Stainless steel is starting to rust. What now?

So long as the right material quality has been chosen, corrosion - if it does occur - is very often reversible. It is frequently the result of external contamination or where a customer has used products containing chlorine. Thorough cleaning or repickling is usually sufficient.

Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel does require maintenance. Good, chlorine-free cleaning (and preventative) is always the first step when corrosion is detected. Outside, minuscule contamination can land on “rust-free steel”, and if it contains iron (close to a railway line, for example) these particles can sometimes rust. The stainless steel itself may not start to rust, just the particles on its surface.

But whatever the cause of the corrosion, if the stainless steel does start to rust there is just one remedy and that is pickling. If the wrong material has been chosen, you have a problem, but in some borderline cases pickling one or more times may be sufficient. Pickling removes contaminants such as iron and takes off a microscopic layer, allowing the underlying material to be passivated and a “self-healing” layer to form. If the rust-free steel is easily removed, electropolishing may be the answer but you have to allow for a change in appearance. In a number of cases, a very specialised cleaner/rust-remover may solve the problem. These products are only available from specialist stores. So, rust formation is not a drama in itself but it should be treated as quickly as possible. You can do this yourself with the right products, although we recommend you obtain assistance.