Caring for Stainless Steel!

While stainless steel is a strong & resilient material, it actually has quite a delicate surface which can be scratched or damaged easily if the proper care is not taken. By following the simple the rules below, you can keep your stainless steel looking as impressive as the day it was bought!

1. ONLY ever use a soft cloth or soft paper towel to clean your stainless steel, or else you will create scratches on the surface.

• This means
• NO scourers
• NO brushes
• NO steel wool
  

2. ONLY use a non-scratching cleaner (eg SteelPower) on your stainless steel appliances, cookware & surfaces. The grit & particles in general household cleaners will also create scratches on the surface of the stainless steel.

This means

• NO abrasive or caustic cleaners
• NO general purpose cleaners
• NO gritty cleaners

3. When you are cleaning or polishing your stainless steel, always make sure that you do so in the direction of the grain (the way the lines go).

4. DO NOT clean across the grain, as you will create scratches on the surface.

5. Avoid rubbing too hard, or for too long in one spot, on stainless steel when you are cleaning it, as this will create ‘polish’ marks on the surface.

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Caring for Ceramic Glass!

Like stainless steel, ceramic glass cooktops can be easily damaged if the proper care is not taken. To avoid permanent damage, there are a few simple things to remember. Read on to find out how easy it is to keep your cooktop in pristine condition!

1. WIPE over your cooktop after every cooking session with a non-scratching cleaner (eg Cerapol). This is important as it will remove all spills and stains - even the ones you can't see, such as metallic sheen from cookware bottoms. The use of Cerapol will prevent etching from spills & baked-on foods and staining caused by cookware bottoms & hard water marks.

2. ONLY use a non-scratching cleaner (eg Cerapol) & a soft cloth to clean your cooktop, or else you will cause damage to the surface through etching & scratching.

This means

• NO aggressive powder or abrasive cream cleaners
• NO caustic cleaners or oven sprays
• NO general household cleaners
• NO scourers or steel wool

3. ALWAYS clean off sugary spills immediatley - do not allow to bake on. They will erode the surface whilst cooling, causing permanent damage. After removing the spill with the Cooktop Scraper, allow to cool and then clean with a non-scratch cleaner (eg Cerapol).

To prevent scratches on your ceramic glass cooktop the following rules apply to using cookware on your ceramic glass cooktop.

1. CLEAN your cookware bottoms regularly to remove gritty particles & hard-water stains
2. ALWAYS lift cookware- do not slide over the cooktop surface
3. AVOID using cookware with rough, warped or dented bottoms
4. DO NOT drop heavy cookware on the ceramic glass surface

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Frequently Asked Questions about our Appliance Cleaners

Q: I have these fine scratches on my stainless steel, how can I get rid of them?
A: Unfortunately once stainless steel is scratched there is no easy solution. Although stainless steel is a durable material, the surface can be quite easily scratched. If you take a look at the surface of your stainless steel, you will see the 'brushed' effect - this has been created by finely scratching it, with the 'scratches' being uniform in their profile and direction.

Buffing, or cutting products are not recommended, as buffing will remove the brushed effect and create flat spots or polish marks. The steel will be taken will be taken back to its original 'shiny' appearance in the area being buffed.

The only thing you could possibly do is speak to a metal or stainless steel fabricator about refinishing the stainless steel.

Q: Can I use SteelKleen on anodised or chrome-plated surfaces?
A: SteelKleen is not recommended for either of these surfaces, as both anodised & chrome-plated surfaces can vary widely in their composition. SteelKleen contains mainly liquid hydrocarbon, which can at times react with metallic surfaces. Reactions can include cloudiness on the surface, signs of oxidation or lifting of the chrome surface.

Q: Can I use SteelKleen on my cutlery?
A: It is not recommended that you use SteelKleen on cutlery, simply because the polish leaves behind a transparent film which is not recommended for surfaces that come into direct contact with food. For any appliances and surfaces such as fridges, cooktops, ovens, sinks etc it is fine, in fact it's great because the surface stays cleaner for longer thanks to this repellent film!

We do have another product in our stainless steel care range which can be used for cutlery. SteelPower is a powerful cream cleaner designed to remove harder stains and grime, such as baked-on foods or buildups, and the best part is it's guaranteed not to scratch or damage your stainless steel surfaces. As with any surface that will come into contact with food, be sure to rinse cutlery thoroughly after cleaning with SteelKleen.

Q: How long can I leave SteelPower on my stainless steel to try and dissolve a spill or build up?
A: SteelPower can safely be left on any surface for up to 2 hours. The mild acid formulation of SteelPower can affect some grades of stainless steel if left on for extended periods and can possibly etch the surface slightly, giving the appearance of a dark stain.

Q: Can I get replacement blades for my Cooktop Scraper?
A: Packets of 5 replacement blades are available for $4.00. Click here to order online, or Freecall 1800 671 109 to order your replacement blades.

Q: I’ve damaged one of my Solid Element Hotplate covers, do I have to buy a whole new set?
A: The good news is – no you don’t! For each of the current designs, we have replacement small & large covers available for $12.10 each. Click here to order online, or Freecall 1800 671 109 to order your new cover.

Q: Can I use Scalex to descale my iron?
A: Unfortunately, Scalex is not recommended for descaling domestic irons – the base material of most iron sole plates is aluminium, which is not compatible with the ingredients of Scalex.


Q: Is Scalex safe to use in appliances linked to a septic system?
A: Yes! If used in accordance with the directions on the bottle, Scalex is safe to be used on all dishwashers, washing machines & all other hot-water appliances in homes with septic systems.

Q: Is BBQ Grill & Hotplate suitable for non-stick surfaces?
A: You should not use BBQ Grill & Hotplate on non-stick surfaces, because as their name suggests, they should be ‘non-stick’, and should be capable of being cleaned with a damp cloth. If there are more stubborn baked-on particles, the non-scratch cleaner BBQ Enamel & Steel can be safely used to soften these deposits.

If food has become very baked on, and cannot be removed as above, it is likely that the non-stick surface has been damaged, and the food has baked on to the metal surface below. The metal used in non-stick cookware can be quite soft & porous, so once the non-stick protective layer is damaged, it becomes quite vulnerable to any caustic cleaners such as BBQ Grill & Hotplate.

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