4. Maintenance, Cleaning & Hygiene
Regular maintenance of your stainless steel grease trap prevents blockages, foul odours, and municipal compliance violations.
- Daily/Weekly: Remove the solid waste basket and empty accumulated debris. Skim the hardened fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from the surface of the water.
- Monthly: Deep clean the interior walls using a soft cloth or nylon brush with a mild, non-abrasive detergent.
- Important: Never use bleach, harsh acids, or steel wool, as these can disrupt the protective chromium oxide layer on the stainless steel, leading to surface pitting.
Do wash frequently with water (preferably hot water) followed by rinsing with cold water. A little "Sunlight" dishwashing liquid or soap may be added to the first wash water, but too much dishwashing liquid or soap will cause "clouding" of the surface.
Do wash down floor drains, drainage channels and grease traps regularly. While stainless steel is generally an extremely hard metal, it will start corroding if left in contact too long with ordinary ingredients such as salt, milk, fruit juices etc.
Do follow the following remedial procedures when faced with the following situations:
- Rust Stains: Mix a solution of 1 (one) part nitric acid to 9 (nine) parts warm water (by volume), leave the solution in contact with the stained stainless steel for 1 (one) hour and then flush with cold water thoroughly.
- Acids: Avoid all acids at all costs. Rinse immediately with warm water. Repeat twice.
- Bleaches: Rinse immediately with hot soapy water.
Don't use "silver" cleaners.
Don't use chloride containing cleaning solutions. These will corrode the stainless steel.
Don't use scouring materials and harsh abrasives, such as steel wool and wire brushes for cleaning stainless steel. The surface responds best to the gentlest of cleaning methods. Carbon steel, if left in contact with the stainless steel surface will rust and permanently stain the surface of your Herbish products.
Don't use acids (especially hydrochloric acid). Tile grout removing chemicals are particularly aggressive and will pit and ultimately corrode through stainless steel if not thoroughly rinsed away.
In high-hygiene environments like food processing plants or commercial kitchens, stainless steel drains should be flushed and inspected daily as part of your standard sanitation protocol. Lift the drainage covers weekly to clear out any trapped organic matter in the sediment baskets to maintain optimum hydraulic flow and strict hygiene standards.