Care and maintenance · 4 min read
Maintaining Stainless Steel Cable & Posts
Why stainless 'tea stains' near the coast, and the 20-minute wash-down that keeps it bright.
StairSupplies Craftsmen4 min read
Stainless steel resists rust because of a chromium-oxide surface layer. Salt spray and airborne iron dust can overwhelm it, leaving brown 'tea staining' — cosmetic, but ugly.
The wash-down
Rinse with fresh water.
Wash with mild soap and a soft cloth — always with the grain.
Rinse again and towel dry.
Coastal installs: quarterly. Inland: once a year.
What to avoid
Steel wool or wire brushes (they embed carbon steel that rusts).
Chloride cleaners — including bleach.
Muriatic acid anywhere near stainless.
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