Rust Spots on Stainless Steel Bench

Uncle Roger on 21/09/2022 - 22:45
Last edited 21/09/2022 - 22:45

Hey guys,

I've got a stainless steel bench that I use for food prep. It (obviously) gets cleaned after each use.

I've noticed that there are small rust spots forming, particularly along the splashback. I've done the baking soda+water removal, which does help, but only temporarily.

Is there a more permanent solution to get rid of these spots, and to stop them from reoccurring?

Haiyaaaaaa

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 21/09/2022 - 22:47
    +3

    It's not Stainless Steel then.

    • oscargamer on 21/09/2022 - 22:49
      +1

      It probably is, but it'll be cheap 304 or similar

      • apsilon on 22/09/2022 - 07:02
        +2

        304 shouldn't rust that easily. My guesses:

        • It's cheap steel that's contaminated and it's the contaminants that are rusting
        • It's rusting at a weld and either the filler used wasn't stainless or it wasn't cleaned and was contaminated as above
        • OP is too aggressive with their cleaning method and is removing the oxide layer allowing it to rust but really should be rusting so quickly even in this scenario and I'd expect it more on the bench surface than the splashback. I guess if the food they're preparing is the right pH it might be accelerating the process
    • AustriaBargain on 22/09/2022 - 01:34
      +4

      Well it stained less than a cast iron bench would. It's stainless, not stainfree.

  • oscargamer on 21/09/2022 - 22:48
    +6

    Bar keepers friend

  • foxmulder on 21/09/2022 - 22:51

    Does the bench get sunlight?

  • garetz on 21/09/2022 - 22:58

    Probably not food grade stainless steel.

  • Wiadro on 21/09/2022 - 23:58

    i had this on my new house sink, the builder sent me Quickleen

    • Borg on 22/09/2022 - 07:23

      Interesting product. Wonder if it does everything it claims e.g. baked on oil on baking trays back to new in no time etc! Have you tried it?

      • Wiadro on 22/09/2022 - 14:45

        the rust spots are gone and havent come back

  • jizmo on 22/09/2022 - 08:27

    Read up on "Passivation Stainless" probably the way you're cleaning it and leaving it after that's causing the rust.

  • sharkyoz on 22/09/2022 - 10:46

    its stainless, not stainfree

  • kmwa on 22/09/2022 - 14:45
    +1

    Stainless steels will corrode if they are in contact with (ordinary) carbon steel or iron.
    A common culprit is cheap scouring pads made of carbon steel, which will leave fragments of carbon steel on a stainless steel surface if they are used to clean it. You need to use stainless steel scouring pads on a stainless steel surface.
    Another thing that promotes corrosion is water. After cleaning your benchtop, wipe it down with a cloth to dry it, rather than leaving spots of water on it.
    Source: work in the oil and gas industry using many grades of stainless steel and Corrosion Resistant Alloys.

  • Cluster on 22/09/2022 - 15:11

    Sounds like you have 202 or 204 stainless steel, not something higher grade like 304 or 316. There are big variations in SS and its quality.

    You can test whether you have 200 or 300 series steel: https://www.waterbottle.tech/simple-methods-for-identifying-…

    Copper sulfate is available from Bunnings. The test is only handy if you think a builder has substituted an inferior product however.

  • activ8newbs on 23/09/2022 - 01:41

    Rustbusterx from Bunnings
    Tutorial on YouTube by billshowto

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