Black steel has become a leading colour amongst our appliances. This bold and daring finish has risen amongst the ranks, becoming one of the most popular choices for a contemporary kitchen.
What exactly is Black Stainless Steel?
Black Stainless Steel appliances are created with the same materials as stainless steel, however it has a matte black coating over the top to give it the desired finish. The colour itself is matte in comparison to just ‘Black’ appliances, and has an overall more premium and luxurious feel to it. Black steel is a fantastic alternative to your bog-standard stainless steel, silver and white finishes that everyone has in their home.
There are many different variations of black steel, and they vary between manufacturer’s. The champions of this colour are certainly LG and Samsung.
The Pros and Cons of Black Stainless Steel
Black stainless steel is resistant to fingerprints and smudges.
One of the biggest drawbacks to traditional stainless steel is how smudges and fingerprints seem to multiply across its metallic surface, meaning extra work for you to keep it looking flawlessly clean. Black stainless steel, however, is much more resistant to smudges, fingerprints, streaks, and water spots. And when the finish does need a touchup, it’s easily accomplished with a damp cloth and a bit of gentle liquid dishwashing soap or a homemade stainless steel cleaner featuring diluted vinegar—no need for special cleaners or wipes.
It's prone to scratching.
The black surface is created with a colored acrylic coating across regular stainless steel that unfortunately scratches fairly easily. That means any ding or nick—from a piece of furniture, a child’s bike, even a laundry basket—could remove the coating to reveal the silvery stainless steel underneath. Such scratches are glaringly obvious, marring the beauty of a pricey appliance. And while some manufacturers offer touchup kits to hide the scratches in stainless steel, it’s generally very difficult to restore black stainless steel to its original pristine
