Bleach On Stainless Steel?

Have your stainless steel products caught grime? Are you thinking of cleaning them with bleach? But, wait! Before you proceed any further, you need to know whether you can use bleach on stainless steel products or not? Is it safe to do so?

Continue reading to find out everything that you need to know.

Bleach on-Stainless Steel

Can You Clean Stainless Steel with Bleach?

We understand that you might be worried about the fingerprint stains on your stainless steel sink, utensils, cutlery, and cookware, as they can get quite visible. No one would like it. In addition to that, the covid pandemic has made us realize the importance of disinfecting household appliances and utensils. That’s why you might look for different ways to clean stainless steel. Many people might be intrigued to use bleach to clean the stainless steel as well. But, is it a really good idea to do so?

Using bleach to clean stainless steel is not a good idea. So, if you are even thinking of cleansing your products made from stainless steel, then think again. What is it about bleach that it does not get along with stainless steel? Let’s find out.

Although you might think that stainless steel is an indestructible metal, it is not the case. The metal has its own vulnerabilities, and bleach is one of them. The bleach found in the household is sodium hypochlorite.

Can You Use Bleach On Stainless Steel? How?

Stainless steel contains chromium which forms a layer of chromium oxide that acts as a protective layer. Strong chemicals such as bleach can damage this layer and result in bleach stain spots on your stainless steel appliances. If you must use it, add ½ cup of bleach in one gallon of water or more to dilute it.

When bleach is spilled on stainless steel and remains on it for a longer time, you may notice dull gray or brownish stains appear on the surface of your stainless steel. This is why cleaning your stainless-steel sink, cookware, cutlery, and utensils is not such a good idea.

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Is Bleach Corrosive to Stainless Steel?

Did you clean your stainless steel with bleach? If yes, then you might notice dull gray and brownish spots appearing on your stainless steel as a product? So, what exactly is it? Why are there spots appearing on your stainless steel?

The household bleach consists of a weak solution of sodium hypochlorite. This is sometimes used with other chemicals in small amounts. While bleach is mainly used for whitening, sometimes people use it as a disinfectant as well. This is why you might notice some people using it to clean their kitchen sink and utensils.

People do not realize that if they let the bleach sit too long on the stainless steel products, it can get dirtier instead of getting cleaned. Over time, there might appear gray or brown spots on your sink and utensils. While many people may think that these spots are stains, this is not the case. These gray or brown spots are actually the result of corrosion. So, this answers the question that bleach is actually corrosive to stainless steel.

What is it about the bleach that causes corrosion to the stainless steel? When the sodium hypochlorite present in the bleach reacts with carbon dioxide, chlorine is formed. Chlorine is an extremely powerful oxidizer that attacks metals. This includes the chromium oxide layer present on the stainless steel as well. As a result, corrosion of the metal takes place.

How To Disinfect Stainless Steel Sink?

No doubt, bleach is one of the most common disinfectants. But, as established above, you cannot use it for disinfecting the stainless steel sink in your kitchen. So, what else can be done to disinfect your shiny sink in the kitchen? There are many other ways you can adopt to clean the stainless steel sink as well. Let’s take a look at them below.

Soaps and Detergents

Soaps and detergents will work on your stainless steel sink just as fine as any other disinfectant. But, make sure that you do not leave soap or detergent too long on the steel. As most soaps and detergents contain chloride, it is advisable to rinse your sink immediately after cleaning it with soap and detergent.

Club Soda

Club soda is another excellent disinfectant that you can use to disinfect the stainless steel sink present in your kitchen. It will not only clean the sink thoroughly, but the club soda will also add an extra spark to your sink that it had lost over time. So, using club soda instead of bleach is always a great idea.

Vinegar

Vinegar is also a great product that you can use to clean your stainless steel sink. You can easily find a bottle of vinegar in your house, so you will not even have to go outside to purchase it. Whether you use vinegar with baking soda, water, or oil, it will give a great result. Apart from disinfecting your kitchen sink, it will also leave it sparkling.

So, you can use any of the above methods to disinfect your kitchen sink instead of using bleach. But, make sure that you rinse it immediately after cleaning. Otherwise, there is a high chance of your sink getting damaged as well.

How to Remove Bleach Stains from Stainless Steel?

Did you accidentally clean your stainless steel with bleach? Have bleach stains appeared on your stainless steel now? What should you do now? Well, you do not need to worry as you can easily remove bleach stains from stainless steel. All you need is some baking soda, water, cloth, bristle brush, and a sponge.

Just make a thin paste with baking soda and water over the rust. As baking soda is mildly abrasive, it will not cause further damage to your stainless steel.

Let the baking soda sit over the stain for a while. Then with the help of the soft cloth, rub the paste over the stain. Make sure that you rub it in the direction of the grain. Keep rubbing until the stain vanishes.

Once the stain vanishes, you need to rinse the stainless steel surface with water and a soft sponge. Your stainless steel will be good as new.

So, if you want your stainless steel appliances to stay as good as new, make sure that they do not come in contact with bleach.