Use and Care Manual
A Guide for the Use and Care of Stainless Steel Sinks
Right Practice "The Do's"
■ The best form of maintenance is frequent, regular cleanings. A little bit of cleaning on a regular basis is preferable to
a major cleaning on a sporadic basis.
■ The best method of preventative maintenance is to ensure that the sink is clean, dry and exposed to room
atmosphere when not in use. Rinse and towel dry the sink after each use in order to minimize major cleanups, keeping
it shiny and relatively free of water spots. This is particularly appropriate where water may have a high mineral content.
■ Keep the sink fixture free of any standing water which may build up mineral deposits. The quality of your water can
affect the sinks appearance and this water quality will vary from household to household.
■ Should a mineral deposit build up over time, use a weak solution of vinegar and water to remove the deposit, followed
by flushing the surface with water.
■ To clean your sink, use the mildest cleaning procedure that will do the job effectively.
• We recommend using either a liquid detergent or Flitz
®
with a soft cloth.
■ Always rinse the sink after using a cleaning agent, and wipe the sink dry to discourage any water spotting.
■ Any cleaning or scrubbing to remove stubborn stains should follow the direction of the grain line. Any scrubbing across
the grain will show as a scratch. Scrubbing in the same direction as the grain will blend in any surface scratches.
Wrong Practice "The Don'ts"
■ Steel wool pads should never be used to clean your sink as they will leave a residue of small iron particles. They may
not even be readily visible, but they most certainly will lead to rusting and corrosion of the sink.
■ For similar reasons do not leave any mild steel or cast iron cookware or implements anywhere on the sink for
extended periods of time. The combined presence of iron and moisture with stainless steel can only lead to surface
corrosion and staining of the sink.
■ Do not leave rubber dish mats, wet sponges or cleaning pads in the sink overnight as they will trap water underneath
which could lead to staining and discolouration of the sink surface. The unique properties of stainless steel are
dependent upon exposure of the surface to the atmosphere.
■ Never use abrasive pads to clean the sink. They will scratch the finish. THIS INCLUDES SCOTCHBRITE
®
PADS!
■ We don’t recommend that you use chlorine bleach in your stainless steel sink, as chlorine will attack the
protective layer that makes stainless steel truly stainless. The risk of damage is proportional to the concentration of the
chlorine and the duration of exposure between the sink and the chlorine agent. Always dilute any antibacterial product
used and wipe up any spills. Note: some antibacterial soaps may contain chlorine compounds.
■ Any accidental contact of the sink with photographic chemicals or soldering fluxes should be addressed by an
immediate rinsing and cleaning of the sink.
■ Certain foods such as pickles, mayonnaise, mustard and salt laden foodstuffs can cause pitting of the sink surface if
left unattended for prolonged periods.
■ Any drain cleaning products containing sulphuric or hydrochloric acid will attack the sink. Silver dip cleaners may
contain strong acids which will attack the sink.
■
Do not use your sink as a cutting surface. American Standard offers solid wood and synthetic cutting boards for
this purpose.
■ Stainless steel bottom grids are available for many American Standard stainless steel sinks. These bottom grids
protect the bottom of the bowl(s) from cutlery scratches, or marking from heavy kitchen utensils.
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