Stainless steel metal is a common kitchen material and is now a popular jewelry material. Everyone enjoys wearing jewelry, mainly stainless steel jewelry since it has a cool look and stainless steel is less expensive while being durable.
Despite its durability, people continue to ask questions such as: does stainless steel rust?
Hardened stainless steel is a metal that resists corrosion and has lots of scratch resistance. Therefore, it is an appropriate metal for a wide range of everyday items; however, sharp objects can scratch the surface, which leads to tarnish.
Stainless steel is known for being a non-tarnishing metal; however, it has the potential to tarnish with time, although stainless steel doesn’t tarnish as fast as other metals.
In our guide, you can learn more about this corrosion-resistant material and does stainless steel turn skin green? (Read How To Get Scratches Out Of Stainless Steel)
By the end, you will know much more about how this metal can fend off continuous exposure to a harsh environment without too much trouble. Because of this, with little care, you can show off your stainless steel piece that offers lots of aesthetic appeal.
Does All Stainless Steel Tarnish?
This metal jewelry does not tarnish, although it’s not invincible. You can wear stainless steel jewelry every day, but it starts to suffer scratches and stains from repeat use.
Stainless steel, like any metal, can rust, although this depends on the climate. However, stainless steel jewelry corrodes far slower than other jewelry.
Stainless steel comprises an alloy of nickel, carbon, chromium, manganese, and iron. Even though most of these metals rust, stainless steel is protected by chromium. The chromium protective layer protects metal from oxidation, making it less likely to rust or tarnish, which is why most stainless steel jewelry comprises at least 10% of this protective film.
Besides the chromium content and deep down chromium power, stainless steel develops an oxide coating when exposed to the atmosphere. You’ll discover this layer also shields the metal. Also, even if the metal is damaged, the oxide layer will help keep tarnish at bay.
Even the nicest stainless steel jewelry can rust and tarnish under certain conditions. Your jewelry’s chromium layer may be harmed or cannot safeguard your jewelry. Should this happen, other metals in the jewelry react with oxygen, losing luster and thus tarnish.
The longevity of your stainless steel jewelry also depends on the environment it is exposed to.
Stainless Steel Corrosion
This metal corrodes in six ways. The piece’s setting and care will determine each one.
- General: This type of corrosion is characterized by a homogeneous loss of metal on the surface. If your jewelry has a pH value of less than 1, this will happen.
- Galvanic: Galvanic corrosion, also known as bimetallic corrosion, is caused by electrochemical processes and electrolytes. One metal corrodes more than another. Stainless steel metal won’t do this through regular daily activities.
- Intergranular: Intergranular corrosion occurs when the boundaries of crystallites erode rather than the inside surfaces of a piece. If your stainless steel pieces face high temperatures, they can erode between 842 and 1562 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you’ll never face this situation.
- Pitting: Pitting is a type of localized corrosion that happens in your jewelry’s cavities or holes. This happens when your stainless steel jewelry is exposed to chlorine, so avoid wearing it around the pool.
- Crevice: Crevice corrosion happens between two joining surfaces on your jewelry. It can be made between metals or between metals and non-metals.
- Stress Corrosion Cracking: Stress corrosion cracking refers to the crack formation in a corrosive environment or harsh conditions. This means that tensile tensions cause cracking when paired with a corrosive environment.
Gold-plated or black anodized stainless steel jewelry also tarnishes like any stainless steel jewelry.
To prolong the life of your stainless steel jewelry, the answer is simple. You need regular cleaning for your jewelry.
- The quickest way to clean it using warm water and gentle soap.
- Mix the two and gently rub around your jewelry.
- To get rid of soap residue, soak in lukewarm water.
- Dry your jewelry to maintain its attractive appearance.
Stainless Steel Cookware
Are you worried about your stainless steel cookware tarnishing? Well, if you properly care for your stainless steel cookware, you can avoid this issue. Stainless steel makes excellent pots and pans.
Cleaning stainless steel cookware is also a breeze. Just wash your cookware using soapy water immediately after use.
Does Stainless Steel Turn Your Skin Green?
Have you ever worn a jewelry item that had turned your skin green? Then you must be reluctant to use stainless steel jewelry, or at least ask, does stainless steel rings tarnish the skin?
The answer to will stainless steel turn green, is no, in metal or jewelry made from genuine stainless steel.
For most people, stainless steel won’t cause allergic reactions, as you can see from the ideal metal used in surgical implants, as it is corrosion-free, thus offering a lot of rust resistance.
Unlike other metals, stainless steel fade isn’t an issue. Stainless steel objects can be used for a long time without fading. (Learn How To Remove Spray Paint From Stainless Steel)
Remember that exposing the surface to strong chemicals or abrasive particles and environmental factors can dull the shine. You’ll find this because cleaning stainless steel jewelry metal surface makes them shiny.
How to Clean Stainless Steel?
How to clean stainless steel jewelry doesn’t require a trip to the jeweler, and you can do this with things you have around the home.
Mild Detergent and Water
Stainless steel jewelry can be cleaned with mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth.
- Soak your jewelry in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then wipe it with a soft cloth.
- Soaking helps soften the filth that has accumulated on your piece. This softened filth is easily wiped away. To clean hard-to-reach spots, use a soft-bristle toothbrush.
- After that, dry your jewelry with a gentle, lint-free cloth. This will restore it to a gleaming state.
- Use mild soap to avoid harsh chemicals corroding your jewelry. Abrasive cloths or scouring pads will harm the surface, causing rust.
If you have stubborn grime that soap won’t move, you can soak your jewelry in small bowls of lemon juice for 30 minutes before cleaning using the above steps.
Baking soda is a gentle cleanser that reacts with dirt to clean metal. To use, make a thick paste of baking soda and water.
Brush your jewelry gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush. The baking soda will bubble and turn brown as it reacts with the dirt on your jewelry.
Once the jewelry is clean, rinse it thoroughly with water and dry it with a soft, lint-free towel.
If your jewelry is dirty, repeat this step several times.
Baking soda is an oxidizer. If left on jewelry for too long, it will corrode the steel and induce tarnish as the nickel could be exposed if there is only a thin layer of protection. So don’t leave baking soda on the surface of your jewelry. After washing it, rinse it with clean water and wipe it off.
Toothpaste cleans hard-to-reach areas in your mouth and also cleans nooks and crannies in your jewelry. Gel toothpaste is an excellent cleaning agent to use
So, when your stainless steel jewelry looks dull, grab your silica-free toothpaste.
As with baking soda, apply the gel toothpaste and gently brush it using a soft-bristle toothbrush.
Beware of toothpaste that contains whitening agents, which can harm the durable scratch-resistant coating on your jewelry.
Once done, rinse and dry using a soft, lint-free cloth.
There are various jewelry cleaning chemicals commercially available. Cleaning solutions for jewelry are effective at eliminating tarnish, filth, and grime. However, several of these cleansers are harsh and may damage stainless steel.
The cleanser may be abrasive enough to scratch stainless steel, producing rust.
Much of cleaning stainless steel depends on how dirty it is and if harsh environments have taken their toll on the surface. (Learn How To Clean Gold Jewelry With Baking Soda)
One of the best commercial cleaning methods is ultrasonic cleaning, as this can reach right inside the smallest areas. However, it costs more than the methods above, and the ultimate results may not be better.