How To Remove Stains From Stainless Steel Side Steps

[mikepike1125]

I have the 6" stainless oval side steps. New england winters can be brutal. I have these stains on them that resemble knuckle children stains. Seeing as I like to keep my truck clean these stains are really cramping my style. Im assuming they are either salt or calcium related due to salt and calcium being used on the roads during snow storms. Though I cant find the stains on any other part of the truck. I quickly tried some carb cleaner and corrosion penetrater but neither of those worked. I can scratch it off with a fingernail but its tedious work and time consuming considering the amount of area that they cover.

 

Anyone have experience with similar stains on stainless steel? How did you remove such stain?

 

Thanks

[dewfpo]

I have no idea what 'knuckle children stains' means but here in CO they use magnesium chloride on the roads and it corrodes stainless steel. The stains are brown and I can get most all the brown off with Turtle Wax chrome cleaner but the stainless is pitted under the stain so when it's removed, you still see the pits.

 

DEWFPO

[mikepike1125]

knuckle children = jerking off to completion. Its a 'family guy' reference...

 

Ill have to try that chrome cleaner. I used some klasse all in one polisher, cleaner, protectant and it seemed to get some of the stain away but definitely didnt remove the pits. I should have oiled/wd-40'd the crap out of them like I meant to. Im thinking about just taking them off for the rest of the winter and future winters or Ill just buy something black. Man I wish I lived in the dessert.

[slapshot]

I get salt water on my steps at the boat ramp sometimes and it corrodes. To get the stuff off, I use Mother's metal polish on a Power Ball connected to my drill. Just tape off any plastic steps or anything to avoid a mess. The Power Ball saves lots of elbow grease and it goes pretty quick. After the metal polish, I put a coat of Zaino on them for protection.

[Doug_Scott]

You sure the running boards are made of stainless? They look more like polished aluminum to me.

[scrapdaddy]

next time you wash your truck take some s.o.s pads with you...works good for getting rid of salt and minor rust on chrome or stainless...make sure you get that sos pad good and wet.........

[scrapdaddy]

next time you wash your truck take some s.o.s pads with you...works good for getting rid of salt and minor rust on chrome or stainless...make sure you get that sos pad good and wet.........

[mikepike1125]

You sure the running boards are made of stainless? They look more like polished aluminum to me.

 

 

bad picture quality. They are stainless steel with chrome plating.

 

 

and thanks for the tips. Ill have to try these out asap.

[brandon_guzzo]

That happened to my moms SUV steps and I used HCL De-Limer. Work like a charm... Here's the link that I got mine from but you might wanna find a smaller bottle since it isn't that cheap. If you do decide to use it spray it on and wipe within thirty seconds them wash area with soap and water. Good Luck

 

http://www.imed.com/p/Liquid-Delimer-4-Uni...amp;zmap=221922