What is this and how can I prevent it?

JohnSwift10

I replaced my plastic shower basket with stainless steel baskets and this brown stuff keeps growing on it, it is not rust.

It is difficult to clean it off

There is not any mould or anything in the shower cubicle 

How can I stop it appearing?

WIAWSNB

It's rust :-)

Lorian

Looks like rust to me too. It's perhaps a chrome finish rather than stainless steel.

WIAWSNB

Lorian said:

Looks like rust to me too. It's perhaps a chrome finish rather than stainless steel.

Yes. SS is generally less shiny, more silvery. That is almost certainly chromed steel, and not even of a good quality :-(

MyRealNameToo

Another vote for rust. 

Stainless Steel isnt a single thing, it's ultimately an alloy and can have different mixes of the constituent parts. It's the Chromium that makes it rust resistant and the higher the proportion of chromium the more resistant it is. SS can contain anything from 10% to 30% 

A chrome finish does a similar thing irrespective if its actual electroplated with chromium or a plastic coating to simulate it. 

ButterCheese

It's definitely rust.  Try to keep moisture out of the room, don't have the basket getting dripped on in the shower, you can buy dehumidifer boxes if you don't have an extractor fan.  It just looks like a very cheaply made basket which isn't stainless steel.  Funny, because we have a very similar one that goes ocross the bath and holds flannels, phone etc and it's perfect after 18 months of use.  I'd say it's just a very thin, very cheap finish.  I'd buy a better one if you really need it. 

born_again

You need something like this. Bought in 2019 & still looks like new. Even though it never gets cleaned.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078S7BJ4X?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5&th=1

Emmia

I went for (expensive) stainless steel not chromed baskets when we re-did our shower, on the basis of the manufacturer stating they wouldn't rust, and trusting this due to the quality of their other products.

https://www.robertwelch.com/products/burford-corner-shower-basket-single

JohnSwift10

WIAWSNB said:

It's rust :-)

It is not rust as I can remove it using a brillo pad.

Emmia

JohnSwift10 said:

WIAWSNB said:

It's rust :-)

It is not rust as I can remove it using a brillo pad.

Rust can be removed with a Brillo pad or abrasion. But by cleaning it like this you're also scrubbing off any protective coating, making the problem worse.

JohnSwift10

Made a mistake it is chrome not stainless steel.

Croydex Stick & Lock™ 2 Tier Chrome Cosmetic Storage Basket - 93 x 255mm | Wickes.co.uk