Stainless steel, considered by many people to be a standard in well-appointed homes, has and will continue to be a popular choice in appliance finishes for many years to come. Although it has a more contemporary and industrial appearance, it can also blend with any pre-existing decor. Its sleek and simple style can make any room special. With proper care and maintenance, stainless steel will look like new even after many years of use. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and 10% chromium. It resists corrosion and rust, and is known for its ability to resist contamination by germs and bacteria.
For those consumers who wish to get the look of stainless steel without the high price tag associated with it, as well as some other benefits that stainless steel can not provide them with, there are other alternatives available. Many households with young children and consumers who prefer to use their refrigerators as handy reminder centers, do not like the non-magnetic property of stainless steel. They prefer to have a magnetic surface upon which they can stick their grocery lists, schedules, pictures, etc. Also, fingerprints and smudges can be difficult to remove from stainless steel. Easier cleaning may be a very attractive feature for the busy homemaker.
In an effort to satisfy the needs of consumers who opt to get the look of stainless steel in a more affordable way as well as to provide them with easier to care for appliances and/or a slight aesthetic difference, manufacturers have made other types of finishes available. These finishes include clean steel, satina, stainless platinum, titanium, and silver satin. For example: Clean steel, made from carbon steel, doesn’t hold fingerprints and smudges and is easy to clean with a window cleaner or a mild detergent. It also holds magnets. It’s very hard to notice the difference in the appearance of clean steel vs. stainless steel surfaces. Satina, a finish of coated aluminum, provides the look of stainless steel, repels body oils, resists fingerprints and smudges and can be cleaned with household window cleaners quite easily. Titanium offers a bit of a deeper color that allows for a richer look than stainless steel. Stainless platinum is a bit brighter silver than the stainless. Silver satin gives an elegant, low glare look to appliances.
Before you shop, look at the different finishes and then decide which one is best suited to your needs and budget.
