Guide to Cleaning and Maintaining the Outer Casing of Coffee Grinders
The cleaning and maintenance of the coffee grinder’s casing should take into account the three core requirements of anti-corrosion, anti-static and anti-scratch. At the same time, a targeted solution should be selected based on the material characteristics (plastic/metal/composite material). The following is a systematic solution provided from four aspects: cleaning process, material matching, tool selection and risk avoidance, combined with professional data and practical cases.
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First, material compatibility: Maintenance strategies for different shells
Plastic casing (commonly found in household models)
Material characteristics:
ABS/PC material is prone to static electricity adsorption of dust, and the matte coating is easy to be scratched.
Data: The electrostatic adsorption force can reach 500-800V, and ordinary cleaning cannot completely remove it.
Maintenance plan:
Clean the crevices with an electrostatic duster (made of natural mane) every week.
Avoid using cleaning agents containing alcohol/solvents (which can easily cause coating cracking).
Case: A certain user wiped the matte shell with alcohol. After three months, the coating peeling rate reached 40%.
2. Metal casing (commonly found in commercial models
Material characteristics:
Stainless steel (304/316) is corrosion-resistant but prone to leaving fingerprints, while aluminum alloy (anodized) is prone to oxidation and whitening.
Data: The pH value of fingerprint oil is 4.5-5.5, and it can corrode metal surfaces.
Maintenance plan:
After each use, wipe with a microfiber cloth dipped in neutral detergent.
Polish with metal care paste (containing nano-alumina) every month to form a protective film.
Case: A certain coffee shop did not carry out anti-fingerprint treatment, and the rust rate of the metal shell was 12% after three months.
3. Composite materials (wood grain/stone grain coating)
Material characteristics:
The wood grain/stone grain coating is essentially a PVC film with poor heat resistance (it is prone to bubbling when the temperature is above 60℃ for a long time).
Data: The coefficient of thermal expansion of PVC film is 7×10⁻⁵/℃, which is significantly different from that of metal substrates.
Maintenance plan:
Avoid direct exposure to heat sources (such as the steam pipe of a coffee machine).
After cleaning, place a silica gel drying strip (with a width of ≥1cm) at the joint to absorb moisture.
Case: A certain user placed the grinding machine beside the steam pipe. One month later, the bubbling area of the coating reached 30%.
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Second, risk Avoidance: Common Mistakes and Solutions
Error operation 1: Power on immediately after cleaning
Consequence: Water stains seep into the circuit board, causing a short circuit and increasing the probability of motor burnout by 200%.
Solution: After cleaning, let it stand for at least 2 hours. Use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the outer shell (the temperature difference from the environment should be less than 3℃).
2. Error Operation 2: Using a steel wool ball/scouring pad
Consequence:
Plastic shell: The scratch depth can reach 0.2mm, and the bacterial growth rate increases by 15 times.
Metal casing: The anodic oxide layer is damaged, and the rusting rate increases by 10 times.
Solution: Switch to nano-sponges (such as Klinley Magic Eraser) or soft-bristled cleaning brushes.
3. Incorrect operation 3: Long-term exposure to kitchen fumes
Consequence:
Plastic casing: Turns yellow after the oil fume penetrates, and the light transmittance drops by 40%.
Metal casing: When the oil film thickness is greater than 0.1mm, the fingerprint residue rate increases by three times.
Solution: Install an oil fume hood (such as a 304 stainless steel filter screen with a diameter of 0.5mm) and clean it with an oil remover every week.
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Third, verification of maintenance effects
Cleanliness inspection
Shine an ultraviolet flashlight on the shell, and there should be no fluorescent residue (cleaner residue) or reflective spots (grease residue).
Static electricity test
The surface voltage should be detected by an electrostatic field tester and should be ≤1kV (the national standard requires ≤5kV).
Corrosion resistance test
After spraying with a 5% sodium chloride solution for 48 hours, the rusted area of the metal casing should be less than 0.5% (in accordance with the ISO 9227 standard).