While Stainless Steel is not maintenance free, it is maintenance friendly. Cleaning and Maintenance is stainless steel is required and is quite simple.
Like all materials, stainless steel may become stained or discoloured over time, impairing the overall look. This brown discolouration – tea staining – has been identified in coastal applications in Australia and overseas.
Some of the basic elements that contribute to tea staining are the presence of corrosive substances (such as sea salt), surface roughness (brushed finish versus a mirror polish), grade selection and lack of maintenance.
Rainfall on a regular basis will help remove dirt, dust and other deposits from stainless steel if the design of the facade allows. In most parts of Australia however, there is often insufficient rainfall to effectively clean external fittings. Bridco therefore recommend the use of the cleaning schedule below.
| Environment | Distance from salt spray, beachfront or sheltered bay | Cleaning Interval |
| Mild | 15km + | Every 12 months |
| Moderate | 1 – 15km | Every 4-6 months |
| Marine/Industrial/Urban | 500m – salt spray / beachfront 1km – sheltered bay | Every 3 months |
| Severe Marine/Industrial/ Busy Urban | 100m – salt spray / beachfront 500m – sheltered bay | Weekly |
Bridco offers a range of cleaning products such as our B40 Cleaner and B42 Polish which aid in the removal of tea staining from the surface of stainless steel.
For further information please visit https://www.assda.asn.au/blog/141-preventing-coastal-corrosion-tea-staining.
Some of the above information was kindly provided by Australian Stainless Steel Development Association of which Bridco is a member. www.assda.asn.au