Franke solid stainless steel kitchen tap Atlas Neo swivel spout brushed matt black 115.0666.435

✅ Daily Maintenance: Wipe dry with a soft microfibre cloth after every use. No products neede

✅ Cleaning Method: Use only warm water and a soft microfibre cloth. Press firmly, wipe gently

✅ Stubborn Spots: Use a very diluted water and vinegar solution (more water than vinegar), dry immediately 

✅ Aerator Care: Unscrew and clean the aerator separately when water flow reduces

❗ Cleaning Products: Almost every bathroom/kitchen cleaner will damage matte black. Only mild dish soap is safe

❗ Abrasive Materials: Never use scouring pads, rough cloths, or even the rough side of a sponge

❗ Excessive Force: Don't scrub. Gentle, regular wiping is far better than occasional hard scrubbing

❗ Metal Tools: If you need to tighten the tap, use a strap wrench (cloth-grip), not a metal wrench.

✅ Daily Wipe-Down: Dry with a soft cloth after every use. Coloured finishes show water marks easily

✅ Regular Cleaning: Clean with mild dish soap and warm water on a soft microfibre cloth 

✅ Light Buildup: Use a 75/25 lemon juice and water solution, buff gently, rinse immediately

✅ Preserve the Finish: Regular light cleaning prevents the only real enemy: hard water mineral buildup

❗ Abrasive Tools: Avoid scouring pads, steel wool, rough sponges, and abrasive powders

❗ Harsh Chemicals: Don't use bleach, ammonia, acidic cleaners, or aggressive descalers

❗ Soaking: Never let any cleaning solution sit on the finish. Apply, wipe, rinse, done

 ❗ Metal-on-Metal Contact: Don't bang pots or utensils against the tap. Sharp impacts can chip the coating

Stainless steel kitchen taps are a popular choice in many households and commercial kitchens because of their durability and sleek, modern look. However, they have both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of stainless steel kitchen taps:

1. Durability: Stainless steel taps are known for their robustness and longevity. They are resistant to corrosion and rust, which means they keep looking good over time.

2. Maintenance: Stainless steel taps are easy to clean and stain-resistant. They are also more resistant to stains and discolouration than many other materials.

3. Aesthetics: Stainless steel taps have a sleek, modern look that suits many different kitchen styles, from industrial to modern and minimalist designs.

4. Hygiene: Stainless steel is a non-porous material, which means that bacteria and viruses do not easily adhere to it.

Disadvantages of stainless steel kitchen taps:

1. Price: While there are variations, stainless steel taps can generally be more expensive than taps made of other materials, such as plastic or certain metals.

2. Water stains: Although stainless steel faucets are resistant to stains and discolouration, they can have water stains and fingerprints that require additional cleaning to make them look shiny and new again.

3. Cold to the touch: Stainless steel tends to feel cold to the touch, which can be uncomfortable for some people, especially in colder climates or during the winter months.

It is important to consider these pros and cons before choosing a stainless steel kitchen tap. This decision should also take into account the style of your kitchen, your budget and your personal preferences.

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition and this results in a coating that is much stronger than galvanised chrome, for example, and yet shines just as beautifully. Another not insignificant advantage of PVD coatings is that they are relatively environmentally friendly. To apply the coating, a liquid metal is vaporised in a vacuum environment. This means that the process requires less high temperatures. The vaporised metal is then applied to the product in one or more layers. These layers are wafer-thin so that the design of the product is not affected by the top layer.

PVD coatings are not only applied to taps, but to all kinds of metal objects that are used intensively and still require a beautiful colour. Think, for example, of cutlery, door fittings and even watches.

Advantages of PVD:

• solid coating;
• resistant to most cleaning agents;
• does not oxidise;
• shiny, wafer-thin top layer;
• scratch-resistant;
• environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of PVD:

• it is a bit more expensive;
• the colour options are (for the time being) somewhat more limited.