and wipe the surface down carefully.
Rust: You might be alarmed to see rust on your counter, but a simple proprietary stainless steel cleaner with phosphoric acid will clean it right up.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While cleaning your stainless steel seems simple, many people make small mistakes that can result in a disastrous outcome. Here are a few common mistakes you should avoid at all costs when it’s time to clean up:

Don’t use abrasive cleaners: Tools like steel wool and scouring pads can badly scratch the surface of your stainless steel bench and lead to permanent damage.
Never forget to rinse: Soaping up is great, but if you don’t rinse your cleaning solution off, the residue will build up. This can eventually lead to stains.
Never use chlorine-based products: Chlorine is one of the most common causes of corrosion on stainless steel, so double-check that your stainless steel kitchen bench cleaner doesn’t have chlorine content.
Don’t go against the grain: Some stainless steel benches have a brushed finish or grain. Always scrub with the direction of the grain when leaving, otherwise you may accidentally scratch the finish of your bench.

Maintenance Tips

Now that you know the best way to clean your stainless steel bench, let’s talk about regular maintenance. Here are a few maintenance tips from the experts at Cafe Solutions to get you started:

Wipe immediately: It’s important to clean up spills immediately to limit the risk of stains as much as possible. Even if there hasn’t been a huge, messy spill, you should still wipe the bench down after every use. This will prevent the possibility of grime buildup.
Polish regularly: Try and polish your bench every day, if possible. All you need is a little olive oil or baby oil on a soft cloth. This will make your bar extra shiny and also protect the surface!
Use coasters and mats: Having coasters and mats on your bench goes a long way in preventing discolouration, spills, and damage. Hot pots and pans tend to hurt your bench more than anything else, so preventative measures are key here.
Avoid heat damage: Never put hot pans, pots, or bowls directly on the stainless steel surface of your bench. This can cause warping and damage.

Keep the Shine With Cafe Solutions

Cafe Solutions is dedicated to ensuring your stainless steel benches are clean, shiny, and healthy. Remember, keep a regular cleaning routine, stay away from harsh chlorine chemicals, and stick with the grain!

If you’re still looking for the right bench, we have a wide variety of stainless steel benches to fit your kitchen perfectly. If you’re thinking about an upgrade, reach out to our friendly staff, and we’ll be happy to provide a tailored quote, just for you.

FAQs on How to Clean Stainless Steel Bench?

What cleaning products should not be used on stainless steel?

You should never use a glass cleaner, steel wool, bleach, tap water, oven cleaners, harsh abrasives, or scouring powders on stainless steel. These cleaners can actually damage your stainless steel bench and create scratches. In some cases, these cleaning products can even stain or dull the finish of your stainless steel.

Can scratches be removed from stainless steel?

Yes, scratches can be removed from stainless steel. If you have deep scratches on stainless steel, you can use fine sandpaper or a sponge to get it off. Dribble some olive oil onto your stainless steel and gently buff the scratches out.

How do I polish stainless steel bench tops?

You can polish stainless steel bench tops with olive oil, baby oil, or white vinegar on a cloth. This will make your stainless steel bench tops look brand new! Keep in mind that you should never use products with chlorine in them to polish stainless steel bench tops.