Apart from elevating the overall aesthetic value of any space, stainless steel appliances are also easy to clean and highly resistant to rust, fire and heat.
When all these benefits are factored in, it’s quite clear to see why most stainless-steel appliances come with a rather hefty price tag.
That being said, despite being a popular option for many homeowners, many stainless-steel appliances including refrigerators are subject to cosmetic damages.
This can be largely attributed to the fact that these appliances are not made with stainless steel, but rather come with a thin stainless-steel finish.
This, in turn, renders them weak. Again, this has been a subject of controversy, as many stainless-steel appliance manufacturers fail to mention this to the clients, who genuinely believe that they are purchasing appliances made from pure stainless steel.
Peeling of stainless-steel refrigerators is something that most stainless-steel appliance owners continue facing to date. In recent years, many stainless steel appliance owners complained that these home appliances began to peel off in under 3 years of use.
This has in turn resulted in various class action lawsuits against various well-established manufacturers.
Why is My Stainless-Steel Fridge Peeling Off?
Your stainless-steel refrigerator is peeling off due to various reasons such as abrasive cleaning methods, wear and tear and lack of regular cleaning. That being said, it is important to point out that many stainless-steel appliances do come with a stainless-steel coating.
When these coatings are subjected to abrasive cleaning methods or mishandled, then they will ultimately begin to peel off. Thus, it is extremely important to always exercise caution when cleaning and handling stainless steel appliances.
Furthermore, it is also important to do extensive research before purchasing a specific stainless steel refrigerator, as some refrigerators tend to peel more easily than others.
That being said, what are some of the most common reasons why your stainless-steel fridge is peeling off?
5 Common Reasons Why Your Stainless-Steel Refrigerator is Peeling Off
Abrasive Cleaning Methods
One of the main reasons why many stainless-steel refrigerators end up peeling is due to the regular use of abrasive cleaning methods.
Harsh scouring pads and the use of abrasive materials will only end up creating scratches on the surface of the refrigerator, specifically the acrylic layer.
When done over a long period of time then this will end up causing a significant amount of damage to the protective layer, resulting in peeling.
Wear and Tear
As mentioned earlier, stainless steel refrigerators do not come with a stainless-steel construction but rather feature an acrylic coating which gives them that authentic stainless-steel finish.
With this in mind, it is important to note that regular opening and closing of the refrigerator often creates scratches on the handles and any other areas that are touched when accessing the fridge.
Furthermore, our hands secrete natural oils, which we often leave on various surfaces including the refrigerator whenever we touch them.
These oils have the ability to break down the acrylic coating, which may result in the stainless-steel fridge peeling off.
This is one of the main reasons why many stainless-steel refrigerators often begin to peel off at the handles and any other areas that are constantly touched when accessing the refrigerator.
Corrosion/Chloride Exposure
In other instances, your refrigerator may be peeling off since you reside in areas where the water or air contains high levels of chloride.
This issue is quite prevalent among many stainless-steel appliance owners who reside in coastal regions or areas with high chloride levels.
If you reside in any of these areas, then it is highly advisable to always take certain precautions so as to prevent your stainless-steel home appliances from peeling off.
Here are some of the precautions that you should take so as to prevent your fridge from peeling off.
Precautions to Take To Prevent Your Stainless-Steel Appliance from Peeling Off
Avoid Using Harsh Cleaning Agents/Abrasive Cleaning Materials
As mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons why many stainless-steel refrigerators tend to peel off is the regular use of harsh cleaning agents. Thus, when cleaning these home appliances, it’s extremely important to always settle for mild dish soap.
By using mild dish soap with water, you will be able to not only clean your home appliances but also neutralize any smells. You can learn more about removing smell from home appliances on the linked post.
Clean Your Refrigerator Regularly
One of the most reliable and effective methods of preventing your stainless-steel appliance from peeling off is through regular cleaning.
By cleaning the refrigerator on a regular basis, you will be able to strip off any natural skin oil attached to the surface that may be eating away at the acrylic.
As mentioned earlier, it is important to always stay away from any strong or abrasive detergents or cleaning techniques.
Doing this will go a long way in ensuring that your refrigerator is able to stay in top-notch condition for a long time.
In addition, when cleaning the refrigerator, it is important to always clean the appliance against the grain. To finalize the cleaning process, always use a microfiber cloth to wipe the entire surface of the refrigerator.
If you want a shine, then you can always add a little bit of mineral oil, baby oil or olive oil on a dry piece of cloth and then smoothen it on the surface of the fridge.
Perform Repairs Immediately
Apart from cleaning your refrigerator regularly, you may also want to perform repairs as soon as possible. For aesthetic repairs, you may want to reach out to the manufacturer.
It is important to note that your appliance warranty does not cover aesthetic repairs. So, this service will always come at a cost.
Many times, some of the fees that you will sort out include the service fee, labour cost and part replacement fee where applicable.
That being said, many of the biggest brands do offer aesthetic repairs, thus you may want to reach out to the dealer or sales team for further direction.
Failure to do this will result in the continuous peeling of the refrigerator.
Install Door Handle Covers
Another workaround to this issue is to install handle door covers. There are plenty of handle door covers on the market that will not only come in handy when preventing your refrigerator from peeling off but will also serve as decorative pieces.
That being said, the pricing of these handle door covers starts at $10. When shopping for your handle door covers it is important to always keep in mind the type of fridge that you have and its overall colour.
Again, you do not want to get a door handle cover that will take away from the overall aesthetic value of your kitchen.
Avoid Exposure to Chloride
As discussed above, stainless steel appliances will begin to peel off when exposed to high levels of chlorine. Thus, if you reside in areas with high levels of chloride in the air or water, then it’s advisable to always clean your refrigerator as often as possible.
Doing this will go a long way in ensuring that the chlorine does not begin eating the stainless-steel coating. In addition, you should also avoid cleaning your refrigerator using salty water.
Always use fresh water to clean any stainless-steel appliance including the refrigerator.
Settle for Refrigerators with Protective Coatings
Finally, when shopping for a new stainless steel refrigerator it is extremely important to always settle for one that comes with a protective coating.
A few stainless-steel refrigerators in the market tend to come with a protective coating whose main purpose is to enhance the durability of the appliance and its resistance to different environmental factors such as chemicals and moisture.
Thus, you should always settle for one that comes with this coating, especially if you reside in areas with high humidity and salinity levels.
