How to clean brushed stainless steel: care, fingerprints and patina

SH7012 brushed stainless steel wall shelf on a wall with a vase

Clean brushed stainless steel with a soft cloth, lukewarm water and a little mild soap. Always wipe along the grain, then dry with a clean cloth. Here is what brushed stainless steel is, how to remove fingerprints and limescale, and what to keep away from it.

What is brushed stainless steel?

Stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium. The chromium forms a very thin, transparent film on the surface, just 2–3 nanometres thick, which protects the steel from corrosion. The film forms on its own and repairs itself. Good care is mostly about not damaging it.

Our SH7012 and SB5030 are made from AISI 304, also known as EN 1.4301. It is the classic grade, with around 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is intended for indoor use and mild outdoor conditions. Near the sea, where de-icing salt is used or in industrial air, the stainless steel industry recommends a grade with molybdenum, such as 316.

“Brushed” describes the finish, not the steel. The standard EN 10088-2 calls it 2J: a matt surface with fine lines all running in one direction, and not very reflective. That direction is called the grain. It matters when you clean.

SH7012 in brushed stainless steel seen at an angle, showing the shelf surface and back edge

How to clean brushed steel

Everyday care needs very little:

  1. A soft cloth or a microfibre cloth with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, such as a few drops of washing-up liquid.
  2. Wipe along the grain, never across the lines.
  3. Dry it afterwards with a clean, dry cloth. Especially where the water is hard, this prevents water marks and limescale.

That is all.

How to remove fingerprints

Use soapy water and a soft cloth, or a slightly damp microfibre cloth. Wipe along the grain, then dry.

A brushed surface does not show fingerprints as easily as a mirror finish.

How to remove limescale

The best defence against limescale is to dry the surface, so it never gets the chance to build up.

If limescale has already formed, use diluted household vinegar or diluted citric acid, which has no smell. Give it a little time to dissolve the scale. Wipe along the grain, rinse with a cloth and clean water, then dry the surface completely.

What to avoid

  • Ordinary steel wool and steel scouring pads. They scratch, and tiny particles of ordinary steel can lodge in the surface and rust. It then looks as if the steel itself is rusting.
  • Scouring powder, abrasive sponges and cleaning creams with abrasives, including the rough side of a kitchen sponge. They leave scratches that no cloth will remove.
  • Chlorine and bleach. Chlorides can cause staining and pitting, small localised attacks on the surface.
  • Products containing hydrochloric acid, such as silver dip cleaners and mortar removers. They are corrosive to stainless steel.
  • Strong disinfectants. Use them with care, as they carry a risk of corrosion.

If you are unsure about a product, leave it on the shelf. Lukewarm water and mild soap handle most things.

Marks of use, patina and brown stains

Over time, brushed steel picks up fine marks of use. That is patina, and it belongs. The surface does not need to look new forever.

Brown stains or a rust-coloured film are something else. Rust marks on stainless steel are rarely caused by the steel itself. Most often they come from small particles of ordinary steel, for example from steel wool or tools, that have settled on the surface and rust there. Brown discolouration can also be early corrosion caused by salt or chlorine.

Light stains and discolouration come off with a mild, non-abrasive cleaning cream and a soft cloth. Rinse with clean water and dry.

Detail of the edge and fold on SH7012, where Bevel's soft rounding meets the back edge

SH7012 and SB5030

SH7012 is a wall shelf in stainless steel, AISI 304, 3 mm, finished by hand, so no two are alike. It is cut and folded from a single sheet. Bevel's soft rounding joins the shelf surface and the back edge, and the shelf can be mounted with the back edge up or down.

The SB5030 side table from the same Bevel series is made from the same steel, AISI 304, in 4 mm, and is cared for in the same way.

SH7012 mounted with the back edge down, with a vase and a cup

Frequently asked questions

Can stainless steel rust?

Stainless steel is protected by a thin, self-repairing chromium film. Rust marks in a home are most often caused by particles of ordinary steel that have settled on the surface. Chlorides, for example from bleach or salt, can cause staining and pitting.

Can I use vinegar on brushed steel?

Yes. Diluted vinegar or citric acid can remove limescale. Rinse afterwards with clean water and dry the surface completely.

How do I avoid streaks?

Always wipe along the grain, never across it, and dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Can I use chlorine bleach?

No. Chlorine and other chloride-containing products can cause staining and pitting on stainless steel.

What steel is SH7012 made from?

AISI 304 (EN 1.4301), 3 mm, with a brushed finish. The SB5030 side table is made from the same steel in 4 mm.

Want a closer look at SH7012? Size, mounting and delivery are on the product page. Questions about care? Write to us at orders@innove.dk.

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