Abstract: A method of producing steel strip having a metal coating layer including the steps of (a) cold rolling a hot-rolled steel strip, (b) cleaning the cold rolled strip by means of an electrolysis bath, (c) rinsing the cleaned strip, (d) tightly coiling or packing the rinsed strip, annealing it and skin-passing it, and (e) electrolytically applying the said metal coating layer. In the said rinsing step (c) or subsequently thereto, the strip is passed through a bath which contains, in a suitable amount, a conditioning substance selected from the group consisting of urea, thiosemicarbazide, ammonium thiosulphate, borax and a mixture of such substances which is preferentially adsorbed on the surface of the strip and which in the annealing hinders or prevents the formation of surface graphite by the carbon within the steel.