Why Your 304 Stainless Steel Sink Might Rust - and What You Can Do About It

Cresheen is a professional kitchen sink manufacturer, which is specialised in OEM kitchen sink and kitchen sink wholesales. First of all, we want to be clear that our Cresheen kitchen sink is made of high-quality 304 stainless steel. Our sink users and clients are welcome to test it in any way. However, it is still a fact that some of the 304 stainless steel kitchen sinks might "rust".

If you've just installed a shiny new 304 stainless steel sink in your kitchen, you might be worried that it will start to rust. You're not alone - many people are concerned about this. In this blog post, we'll talk about why 304 stainless steel sinks might rust, and what you can do to prevent it from happening. We'll also discuss some of the benefits of using 304 stainless steel in your kitchen!

What is 304 Stainless Steel

304 stainless steel is the preferred material for kitchen sinks because it resists corrosion and rust in both hot and cold temperatures. Some of our readers who have gone through our previous article might have heard of 304 stainless steel kitchen sink before. In brief, 304 stainless steel is an alloy that contains at least 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It's often used in kitchen sinks because it resists corrosion and has a long life.

"Rust" on the Sink Might Just be Some Removeable Satins

• In many neighbourhoods, the galvanized pipes for water are already beginning to rust. If there is a high presence of iron and other metal elements in the water, it will cause floating rust on the surface of the sink over time.

• If you're renovating your house, be sure to pay attention to the sink! Pouring latex paint, cement, oil, glass glue or other acidic and alkaline substances into the sink can cause it to corrode and rust if not cleaned in a timely manner.

• The new house has a sink with dust on the surface that is acidic and alkaline. If it gets humid, this will also cause "floating rust" to appear.

• If you leave steel kitchen knives, scissors, or bottle openers on your sink for an extended period of time, they will develop rust spots or become discolored.

Why Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink still "Stained"

Stainless steel is a name for various types of iron-based alloys that have other metals mixed in to provide extra strength or rust resistance, for example. 304 stainless steel is called 18/8 stainless steel because it contains 18% nickel and 8% chromium. Though it is more corrosion-resistant, 304 stainless steel will still rust over time. This is because chromium or nickel are not completely effective in reducing the amount of rusting that occurs. So while "304 stainless steel is the steel that will not rust" may be a commonly held belief, it is actually inaccurate.

This is because 304 stainless steel kitchen sinks will corrode and rust if exposed to certain types of corrosive environments. This could be caused by kitchen utensils, kitchen water or kitchen cleaning products such as bleach. These materials can cause a chemical reaction with the surface of the kitchen sink which leads to corrosion and rust formation.

Additionally, 304 stainless steel may still rust if it comes into contact with water that contains chloride or other contaminants. Chloride ions can cause microscopic pitting in the metal, leading to staining and eventually rusting. Fortunately, there are a few easy steps you can take to prevent this from happening, such as regularly cleaning your sink with mild soap and rinsing it thoroughly after each use, avoiding chlorine-based cleaners which can increase the risk of rusting, and using rubber mats or sink grids to protect against scratching.

What We Can Do to Protect Our Sink?

All metals will have the characteristic of being metal. This includes things like pure gold - if it's stained with acidic and alkaline solutions, it will still be corroded and discolored. If you don't want any stains or potential rust on the kitchen sink, the stone or ceramic that we talked about in this article is indeed a better choice for you.

In short, 304 stainless steel sinks rust due to external factors like the environment. The most common problem is during or just after renovation when it's not being used properly, but there are no issues with normal daily use. Therefore, Cresheen advises all sink users to be mindful of not letting acidic or alkaline substances come into contact with the surface of the sink during home renovations. However, it is inevitable that sometimes the home renovators still don't pay attention, and as a result, the surface of the sink becomes corroded and develops rust spots. So how can this problem be solved?

It is recommended that our users to buy some tough cleaning cloth, along with our sink care tips for you (as in this article), the floating rust should be wiped away after cleansing. During wiping, please kindly note that we should wipe the stained area not just the spot, in one direction, following the brushed pattern of the kitchen sink. As Cresheen has many years of experience in brushing kitchen sink surface treatment, a brushed sink is the best choice for sustained kitchen sink use.

Conclusion

304 stainless steel kitchen sink is still susceptible to corrosion and rusting, although it offers excellent strength and resistance against most chemicals. Regular cleaning, avoiding abrasive cleaners and kitchen utensils, and protecting the surface with rubber mats or sink grids are all effective ways of preventing rust from forming on 304 stainless steel kitchen sinks.

Cresheen kitchen sinks also offer a more durable brushed finish that can resist scratching and staining better than other kitchen sinks. Our users should take extra precautions when dealing with kitchen water or kitchen cleaning products as they can cause corrosive reactions that may lead to rusting on 304 stainless steel kitchen sinks. Additionally, our users should follow our advice by wiping the rusty area not just the spot in one direction following the brush pattern of the kitchen sink to maintain the kitchen sink's perfect condition. For kitchen sink wholesales and kitchen sink suppliers, please contact us via email or visit our website for more information.