Back on March 31st, a reader e-mailed to ask me what I thought of stainless steel wall plates. He’d heard that they were the norm for hospital settings but wanted to know if that was actually true.

It is. Stainless steel is considered to be easier to clean, more durable, and more sanitary than regular plastic. An alternative to stainless steel is nylon which offers the same features. The main difference is that stainless steel protects against corrosion better than nylon, so if your plates are going to be in an environment where corrosive chemicals are used, best to go with the steel.

The benefits and stainless steel and nylon wall plates extend beyond hospitals. Because they are are tougher than your average plastic, they are also generally used in schools, warehouses, and other places where the plates may be kicked and knocked into on a regular basis.