Is ceramic cleaner than stainless steel

9 Best Stainless Steel Cleaners, Tested by Cleaning Experts

Choosing the right stainless steel cleaner is much simpler than shopping for a new refrigerator or stove for your home. Still, a stainless steel cleaner is important to keep your appliances looking brand new long after you install them. Here are a few things to consider:

Surface type: You dont want to use the same stainless steel cleaner on your refrigerator that you use on your outdoor grill. Some stainless steel surfaces, like grills, require more abrasive formulas than your kitchen appliances do. A formula that's too abrasive can cause damage that no cleaner, polish or mineral oil will be able to buff away.

Application style: Stainless steel cleaners most often come as sprays, powders or wipes. Which you opt for all comes down to convenience. Powders need to be mixed with water to form a paste, so they require an extra step. If youre looking to make cleaning a one-step process, go for a wipe that requires no extra tools and can be disposed of immediately after use. Looking to reduce your environmental footprint? Ditch the wipes and paper towels for a washable microfiber cloth that you can reuse whenever its time to give your appliances a quick polish.

Polish: Some stainless steel cleaners only clean surfaces without bringing back the shine they had when you first bought them. If youre looking to make your stainless steel sparkle again, look for a product designed to polish as well as clean. Plus, if your cleaner leaves a protective film on your appliances, you won't have to worry about cleaning fingerprints and greasy stains so often.

Scent: Many cleaning products leave a chemical smell lingering on the surfaces we clean some of us love it and others dont. If you prefer a more pleasant smell in your cleaning products, look for a scented option that masks the cleaner smell with scents like lavender, vanilla or other floral notes.

Which Soleplate is Best for Ironing? Stainless Steel or Ceramic

There is a seemingly endless selection of irons available online with so many brands and details to consider. One key feature they all share is the soleplate, but even this single detail creates confusion. Coated or uncoated, tapered or untapered, small or large, 10 steam holes or 400? As the soleplate is the number one point of contact between your clothes and the iron, its worth a little investigation.

Which soleplate is best for ironing? Stainless steel soleplates have excellent glide when ironing and are also the easiest to clean. Ceramic soleplates help protect clothing from scorch marks but tend to also wear faster due to their special coating that can wear over time.

We have found stainless steel to be the more popular soleplate finishes, check out our best stainless steel irons review article where you can compare the key differences side-by-side or go to our home page if you want to see more ironing tips and advice.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Soleplate Irons

Both stainless steel and ceramic iron soleplates are excellent conductors of heat, but there are some important differences too

Stainless Steel Soleplates:

• Are more durable
• Smoother improved glide over fabrics
• Much easier to clean and maintain

Ceramic Coated Iron Soleplates:

• Have the benefit of eliminating static while ironing
• Can reach higher temperatures without scorching fabrics
• Their ceramic coating wears off after some time, no matter how well you try to care for it
• They just arent as smooth (in my opinion) despite the non-stick marketing campaigns

Are Ceramic Irons Better?

But hold on, dont ceramic irons claim to be much better? Surely this isnt all just marketing hoo-ha?

Look some ceramic iron models like the T-fal Ultraglide claim that their ceramic soleplates glide smoother than stainless steel irons, but from using both the T-fal and other non-ceramic irons, I just dont feel thats true. In my opinion, the effortless cleaning and maintenance of stainless steel irons far outweigh the supposed benefits of ceramic soleplates.

Coated vs Uncoated

Traditionally, coated iron plates do not last as long as stainless steel soleplates and although technology is ever-changing and improving, stainless steel is more often the safer bet.

Coated ironing plates tend to age faster. In the event of an accidental burn or scorch, some coated surfaces take damage that they cant come back from. Cleaning can cause damage to coated surfaces. Both wear and scratches can make the soleplate surface uneven, this will result in delicate fabrics snagging and youll notice that the glide of the iron becomes more difficult.

Non-Stick Soleplates The term non-stick generally implies that a soleplate is coated, the non-stick material could be ceramic, titanium, Teflon, anodized aluminum, silicone, or enameled. Non-stick materials often dont have the same glide as stainless steel but can reach higher temperatures without the risk of scorching

Hamilton Beach Durathon Relatively new to me is the Hamilton Beach Durathon Non-Stick Coating. They claim their soleplate coating is 10 times more durable than traditional non-stick coatings. Plus, its durable and scratch-resistant. The impressive 10-year warranty that they offer on their soleplate makes me think we may have a game-changer here.

Large Soleplate vs Small

The size of your soleplate depends very much on what type of ironing youll be doing. If you plan to use it while travel, craft, or attend sewing classes, you will more than likely choose a smaller sized iron with a smaller ironing plate. However, for larger jobs and huge amounts of clothes ironing, a large iron that covers a larger surface area means the job gets done faster.

This quick guide will help you find the iron that best suits your needs.

• Traveling For travel purposes, you need something small that can fit easily in your luggage. As you will most likely be ironing a single item at a time, a small soleplate with adequate steaming ability is all you need. Oh, and dont forget to check for dual voltage if youre traveling overseas.
• Sewing Depending on what youre sewing and the size of your project, your choice can range anywhere between small and large, you may possibly even need one of each. A smaller iron allows you to work with smaller details, like seams, without weight being an issue. The precision also means youre less likely to burn your fingers.
• Quilting If you are working on large quilts, a small iron will take forever to press the entire surface, so here, wed recommend switching to a larger surfaced soleplate. A small iron plate will suit piece work and patching.
• Crafting As with more detailed sewing, a smaller iron allows you more control. If you frequently working with adhesives, a small surface will make it easier to avoid sticky areas that could gum up your soleplate.
• Home Ironing Here, a large iron with a precision tip is key. Especially if the ironing pile is frequent and large, youll want to power through it as quickly as possible. Lots of steam holes will mean faster wrinkle removal and the precision tip will help you navigate collars, cuffs, and in between buttons with ease.
• Professional Needs Seamstresses and tailors need precision as well as powerful, even steam distribution. Consider a soleplate with more steam holes and possibly even a steam generator iron for high-pressure steam.
• Linen Linen requires less precision, but the larger the surface area or your soleplate, the quicker youll get through the load. If you run a serviced apartment or Airbnb, then a professional steam generator iron will save you a lot of time. These machines have impressive steam ironing performance with infinitely less time spent filling the water tank.

How Many Steamholes Should a Soleplate Have?

Theres no perfect number, but the ultimate goal is to have the most even steam distribution possible, as steam power is what truly vaporized wrinkles and creases. The higher the steam efficiency, the less exposure your clothes have to the soleplate and this helps reduce shine when ironing.

Many soleplates only have steam holes in the top half of the irons soleplate but others like the Rowenta micro steam soleplate, for example, has 400 holes evenly spaced over the entire surface of the soleplate.

Its obvious to see how this feature would vastly improve the amount of time you spend ironing. Thats a big plus in anyones book.

Tapered or Shaped Soleplates

There are several soleplate shapes and designs that vary from functional to potentially gimmicky, but then again, it could come down to your individual preference or what youre used to.

• Traditional The traditional shape generally tapers at the front tip of the iron. This helps with ironing more detailed areas like between buttons or over seams, collars, and cuffs. The back of the iron is generally squared off with slightly rounded edges.
• U-Shaped Soleplate Panasonic is one example of a brand that has moved away from the traditional soleplate shape. The U-Shapes
• Multi-Directional Again, we have pictured a Panasonic soleplate above which looks like two iron tips fused together. This is a clever addition to their portable iron as it allows you to iron in any direction and get into every detail without turning the iron around.

Soleplate Shoe Covers for Protection

Soleplate shoe covers are a great way to protect the surface of your soleplate from build-up. If you use starch this can cause a brown burn mark to form and grow on your soleplate if its not cleaned regularly. A soleplate cover or shoe-plate means you dont have to risk any damage to the ironing plate itself.

The only drawback is it uses a lot of steam for ironing. If the steam holes do not align, the steam power of your iron will be negatively affected. The manufacturers of the Rowenta 400 hole soleplate have created a shoe cover that aligns with the soleplates steam holes. In this case, the steam release is not impaired and you can risk residue sticking to the shoe plate (which is affordable to replace), instead of the soleplate.

Should You Use a Soleplate Cleaner?

Yes, prevention is better than cure. As you use your iron, regular cleans will avoid buildup and the creation of a large burnt mess on your soleplate which is much harder to clean. Cleaning your soleplate of any starch or scorched fibers will improve its glide and avoid blockage of steam holes. A smoother glide means less wear on your clothing so they will last and look better for longer.

For coated soleplates, refer to your user manual to ensure you are using the correct cleaning method that avoids damaging it. When cleaning any type of soleplate, do not use rough scouring pads. Even fine scratches on the ironing plate create resistance when ironing as well as uneven heating of the soleplate. This can result in burns and ruined clothing.

In Conclusion

The best soleplate for ironing is of course also a matter of personal preference. If youve used stainless steel or a coated soleplate for years, it will be what youre most comfortable with. Just like the weight and feel of the iron, the smooth glide of a soleplate can make light work of ironing. Taking the above information into consideration will help you find the iron thats the best fit for your needs.

Ceramic vs. Stainless Steel Kitchen Knives

Kitchen Knife King is completely reader-supported. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Should you buy Ceramic or Steel Kitchen knives and are ceramic knives a cut above the conventional steel knives?There are basically two main types of kitchen knives, the traditional steel blade knife and the newer ceramic knife, but which are the best kitchen knives you can buy? It can be very confusing as to the differences between these two knives and which knife to buy and use.

The knife is a very important part of the kitchen and most people tend to keep to the trusty old steel knives they have always used, rather than venture out into the new world of ceramic knives, mainly because these new toys look exactly like toys and so couldnt possibly do the jobs their old steel knives can.

Ceramic Knives

When we think of ceramic we think of pretty china tea sets, vases or ornaments, so to team ceramic with a sharp cutting implement such as a knife seems a contradiction in terms. Its an extremely inert hard wearing resistant chemical, much harder than carbon steel, titanium and carbide, only diamonds are harder.

How are Ceramic Knives Made?

Ceramic knives were first made in 1985. The ceramic used in these knives is not the same ceramic used in the typical china tea service or everyday coffee mug. The key ingredient is a rare mineral called zircon mined in Australia, which is then turned into advanced ceramic. This is made by dry pressing the zircon (zirconium oxide), then firing it at high temperatures which makes it 50% harder than steel. The blade is then sharpened by grinding it on a diamond wheel which results in the hard edge holding its sharpness 10 times longer than a conventional steel blade.

Ceramic material is not very porous so the blades on the best ceramic knives are dense with very few pores, rather like human skin. Less dirt and grime can get in so this keeps the blade clean and stops it from transferring odors from one food item to another. They are almost impossible to stain and there is no metal in them so there is no rust. Ceramic knives dont do well in a dishwasher though as some detergents can strip the colored coating from the blades or chip the blades if the motion of the washer knocks them against other objects. A quick wash in warm soapy water or a wipe with a wet cloth is all that is required to get them clean.

Do Ceramic Knives cut it?

Actually yes they do and they cut better than steel knives in some cases. The blade can be ferocious and you only have to look on the chopping board to see the results.

They cut fruit, vegetables and boneless meats with ease and hardly ever need sharpening like a conventional steel knife but because of the brittleness of the ceramic blade, its better to stick to the steel knife when using on such foods as boned meat, frozen produce or for prying apart food.

Why buy a Ceramic Knife?

Its difficult to choose which ceramic knives to buy as most people have no idea where to start with this new technology. Knowing what to buy and what does the best job can be a bit of a minefield, especially now there is a new type of ceramic blade on the market called a black HIP blade. This type of blade goes through an extra firing process called a Hot Isostatic press which creates a tougher blade than the white or colored blades. This therefore, can add to the confusion of whether to buy ceramic or steel but its really a matter of choice which one you choose and which knife you feel is right for you.

Ceramic knives are ergonomically designed to suit the job and come in a variety of colored blades as well as the white and newer black blades some have fancy designs such as different sized serrated edges for bread knives, cut out patterns for cheese knives and some salad knives have curved blades. Paring knives come in all shapes and sizes and manufacturers even stamp the use on the blade such as pizza or cheese, making them more desirable to the kitchen gadget cook.

The ceramic knife ideally requires a sheath or a suitable storage container to protect the blade, this could put some consumers off buying them but they are far superior to steel knives so are well worth the extra care. However, they do have their limitations so they should be seen as a supplement to steel knives rather than a replacement for them but once tried, they will be a permanent kitchen favorite.

[divider]

Steel Knives

Carbon steel and Stainless steel have until recently been the mainstay of kitchen knives the steel used for this type of knife will determine its sharpness and quality. They are very versatile, will maintain a sharp edge, stay rust free and with less corrosion if handled and used with proper care.

The steel knife is made up of a metal blade with either a wood, plastic or metal handle. These knives are capable of doing more jobs around the kitchen than their ceramic counterparts but they dont have the same attraction as the multi colored ceramic knife with its different patterns and shapes.

How Steel Knives are Made?

Its not a case of which steel knives to choose but rather how the metal has been manufactured that is important to their strength and durability. Necessary chemical elements are added, in addition to the main compositions of Chromium and Carbon, to the steel to increase strength, hardness, resistance, edge retention and corrosion etc, rather like adding various seasonings for a better taste when cooking.

A good steel knife should be manufactured properly to extract the most out of each element. Any improper processes in grinding, sharpening or heat treatment, could possibly ruin the intended characteristics of their performance and ability.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the most popular material for the kitchen knife, the proportion of nickel and chrome in stainless steel will define the quality. The nickel will add the toughness and the chromium will add shine and rust resistance. They are easy to maintain, resist corrosion and have less pitting but because they are more porous than the ceramic knife they can harbor bacteria and hold onto odors. Unlike the ceramic knife, these knives can be washed in the dishwasher.

Stainless steel materials have improved significantly over the years and there are many attractive and fine Stainless Steel knives available now with longer edge retention, good sharpness and ease of re-sharpening.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is tougher than stainless steel making it much more durable; its easier to sharpen and holds an edge longer. It is a high-maintenance metal though and will rust quicker than Stainless steel. Acidic foods such as lemons will stain the blade so these knives need extra care and attention when washing and drying and should ideally be wiped after and even during use to prevent corrosion and discoloration.

These knives can also be washed in a dishwasher but care is needed with knives that have wooden or plastic handles. Oiling the blade before use will help to keep it at its optimum performance. However, because of the high maintenance of Carbon steel these knives have fallen in popularity both in professional and domestic use.

High Carbon Steel

High carbon and stainless steel creates the best of both worlds. The blade is resistant to staining or rusting and extremely hard. This type of blade will hold a sharper edge with regular maintenance, making it the popular choice of steel knife.

Wrapping up

When it comes to ceramic vs stainless steel knives, the use of Ceramic knives is rising in popularity but due to their limitations, they cannot replace the steel knife completely. The Ceramic Knife is the glamorous and adventurous New kid on the block, whereas the Steel knife has always been the trusty versatile necessity for any kitchen and will be around for a long time to come.

That doesnt mean they cant share the same workspace. Both types of knife will work well together in any kitchen so rather than choose between the two, why not choose a selection of each type to compliment not only you but each other.