TEA STAINING – WHAT IS IT, AND HOW TO REMOVE IT?

Commercial BBQs, Stainless Steel

You’ve made a significant investment in purchasing a stainless steel barbecue.

After a while, you may notice some brown discolouration on the stainless steel components – the benchtop, the cladding or the sink.

Although the brown discolouration looks like rust, it is most likely to be “Tea Staining” – so-called because the discolouration looks like spilled tea (as in the lip of the sink in the above image).

What causes tea staining, how serious is it, how can I remove tea stains, and what can I do to prevent tea staining (or at least slow down its reappearance)?

We address these questions in this article.

 

What Causes Tea Staining?

Tea staining can appear on stainless steel surfaces in environments rich in saline (such as coastal areas) or chlorides (such as chlorine used in swimming pools) or even because of an accumulation of dust, dirt, other pollutants, or airborne contaminants on the surface.

 

Is Tea Staining Serious?

Although tea staining detracts from the look of stainless steel, it does not affect its structural integrity—it is a cosmetic issue.

However, if left unaddressed, tea staining can gradually worsen and turn into rust. It is vital to remove tea staining as it appears to prevent this from occurring.

 

How to Remove Tea Staining

In its early stages, tea staining is easy to remove.

 

What can I use to remove tea staining?

Several cleaning agents can be used to remove tea staining from stainless steel surfaces. These include:

  • Mild Detergent Solution: A solution made of warm water and mild detergent is an easy starting point and may be all you need.
  • Baking Soda Paste: A baking soda and water paste may be required for tougher tea stains.
  • Vinegar Solution: A solution of equal parts white vinegar and water also can be effective.

CAUTION – if your barbecue also includes galvanised steel and/or powder-coated panels etc, do not use them on these surfaces and take care that the vinegar solution does not splash on them as they can be discoloured by the vinegar (or other acidic substances). Immediately wash off any vinegar (or other acidic) solutions on these surfaces.

  • Specialised Cleaners:  There are stainless steel cleaners on the market designed to combat tea staining and other forms of discolouration. One of our manufacturers recommends Quickleen-S Multi-Purpose Cleaner to remove tea staining.

CAUTION – always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these products.

 

How do I apply the cleaner?

Using a soft cloth to apply the cleaning solution is usually sufficient. To maintain the stainless steel’s finish, scrub gently toward the grain.

If using a vinegar (or other acidic) solution, rinse thoroughly with clean water.

If the soft cloth does not work, try a soft brush or a Scotch Brite scouring pad (one of our manufacturers recommends the red Scotch Brite pads). Again, move in the direction of the stainless steel grain.

CAUTION – DO NOT use ordinary steel wool scourers as iron particles can become embedded in the stainless steel and cause further problems, including rust.

 

How Can I Prevent Tea Staining?

The following two steps can help protect against tea staining marring your stainless steel surfaces.

 

Regular Cleaning

Wash the stainless steel surfaces with a wet cloth and warm, soapy water, rinse the surfaces and then wipe dry. This will not only help to remove general contamination found in the air (such as dust, dirt, and salt) but will also help to prolong the high finish of the stainless steel.

Be careful when cleaning around BBQ control knobs, etc, that water does not enter and potentially cause damage to the BBQ’s control system. The use of high-pressure cleaners is NOT recommended.

 

Apply a Silicone Based Polish

After the stainless steel surfaces have been cleaned and dried, apply a silicone-based stainless steel polish. This will help the stainless steel form a protective layer to prevent tea-staining and rusting.

First, apply and work the polish with a soft cloth, and then remove the polish with a second, clean, soft cloth.

DO NOT use silicone-based products on the cooking surface/grill.

CAUTION – always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these products.

 

Conclusion

Parkquip offers a wide range of stainless steel barbecues to suit your needs.

Following the above simple steps will help you to protect the investment you make in your stainless steel barbecue while preserving “the look” of its stainless steel finishes.