The brown stain is from a large amount of iron in your water. It is closely related to simple rust that you see on metal, which is iron oxide. Your water probably comes from groundwater that filtered through rocks containing iron-rich minerals on its way to the well.
The presence of sea salt on the surface of stainless steel is the major cause. Sea salt stays “wet” (and corrosive) until a very low relative humidity. Tea staining also occurs in polluted urban environments. Tea staining generally does not occur indoors because of the clean environment and low humidity.
Where hard water or water with high iron content is present, a brown stain, looking like rust, may appear. In areas with water of a high concentration of minerals or over softened water, a white film may appear on the sink. If either condition exists, we recommend drying the sink with a soft towel after each use.
Over time, those pipes will corrode, leading to deposits such as rust and minerals in the water supply, which will cause brown water to come from your taps. Another culprit could be an old or damaged service pipe. A service pipe will connect your domestic pipes to the main distribution system.
Brown or orange coloured water, or finding brown or orange bits in your water, can be caused by a few things. Usually it's because of iron and manganese deposits. These are naturally-occurring minerals which settle in the water mains over time. This is nothing to worry about.
Add a hearty pour of baking soda (about ¼ cup or ½ cup), and then carefully place your pan in the water. Reduce the water to a gentle boil, and let the pan cook for about 15 to 30 minutes, flipping or rotating it if necessary, so that all the sides are boiled. You should start to see brown residue flaking off.
In most cases, when a rust issue appears, it is only surface rust and not actually the sink itself. Our experience has shown that the most common cause of surface rust is due to the high iron content in the water. When the water evaporates it leaves a residue.
Vinegar can indeed damage your stainless steel surfaces if precautions aren't taken during its use. However, by diluting acidic cleaners like vinegar before application and regularly wiping down surfaces afterwards with warm soapy water, you can keep your stainless steel in pristine condition for years to come!
Brown spots can develop on the stainless steel surface if you use the wrong cleaning solutions or if rust begins to develop. Remove these stains with mild cleaning solutions, and don't ever use strong chemicals such as bleach, as they can damage or discolor the stainless steel.
Sprinkle a few Tablespoons of Bar Keeper's Friend powder in each side of the sink. Add enough blue Dawn dish soap to make a paste. Scrub this mixture all over the sink and rinse. Rub the whole sink down with a small amount of bleach and quickly rinse.
It's easy to use Clorox® Bleach to clean porcelain and stainless steel sinks in the kitchen or bathroom. Use as directed to safely rinse bleach down the sink drain. Back-to-school cleaning. Ace your cleaning curriculum with Clorox products and tips.
But, diluted vinegar is perfectly safe to use on stainless steel. Most cleaners out there dilute the vinegar with either water or baking soda to make it more friendly to the stainless steel finish.
Baking soda is a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Its slight abrasiveness won't harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water (here's how), and glop it on tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.
Baking soda makes a great stainless steel sink cleaner because it is abrasive enough to scrub away light hard water deposits and stuck-on grease and food, but not so abrasive as to scratch shiny stainless steel fixtures like faucets. Try cleaning your sink with a paste of baking soda and water.
Keep It Dry!
After each usage, wipe the sink thoroughly dry to prevent water from drying and leaving stains. Additionally, it's crucial to regularly rinse and wash out the sink to avoid any food particles or cleansers clinging to the surface.
Don't leave wet sponges, towels and rags to dry on the sink's surface. Don't leave steel and cast iron cookware in your sink; iron plus moisture can cause rusting and staining. Do not leave rubber dish mats in your sink, as they can trap water and cause discoloration and stains.
Stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant—however, stainless steel applications can still remain at risk to surface damage. Oxidation, corrosion, rusting, or staining can occur over the long-term in harsh environments without routine cleaning and maintenance.
Stainless steel discoloration could be caused by heat, harsh chemicals, or incorrect use of stainless-steel cookware. Most discoloration is easily corrected with natural products like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, or club soda. Cleaners containing oxalic acid can restore stainless steel.
If you're looking to save money on restoring your steel, common household items that help with tarnish removal include: Olive oil. Vinegar. Baking soda.
A sudden increase in the rate or direction of water flow through pipes can stir up sediment, causing it to become suspended in the water. The sediment makes the water look discoloured but it is harmless and the water is safe to use.
While not ideal, it isn't necessarily a reason to panic if your tap water looks rusty. Common causes of rusty tap water include a water main break, water heater issues, or corroding metal water pipes.
Though rusty water may look and taste unpleasant, it is not generally a health concern. Iron in water is not a sign of harmful bacteria or lead, which are hazards. The limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for iron in drinking water are based on aesthetics (taste, odor, color), not safety concerns.
If dish soap or your chosen cleaning product hasn't removed the stains on a stainless steel sink, baking soda can come to the rescue. Sprinkle onto a damp sink then use a non-scratch cloth or sponge to tackle the stains. Follow the grain of the stainless steel as you work, and rinse thoroughly when you're done.