You are currently browsing the Starland Metals Blog blog archives for July, 2014.

Archive for July, 2014

A Natural Method to Clean Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances

 :: Posted by MelW on 07-15-2014

Stainless steel kitchen appliances are a gorgeous way to furnish your kitchen, but they can be difficult to keep looking pristine, especially if you have kids or pets. There are many products on the market that help to clear away the smudges, fingerprints, and scratches. While most of them work quite well, it can be costly and inconvenient if you have to use them often. Instead, there is an ingredient that you likely have around your home all of the time that you can use to make your stainless steel appliances look like new: olive oil.

How It Works

The process is very simple to accomplish. The only materials that you need are two clean rags and a few dabs of olive oil. One rag should be slightly damp and the other dry. Starting with the wet cloth, begin wiping down the surface of your appliance to remove any residue that remains on the surface. Once the surface is basically clean, place a few drops of olive oil on your dry cloth and buff the oil onto the surface. After you cover the entire surface, work with the grain of your appliance, by rubbing up and down to give it a complete shine.

Using olive oil in place of commercial cleaners is a great way to save money and time, and to further your efforts to be friendly to the environment as you keep your home clean. If you regularly keep olive oil around your home, this is a great alternative to keep your stove, dishwasher, or refrigerator clean.

Unique Ways to Include Stainless Steel in the Kitchen

 :: Posted by MelW on 07-10-2014

Plastic, which used to be the main material used for food storage and water bottles, is quickly creating a bad reputation for itself, causing consumers to look elsewhere for these kitchen staples. One area that many consumers are turning to, for good reason, is the use of stainless steel in the kitchen, with stainless containers and reusable stainless water bottles. Both of these items do not carry the risk that plastic products carry. They also help you to save money in the long run, thanks to their durability and strength.

Stainless Steel Containers

Stainless steel containers are made from materials directly drawn from the earth; they are not chemically created. This means that there are not any harmful chemicals that can leach into your food, putting your health at risk. In addition to preserving your health, stainless steel containers will not inherit the odors of particularly strong foods that plastic containers might have. This means that you can easily wash and reuse the containers without the risk of the smells transferring to other foods. Stainless steel is also very temperature resistant, which allows you to transfer your food straight from the refrigerator to the stove without the need to dirty another container. Care should be taken to remember, however, that stainless cannot be placed in the microwave.

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Reusable water bottles are also becoming very popular today, as they can reduce the amount of plastic that is thrown out or recycled. It takes tremendous resources from Earth to produce and recycle water bottles, both of which could take thousands of years to complete. The use of reusable plastic water bottles also leaves your health at risk, while the use of stainless steel water bottles does not. Stainless water bottles are also durable; they will not crack or scratch like plastic. They also do not contain the harmful chemical, BPA, which is easily leached during everyday activities, without your realizing it, causing you to put your health at risk.

Stainless steel containers and water bottles, while a higher initial expense than plastic containers and water bottles, will save you more money in the long run, not only on the containers, but also on your overall health expenses. Consider switching your products today!

How to Stick to a Budget When Remodeling Your Kitchen

 :: Posted by MelW on 07-08-2014

Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and the room in which most everyone spends time together. Because of this, it is often the most commonly remodeled room. Before you get started on a kitchen remodel, it is important to set a realistic budget to ensure that your project is affordable, and that the outcome is what you were hoping to accomplish. Setting the budget is not difficult and should not take more than an hour of your time, but it is one of the most important things that you can do.

  • Set a dollar amount – Start by setting a total dollar amount that you can afford to spend on the remodel. This will give you a number to work with as you begin to break things down into categories.
  • Break down the costs – Now that you have your total dollar amount set, figure out how much money you want to spend in each of the following categories: cabinets, appliances, flooring, and fixtures. You do not have to remodel every area; this is a great time to decide which areas are the most important to you. Once you know what you want to change, you can begin finding affordable options, including a stainless steel kitchen backsplash, counters, or appliances.
  • Prioritize the changes – Make a list of priorities of the above changes. For example, if kitchen cabinets are a priority to you, and you want stainless steel cabinets, you will need to set aside enough money for those, and then divvy up the remaining money as best you can in the other categories.
  • Set aside an emergency fund – Most projects do not go on without complications, especially kitchen remodels. It is best to set aside at least 20 percent of the total budget for emergencies, to prevent any issues from arising in the future, and causing you to be unable to finish your kitchen remodel.

Stainless Steel and Its Green Properties

 :: Posted by MelW on 07-03-2014

Environmental impact is on everyone’s mind today, especially when it comes to furnishing their home. How do you find the right appliances that are friendly to the environment? One place to start is with stainless steel sheet appliances, as stainless is considered to be a green product for many reasons, including it:

  • Uses recycled materials – A major component to determining whether a product is considered green or not is the impact that it has on the environment during its production. Stainless steel often uses scrap materials, sometimes using as much as 100 percent recycled material, but the average is around 60 percent. This means that fewer resources are taken from the earth to create it.
  • Is durable – Stainless steel is very durable, meaning that it will last for many years. This contributes to its environmental friendliness, as it requires a decreased need to mine for materials to create new products.
  • Is non-reactive – Stainless steel does not react to oxygen or water, which means that it will not easily corrode. This aids in the durability of the product, as well as helps to keep humans healthy by reducing the risk of consuming harmful by-products of corrosion that other metals could cause.

The use of stainless steel around your home can greatly decrease your carbon footprint on the environment. When you choose a stainless steel kitchen, you are not only helping the environment of your home, but the environment everywhere, as fewer new materials are needed to create your products, and they will effectively last in your home for many years, enabling you to decrease your future carbon footprint, as well.

Chromium: The Hero behind Stainless Steel

 :: Posted by MelW on 07-01-2014

What creates the “stainless” component when forming stainless steel? The answer is simple: chromium. This hard metal is what gives stainless steel its most desirable properties, including its lustrous shine and ability to withstand high temperatures. Its anti-corrosive properties have made this steel indispensable in many industries, including the medical, automotive, and kitchen appliance industry.

The Science behind Stainless Steel

When chromium hits the air, it works together with the oxygen to create a layer of oxide on the exterior of the steel. This layer is invisible, yet it is very effective. The size of the atoms containing chromium and oxide are of similar size, which allows them to sit close together on the surface of the steel, keeping it from corroding. If any damage occurs to the atoms, such as a scratch or cut, the oxidation process occurs again rather quickly, forming yet another invisible layer, keeping your steel “stainless” and intact.

The Many Uses

Because of its desirable properties, stainless steel can be found in many places, many of which you might not ever expect:

  • Handrails
  • Countertops
  • Exterior of buildings (siding)
  • Medical and dental instruments
  • Operating tables
  • Offshore oil rigs
  • Kitchenware
  • Tanks to store chemicals
  • Artificial hips
  • Automotive exhaust systems
  • Automotive catalytic converters

Stainless steel is very versatile, flexible, and able to withstand rigorous use, which is what makes it popular in a wide variety of industries, whether commercial or residential. Every day, new uses are found for this important metal, allowing it to be used more than ever before.