Stainless steel is definitely a favorite amongst manufacturers, retailers, and basically, anyone who cooks in their kitchen. It’s popular for its durability, flexibility, and longevity. It is also popular because, no matter what, this handy material never seems to rust. Seriously, try and remember the last time you saw rusty stainless steel.
You can’t, right? However, just because stainless steel never seems to rust, doesn’t mean it has anti-rust magical abilities or anything. In fact, there are some unfortunate rare occasions when there is a defect in a stainless steel product that goes unnoticed.
On those occasions, stainless steel will become rusty very quickly. However, the good news is that there are plenty of steps you can take to ensure that this doesn’t happen! So, if you’re interested, read on for more!
Why Does Stainless Steel Rust?
Stainless steel differs from ordinary steel. It comes with a chromium coating that provides it with a protective layer. This layer protects the stainless steel from corrosion, moisture, and of course, rust.
However, when this layer has been damaged or not enough of the chromium coating has been applied during the production process, stainless steel can become tarnished very quickly.
But, that does not mean that the stainless steel cannot be fixed if it is damaged. You’ll need to work fast, but if you do, then your stainless steel will be good as new in no time and not a single speck of rust will be visible!
Before we give you our expert advice, we have to give you a word of warning. There are some chemicals you should never use to maintain your stainless steel. These chemicals will break the protective layer on the stainless steel even more. So, avoid the following:
- Chlorine
- Ammonia
- Alcohol
- Fluorine
- Iodine
How To Keep Stainless Steel From Rusting?
So, you’ve noticed that your stainless steel doesn’t have the protective coating it needs to stop it from rusting. Now, you need to take matters into your own hands and find a way to provide this protective coating yourself. But you’re not alone! We are here to help you! Here are our best methods to keep your stainless steel from rusting.
Use Alloys To Your Stainless Steel
There are alloys that you can find in specific metals that will be very helpful when it comes to preventing your stainless steel from rusting. We recommend using the following alloys:
- Nickel
- Manganese
- Chromium
However, using alloys is merely the first step in this process. Alloys work to provide your stainless steel with immunity to rust, but there are other steps you need to take to keep your stainless steel totally oil-free.
Use Oil On Your Stainless Steel
When you are not using stainless steel items very often, oil becomes extremely important to their maintenance. If you allow stainless steel to sit out for a prolonged period of time without use, then the moisture in the air can start to corrode it.
This is especially true if it does not have an adequate amount of the protective coating it needs. Oil will act as a protective barrier to stop the moisture from sitting on the stainless steel product. So, apply oil to the stainless steel, and rust won’t be able to touch it.
Apply A Dry Coating To The Stainless Steel
To prevent your stainless steel from getting rusty, you can also apply a dry coat. Simply spray the dry coat onto the stainless steel to create a protective barrier and stop rust. Unlike other options on this list, you can add a layer of paint or finisher on top of a dry coat, too!
Paint The Stainless Steel
Did you know that painting stainless steel can help to fight against corrosion? Yes, by painting your metal, you are keeping it rust-free! However, it is always better to opt for an oil-based paint for the best results.
Galvanize The Stainless Steel
To galvanize metal, you need to place a coating of zinc on top of it. This is an excellent way of ensuring no corrosion happens to your stainless steel. However, it is more expensive than other methods on this list.
It is also worth noting that while this method is effective, zinc can actually cause your stainless steel to change shape. And, it can sometimes have a negative reaction to rain and salt.
Store Your Stainless Steel Correctly
Once you have applied a protective coating of your choice, you need to store your stainless steel correctly so that it stays smooth and rustless. It is best to store stainless steel in a cool, dry area.
If there is any moisture in the air then corrosion of your stainless steel products is more likely to happen. On top of keeping the stainless steel in a cool, dry place, it is a good idea to keep it in an air-tight container.
Final Thoughts
Stainless steel is an amazing material that has excellent durability, and flexibility, and is anti-rust. However, it is only anti-rust thanks to the protective chromium coating placed on top of it. So, when you have stainless steel products that do not have this protective layer or do not have an adequate amount of it, the chance of corrosion is very high.
This is especially true if you do not use the stainless steel products for a long period of time, or expose them to the moisture in the air. However, there is a solution to this problem! You can actually take many steps to ensure that your stainless steel does not grow rusty.
The best thing to do is try and apply a protective coating yourself using a variety of different methods such as alloys and oil. Alternatively, you can apply a dry coat to protect your stainless steel and then a layer of paint, provided that the paint is oil-based.
After you apply your protective coating of choice, it is important to store your stainless steel in the correct way. That way, you can ensure it stays rust-free!