Outdoor Kitchen Cleaning

Outdoor Kitchen Cleaning and Maintenance

Here in beautiful California, we get to enjoy the many benefits that come with living near the ocean. We also experience some serious drawbacks, specifically from the salty air. If you own a car, a boat, or anything else that spends all its time outdoors in our balmy coastal climate, you know that the salty air does not necessarily go well with metal. What is true for your car is just as true for the stainless steel components of your outdoor kitchen.

Protecting your stainless steel

After investing in a beautiful, high-quality outdoor kitchen, the last thing you want is to let it get rusty and pocked from the salty air. Fortunately, it is very easy to clean and protect your stainless steel cabinets, sink, appliances, and countertops so that they will not become damaged from the salt.

First, choose a type of stainless steel that will withstand the threat of salty sea air. We recommend 316 marine-grade stainless steel. This type of stainless steel is well known for withstanding the elements and being long-lasting. If you start with high-quality stainless steel, you will be able to enjoy your beautiful surfaces, cabinets, and appliances for a long time to come.

Second, powder coat your stainless steel. This places a protective coating on all your surfaces so that they will not be corroded by the salt in the air. Powder coating is a great way to protect your stainless steel, but it is not foolproof. You will need to update the coating regularly to ensure that your stainless steel remains safe.

Third, clean your stainless steel. Use a soft cloth and a stainless steel cleaner to shine up your stainless steel and remove harmful salt from the surface. If you live close to the coast where the air is very salty, use an oilier cleaner such as Sheila Shine to give your stainless steel an extra layer of protection.

Effectively cleaning your stainless steel

Obviously, you need to wipe down your stainless steel surfaces to prevent corrosion. However, there is also an additional step that may people miss, and which can cause major damage to your outdoor kitchen: taking care of your hinges. The hinges are the spot where the protective coating wears off first and where the salt is hardest to get off. Therefore they are most likely to rust first, which causes massive damage to your outdoor refrigerator, grill, and anything else that has hinges.

To care for your hinges, spray them liberally with WD-40 and wipe them whenever you wipe down the rest of your stainless steel. This will remove the salt and add a protective layer which will help to prevent the salt from causing damage to your valuable equipment in the meantime.

For more wisdom on how to clean your outdoor kitchen, give Custom Image Hardscapes a call today!