Last Updated on October 22, 2024 by teamobn
Steel staircases are a well-loved choice for many buildings and households for so many reasons. It’s durable, it stands the test of time, can go through heavy foot traffic, and it’s easy to maintain. If you want your staircase to look its best all the time, it’s very important to keep it well-maintained. Otherwise, rather than contribute to your building’s aesthetic design, your stairs are going to stand out like a sore thumb.
Given its size, different designs, and elements like stair nosing types, and the position it holds in a building, people are going to notice your stairs. Furthermore, if not cleaned and maintained well, your staircase can also become a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt build-up, given the foot traffic your staircases receive every day. Surely, this isn’t one you’ll want to have in your building.
In this article, you’ll learn how you can properly maintain your steel staircase.
Steel Staircase Maintenance Guide
Power Wash The Stairs
This first strategy applies if you have outdoor metal staircases. Because it’s exposed to a lot of harsh elements from the sun, it can easily be a catch-all location for dirt and outdoor debris. Don’t leave it as it is, thinking your outdoor stairs have no impact on your indoor sanitation anyway. Your outdoor stairs are visible to the general public, so it’s just as important to keep them well-maintained as the indoor ones.
A power washer is your best friend to make this task easier. All you need to do is give your outdoor stairs a good wash to remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated. If you don’t have one, a mixture of soap and water will do just the trick. After that, you can simply rinse it with your ordinary hose.
Wipe It Regularly
If you have a steel staircase in your home, make a habit to wipe it regularly with a soft microfiber cloth. You can simply include that chore along with the other wiping chores you’ll do weekly, if possible. This will save you the hassle of a longer, more tedious deep-clean when dirt, dust, and grime have settled and accumulated.
For steel staircases in a commercial building, the higher foot traffic you have necessitates a daily clean. Your janitorial or cleaning team can take care of that task with great efficiency.
Dust It
Especially if you know you live in an industrial or dusty area or building, it’s expected that your steel staircase will also become dusty. You can make your cleaning tasks easier when you take the time to dust first. You can use ordinary cloth or a feather duster for this purpose.
Dusting may seem like a simple step, but it’s very important to keep the stair landings clean and well-maintained. Doing so will also prevent dust from being transferred from one floor to another so frequently. Debris and dust can be tracked indoors from the outside. This is why you have to stay on top of dusting your steel staircase.
Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products And Tools
Steel staircases are made to be durable, but they’re not the most scratch-resistant. As such, you must avoid harsh cleaning products and tools if you want to keep your staircases well-maintained. These include metal scourers, abrasive powders, and metal cleaners. These can destroy your staircase’s paint or finishing when used too frequently.
Other harsh cleaning products you should avoid include:
- hydrochloric acid,
- steel wool, and
- chlorine.
Rather than using harsh cleaning products, it’s a better choice to opt for gentler and milder cleaning agents instead. These can keep your steel staircases clean while not being too harsh on their surface.
Use The Proper Designated Cleaner
When you had your steel staircase installed, you may have been given some tips by the installer on how to clean your staircase. This may have included ideas on the recommended cleaner for the kind of staircase you have. The recommended cleaning agent might vary, depending on the paint applied, the location of the stairs, the foot traffic, and even the finishing.
If you’ve been told what the ideal cleaning agent is, stick with that instead. Doing so ensures you’re cleaning and maintaining the staircase in the best way possible, as recommended by the manufacturer or installer themselves.
Clean Immediately
When you have a household steel staircase, a good habit to apply is to wipe down any spills right away as soon as they happen. Don’t wait for them to settle for long or else the spills will already become too troublesome to clean up.
While that cleaning habit applies mostly to tables, floors, and countertops, your stairs shouldn’t be left behind too. As soon as you see dirt, stain, or spills on your steel staircase, wipe it immediately. It only takes a few seconds to do so. This keeps you in control of the cleaning so you don’t get overwhelmed by how dirty your stairs have become when the dirt accumulates.
Protect Steel Staircase From Rust
There are many advantages that come with a steel staircase—or anything steel, for that matter—if you’re planning to use steel to renovate your home and old staircase. But it has its own set of disadvantages too. One of these includes a higher chance of getting corrosion and damage due to rust. When your steel staircase gets rusty, it looks unsightly, will stain hands and clothing and the rust will weaken your steel staircase’s strength!
If you live in an area where there are high levels of airborne pollutants, there’s a higher chance that your staircase will get corroded. The reason behind this is the pollutants that land on the steel surface get gradually absorbed by the moisture.
To avoid this scenario, you’ll need to add a protective coating. By applying one, you’re able to keep your staircase looking good while also being able to maintain its top quality.
Maintaining the exterior of your commercial property is crucial for preventing long-term damage while protecting your property’s value. Commercial painting contractors can apply high-performance protective coatings to steel structures, ensuring they remain resilient against weathering and rust. Regular maintenance by professionals not only enhances the appearance but also extends the lifespan of your building’s exterior.
Professional Maintenance Services for Steel Staircases
Using expert maintenance services helps you to keep a steel staircase in good condition. These services guarantee that your staircase stays in perfect shape and operates safely by providing specialist knowledge and skills beyond standard cleaning. Below are a close look on professional services for staircase maintenance.
Importance of Professional Services
Professional supervision helps steel staircases, especially those in high traffic areas or exposed to hostile surroundings. More precisely than untrained eyes, professionals can evaluate the staircase’s structural integrity and aesthetic state. By spotting possible problems early on, this thorough check helps to save money on future, major repairs.
What Professional Services Offer
Professional maintenance teams provide a range of services tailored to the needs of steel staircases. These include:
- Detailed Inspections: A thorough inspection is the first step in any professional maintenance service. Experts examine every component of the staircase, including supports, railings, and steps, for signs of wear and tear. They check for loose bolts, corrosion, and other structural issues that could compromise safety.
- Cleaning and Polishing: While regular cleaning can be done by anyone, professional services use high-grade cleaning agents and equipment designed specifically for steel. This not only ensures a deeper clean but also avoids damage from inappropriate cleaning materials that might corrode or scratch the surface.
- Rust Removal and Prevention: Professionals tackle rust spots with specialized techniques that remove corrosion without harming the underlying steel. They also apply protective coatings that prevent future rusting, a crucial service for staircases in moist or marine environments.
- Repair and Replacement: If damage or wear is found during the inspection, professional services can carry out necessary repairs or replace parts of the staircase. This might include welding broken joints, replacing worn-out steps, or tightening fixtures and fittings.
When to Hire Professionals
Deciding when to call in the experts depends on several factors, but here are a few scenarios where professional services are highly recommended:
- After an Incident: If your staircase has been subjected to significant stress, such as an impact from heavy objects, it’s wise to get a professional assessment.
- Regular Interval Checks: For commercial buildings or staircases that receive a lot of foot traffic, having professionals check the staircase annually or biannually is advisable.
- Environmental Impact: Buildings in coastal areas or places with high pollution levels might need more frequent professional checks due to the increased risk of corrosion.
Choosing the Right Service Provider
Selecting the right professional service is crucial. Look for companies with specific experience in maintaining metal structures. Check their credentials, ask for references, and review examples of their previous work. A reputable service provider should be transparent about their methods and provide a clear maintenance plan tailored to your staircase’s specific needs.
Professional maintenance services play a vital role in the upkeep of steel staircases. They not only extend the lifespan of the structure but also ensure that it remains safe and visually appealing. Investing in such services is a proactive approach to maintaining the quality and functionality of your building’s steel staircases.
Conclusion
If you’re after a more minimal, contemporary, and sleek design in your home, steel stairs are definitely going to be your best bet. But for it add some plus factor to your building, it needs to be cleaned and well-maintained. If manufactured properly, a steel staircase is supposed to last your building through many years. When coupled with proper home maintenance, you extend your steel staircase’s life span and make it aesthetically pleasing as well. The tips in this post can help you out.
