Does Bleach Affect Stainless Steel? Our Research Found This

Stainless steel is an amazing material and possibly one of the most influential wonders of modern technology. It is quite strong and plentiful while being almost impervious to corrosion, unlike most other alloys.

That is why they are used in places where you need something that does not get affected by life’s elements.

They can maintain their shine and structural integrity for a very long time and this can lure some people into the false security that it won’t be affected by bleach either. If you are wondering if it is safe to use bleach on stainless steel then wonder no more.

 

Does bleach really affect stainless steel?

Sadly, it does. Bleach is a very strong oxidizing agent. Even a small amount of bleach can oxidize steel. Steel’s major component is iron and as you should be knowing iron tends to rust.

Stainless steel normally doesn’t, thanks to a few other metals that are added to the iron.  Bleach is so effective when it comes to oxidation that it can even make stainless steel rust.

This is the case if the steel only comes in contact with a small quantity of bleach. However, if the stainless steel is exposed to a lot of bleach or for a long period of time then it will get completely corroded.

Even momentary exposure to bleach can leave stainless steel with ugly blotches and discolorations. So, the message that we are trying to get across is that you should never use bleach to clean anything that is made of stainless steel.

Some high-grade versions of stainless steel can initially withstand the effects of bleach but even they will eventually start getting destroyed. So be it a sink or an appliance, avoid bleach to clean it if it is fully or partially made up of stainless steel.

 

What to do with bleach stains on stainless steel?

If you already had to suffer the misfortune of exposing stainless steel to bleach and finding out the hard way that it isn’t as impervious as you thought it was then do not worry.

If it is only a light discoloration or a stain then it can still be restored to its original glory. You will need some stainless-steel cleaner and a scrubbing pad.

Use the scrubbing pad to gently work the stain away by scrubbing the spot in the direction of the grain of the surface. If you want to get a really great result then you can finish off with a stainless-steel polish.

 

How to safely clean stainless steel?

The best way to clean stainless steel is by using some warm water and a cloth. This type of steel is very smooth which means that most stains cannot get a good enough foothold to be too stubborn.

If warm water doesn’t work then you can use dishwasher liquid or a glass cleaner and these should be good enough for even the most stubborn stains on stainless steel.

However, in some very rare instances, you might come across a stain that is just too persistent for any of these, and in that case, you can get a cleaner made specifically for stainless steel.