It's a common situation that frustrates many: Installing something made of stainless steel in an effort to avoid rust, only to find the stainless steel item rusting within a few months. This can be the result of a number of issues, from defective parts to damage that lets water contact the interior of the steel part. While rust on stainless steel can't always be totally prevented, the chances of it forming can be reduced greatly. And, if the worst happens and you find damage, replacing the steel can be easy, especially if the stainless steel part in question is small, like a fastener. 

If Possible, Clean the Fasteners Before Installing

Stainless steel fasteners are made with an alloy that forms a barrier to rust. However, the parts can have tiny bits of debris on them from the tools that were used to make them, and these tools are often made of iron. As iron rusts easily, you can see how having iron debris coating the steel could encourage rust formation. So, cleaning the fasteners – and drying them completely before installing them – can go a long way toward removing the iron residue and removing that rust risk.

Ensure Water Can't Become Trapped Next to the Fasteners

Another issue is trapped water. If you look at rust stains, you'll see they often appear to be dripping or running somewhere (even if dry; this is just how they look). Moisture can become trapped between the fastener and the items it's fastening, and that moisture can encourage rust if there is a scratch on the surface of the stainless steel. In this case, see if you can clean off the rust; if the job would be too complicated (e.g., removing rust from screw threads), replace the fastener as soon as possible. As for the other parts, if they can't be replaced, you can still clean off the rust and then seal the item with a silicone-based sealant.

If You Spot Rust, Investigate Immediately

If you see any hint of rust, look at the spot immediately. It could be that the rust is on the surface only and is due to the iron residue, in which case, you clean it off. However, if you find any hint of corrosion in the metal itself, you need to take action. As mentioned, this could include replacing a fastener, or cleaning and sealing a permanent part. Then you need to investigate how the rust occurred to stop it from happening again.

Stainless steel fasteners are strong and rust-resistant, but they can develop that reddish sheen due to certain conditions. Do what you can to reduce the chances of that rust forming so stainless fasteners can continue to provide strong connections.

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