Best way to clean off stainless steel heater?

I get scale build up on my stainless steel aquarium style heaters. What's the best way to get it off? Will muriatic acid harm the stainless steel?

Muriatic acid will stain stainless steel, and the only way to get rid of it is to spend hours buffing with a non-metal scouring pad like green pads. High strength ammonia is your best bet. Will make it shine like new, unless it is a chemical stain. Very effective on scale. Do not use any kind of metal or steal wool, as it'll make stainless rust later on. Just make sure no bleach is present around ammonia (very bad). Muriatic acid and bleach (active ingredient sodium hypochlorite) are not the same thing. Muratic acid and ammonia is not really dangerous even though general care should be taken with all such chemicals.

Edited by mywan, 02 August 2012 - 03:54 AM.

Soak 'em in vinegar a few hours before you scrub them.

Thank you!