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New Stainless Appliances Rusting

Just bought a condo in Hawaii -construction completed 1 month ago. The appliances are top of the line(Viking/SubZero) and are already showing alot of surface rust. I thought stainless didn't rust that quickly?! Is it possible to get rid of it and how should I maintain it so this dosent happen constantly?

Kate Jordan
- Honokaa, Hawaii
2005

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Try cleaning these with "scotch brite" pads and a metal cleaner like Barkeepers Friend [on eBay or Amazon], then thoroughly rinse. "Scotch-brite" are those green non metallic scrubbies you can find at the grocery store. Do not ever use steel wool, it will make the problem worse. Your stainless steel should not rust, but it may have picked up a surface contaminant which is causing the problem. If careful cleaning doesn't eliminate the problem, you should contact the manufacturers,.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005

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Scotchbrite is safe to use, but WILL scratch the surface, so be careful.

It sounds like the units were not passivated prior to selling them to you. However, you can get the rust off easily without a lot of work with a variety of products that are on the market. You can buy products at your local hardware store. Always test any product on a small unexposed area prior to doing the entire surface.

With the extreme shortage of stainless steel these days there are some trade-offs being made by some steel manufacturers that apparently are increasing the susceptibility to rusting, especially with 304 stainless, if this is what they used.

Also, if you are on the ocean where the units are exposed to salt mist from the ocean you must use 316ss or better grade.

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

2005

I purchased a new Maytag stainless steel gas range last March. It's also showing significant rust -- I've tried to clean it off, but some of the rust is in the brush stroke pattern on the backsplash, and is pretty deeply ingrained. Maytag claims it's not a common problem, but after reading your comment about compromises being made in stainless steel, I wonder. Have you heard of other rust problems with mid-level priced appliances?

Donna Hanscom
- Swanzey, New Hampshire
2005

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I'm not an appliance engineer and can't tell you all the pluses and minuses for the various grades of stainless steel. But I can tell you that the non-magnetic stainless steels (300 series) are more corrosion resistant than the magnetic ones (400 series). So, if your backsplash is non magnetic that would be a good grade. Now a couple of questions as food for thought: has anyone ever cleaned this with steel wool; has anyone used muriatic acid [affil links] anywhere in the house to clean fireplace brick, or a floor, or a garage, or even outdoor brickwork when the windows were open? Steel wool is very hard on stainless; muriatic acid is first degree murder.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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I have a nearly new, just 2 years old, Maytag stove that is supposed to be stainLESS steel that now has rust marks on the face of the oven door & the broiler drawer. What is the BEST product to use? I have only used a foam cleanser specifically for stainless steel. What product(s) do you recommend for the rust removal & for future protection of my stove?

I am VERY disappointed with the quality of this Maytag stove and will seriously consider repurchasing this brand again.

Please let me know if there is a dept. or person I can contact for reimbursement and/or replacement of the damaged parts.

Thank you,

Lorena

Lorena Elizondo
- San Diego, California
April 20, 2009