First Response to Rust | HIDE Skimmer Lids

Never allow acid or chemicals to contact the stainless steel.

All acid and chemical washes will cause discolouration and a rusting effect on the stainless steel.

Acid type, concentration, and contact period will vary the level of deterioration of the stainless steel.

Remove rust marks as per ‘Tea Staining’ instructions - Your product may have surface damaged, the warranty will be void.

Always make this information available to installers and the homeowner to avoid mistreatment of a stainless steel product.

Removing ‘Tea Staining’

Tea Staining is natural and can be scrubbed off.

HIDE components are made of 316L marine-grade stainless steel. Although this is a very high-grade external product, it is normal for visible surface “browning” to occur (known as ‘Tea-staining’).

It should not be confused with rust; it is a cosmetic discolouration on the stainless steel surface.

Carefully remove ‘Tea-staining’ as soon as it’s noticed with a nylon scouring pad.

All you need is a nylon scourer, soapy water, and a little elbow grease to clean the surface.

Typically the tea-staining will form on the underside of the HIDE lid where residues and salt deposits gather. To clean, all you need is a stainless steel scourer, soapy water and a little elbow grease. Just be sure to use the scourer parallel to the grain direction of the HIDE lid. Rinse thoroughly when done.

Please be aware that if the surface staining is allowed to build up over time, possible rust bleeding may leach onto the HIDE lid inlay or surrounding paving. This is not a fault of the lid and is completely avoidable with occasional cleaning. If allowed to occur over a prolonged period, the leaching may not be able to be removed.

Please note that rain washing is not sufficient in most applications.