MAINTENANCE - ENTRETIEN - MANUTENCIÓN
Cleaning and Maintenance of Stainless Steel surfaces
Mortar and cement splashes can be treated with a solution containing a small amount of phosphoric acid. Rinse
withwater(preferablydeionisedwater)anddry.Deionisedwaterreducestheriskofwaterstainingmarks.
Proprietary products are available from specialists finishing companies. Never allow mortar removers or diluted
hydrochloric acid to be used on stainless steel. If they have accidentally been applied to or spilt over the stainless
steel, rinse generously with fresh water.
- Brushed finishes, which are a popular choice for interiors, may show finger marks in the period immediately after
installation, but the visibility of the marking should become less evident after the first few cleaning operations.
- To remove fingerprints and other marks, soapy water or a mild detergent are usually safe and successful.
- Mirror-polished stainless steel can be cleaned with glass cleansers. These products should be selected
chloride-free.
- Scouring powers should not be used as these products can leave permanent scratches on stainless steel
surfaces.
- Alternatively, use a proprietary stainless steel cleaner containing phosphoric acid to remove contamination,
rinse with deionised water and dry. It is advisable that the entire surface of the component is treated so that a
patchy appearance is avoided.
-CleanersthatshouldNOTbeusedonstainlesssteelsinclude:
•chloride-containingcleansers,especiallythosecontaininghydrochloricacid,
• h ypochloritebleachesshouldnotbeusedonstainlesssteels;ifappliedaccidentallyorspiltonstainlesssteel
surfaces, should be rinsed off immediately with liberal amounts of fresh water,
•silver-cleanersmustnotbeusedonstainlesssteel
A damp cloth or chamois leather will usually be suitable for removing normal soiling, fingerprints, etc.
For more stubborn dirt, nylon pads are usually satisfactory.
Non-stainless steel based scouring pads, cleaning wool or wire brushes must not be used on stainless steel.
Apart from scratching the surface, these pads can leave carbon steel deposits on the stainless surface, which
can subsequently develop into rust spots, if the surface becomes wet.
On"grained"directionalfinishes,thedirectionofcleaningstrokesshouldbealongthegrainandnotacrossit.
Wherewaterhasbeenusedforcleaningorrinsing,wipingthesurfacedrytopreventwatermarks,especiallyin
hard water areas may be advisable. The use of deionised water will prevent the formation of hard water staining.
To avoid "cross-contamination" from iron particles, ensure that cleaning utensils have not been used for
"ordinary"(i.e.carbon)steelbefore.Cleaningmaterialsforuseonstainlesssteelitemsshouldpreferablybe
reserved exclusively for that purpose.
Cleaning should be done before there is a visible build up of soiling or finger-marking, so that the effort and cost
of cleaning is minimised along with the risk of marking or altering the appearance of the surfaces.
Nettoyage et entretien de les surfaces en l'acier inoxydable
On pourra éliminer les taches de ciment au moyen d'une solution contenant une petite quantité d'acide
phosphorique.Cetraitementserasuivid'unrinçageabondantàl'eau(eaudéminéraliséedepréférence)etd'un
séchage. L'emploi d'eau déminéralisée réduit le risque de voir apparaître des traces. On pourra se procurer les
produitsauprèsd'entreprisesspécialiséesdanslesproduitsdetraitementdesurface.Onnedoitjamaisutiliser
avec l'acier inoxydable des produits contenant de l'acide chlorhydrique (HCl), même dilué. Si par mégarde
c'étaitlecas,ilfautrincerabondammentàl'eau.
- Sur les finitions en mat, qui sont souvent choisies pour les intérieurs, des traces de doigts peuvent apparaître
durant la période suivant immédiatement l'installation, mais celles-ci disparaîtront progressivement après
quelques nettoyages.
- Pour effacer les traces de doigts et autres marques, l'utilisation d'eau savonneuse ou d'un détergent léger est
habituellement efficace et sûre.
- L esaciersinoxydables«polimiroir»peuventêtrenettoyésaveclesproduitspourvitresàconditionqu'ilssoient
exempts de chlorures.
- L espoudresàrécurersontàévitercarellesrisquentderayerirreparablementlessurfaces
- U neautresolutionconsisteàemployerunnettoyantpourinoxcontenantdel'acidephosphorique,puisàrincer
àl'eaudéminéraliséeetàsécher.Ilestconseillédetraiterdecettefaçontoutelasurfaceducomposantafin
de lui conserver un aspect parfaitement uniforme.
-Parmilesnettoyantsànepasutilisersurdel'acierinoxydablefigurent:
•lesnettoyantsàbasedechlore,notammentl'acidechlorhydrique,
• l es produits de blanchiment contenant de l'eau de javel (en cas d'utilisation par erreur ou de déversement
accidentelsurdessurfacesenacierinoxydable,rincerabondammentàl'eauclaire),
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