How To Clean Anodized Aluminum Light Fixture

Download Commodity

Download Article

Aluminum is a highly versatile material that is used to make many things, from cooking pans to cycle wheels. Unfortunately, aluminum has the tendency to oxidize over fourth dimension, pregnant that the material accumulates a chalky, grey cast. Once you start to run across this oxidation form, there are a number of means to remove it. Begin by cleaning and scrubbing the aluminum to remove whatever debris from the surface. Then clean the aluminum with acidic cleaners and scrub to eliminate the oxidation.

ane

Rinse the aluminum surface. Begin the process of cleaning oxidized aluminum by rinsing the aluminum to remove surface dust or debris. If you lot are cleaning an aluminum pot or pan, rinse the pan under a strong jet of h2o. If you are cleaning aluminum wheels or house siding, use a clammy cloth to wipe the aluminum or a hose to it with h2o.^[1]
ii

Wash thoroughly with soap and h2o. If your aluminum looks clean after rinsing with water, move onto cleaning the aluminum with natural cleaners. If it is yet looking dirty or there is debris caked upwardly over the oxidation, launder the aluminum surface with hot water, soap, and a soft-bristled brush or scratchy pad.

Advertisement
iii
Deep clean the aluminum. To remove stubborn dirt or food buildup on your aluminum, utilize hot water and a flat edge to scrape buildup off of the surface. If y'all are cleaning an aluminum pot, place a few inches of water in the bottom, put the pot on the stove, and bring it to a boil for about v minutes. Then accept the pot off the stove, look for the h2o to cool slightly and utilise a flat-edge spatula to scrape off the buildup with the water still inside.^[2]
- If you are washing aluminum wheels or siding, soak a cloth in hot h2o and hold it against the buildup to loosen it, and then use a flat spatula to scrape it off.
Advertisement

one
Use vinegar. If you lot are cleaning an aluminum pot, fill the pot with water, and so add 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) for every quart of h2o. Bring the water and vinegar to a boil and let the boil roll for 15 minutes, and so pour out the liquid. You may have to do this process a few times to eliminate all oxidation.^[three]
- If you are cleaning a small aluminum object, bring water and vinegar to a boil inside a pot, then take the pot off the heat and drop the aluminum object inside. Let it soak for fifteen minutes, then have it out and rinse it off.
- If you lot are cleaning a large aluminum surface, soak a cloth in vinegar, so wipe information technology across the oxidation. Scrub with a soft-bristled brush, then wipe away the vinegar and lifted oxidation with a damp cloth.
- Don't utilise abrasive materials similar steel wool or sandpaper to scrub the surface of the aluminum. While this can scrape abroad oxidation, it also will scratch the surface of the aluminum and make oxidation harder to remove in the futurity.
2
Utilise lemon juice. Do the same cleaning process as you did with vinegar, this time with lemon juice. If you are cleaning a small-scale surface, you can too simply rub sliced lemon over the oxidized surface and wipe abroad. Dip the lemon piece in some salt to add together abrasiveness if you are cleaning a peculiarly tough patch of oxidation.^[4]
- Y'all can discover pocket-size containers of lemon juice at nigh grocery stores, which is an easier culling than individually juicing lemons.
3

Clean with foam of tartar. Use the same methods as you used with lemon and vinegar, this time using cream of tartar to make clean off the oxidation. If you are cleaning a big area of oxidation, moisture a cloth, employ a small amount of foam of tartar to information technology and rub the textile over the surface. Then rub the foam of tartar away with a soft-bristled brush.^[v]
4
Melt something acidic. If yous are cleaning out an aluminum pot of oxidation, you tin can simply cook something acidic in it such equally tomato, sliced apple tree, sliced lemon or rhubarb. Place the pot on the stove, add one of these acidic foods and plenty water to cover the oxidized areas. Bring the pot to a eddy, then take information technology off the oestrus and cascade everything out.
- Since the oxidation will come off of the pot, y'all should not consume the foods you are cooking.
Advertisement

one
Use aluminum cleaners. At that place are many cleaners on the market specifically formulated to clean aluminum. Later on removing equally much oxidation as you lot can past using the methods in a higher place, put on gloves and utilise the commercial aluminum cleaner according to its packaging.^[6]
- Only use commercial cleaners that are aluminum specific. Many commercial cleaners contain ammonia, trisodium phosphate and other chemicals that can be harmful to aluminum.
2

Use a metal polishing paste. Aside from making a surface shiny, polishing pastes tin can as well clean the surface of aluminum and take off oxidation. Purchase a metal polishing paste that can safely exist used on aluminum and refer to its package to utilise it to the oxidized expanse.^[7]
iii

Utilize wax after cleaning. Depending on what kind of aluminum object or surface you are cleaning, you may want to glaze it with automotive wax after cleaning to assistance prevent oxidation in the future. Utilize wax on surfaces like a machine or bicycle wheels, house siding, or outdoor furniture, but don't use it on aluminum pots or kitchenware.^[8]

Advertizement

Add New Question

Question

Does vinegar remove oxidation from aluminum?

Kadi Dulude is the owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York Urban center based cleaning company. Kadi manages a team of over 70 registered cleaning professionals, and her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Assimilate and New York Mag.

House Cleaning Professional

Skillful Answer

Yes, first of all I would endeavor wiping it clean with white vinegar. But if that does non work, I'd effort lightly sanding information technology with sandpaper or scrubbing with blistering-soda and water mixture.
Question

How exercise I repair holes in oxidized aluminum?

It depends what the item is doing for you; if it's a decorative slice that has a finish over it yous can dimple down the area and repair it for appearance with a body filler. If you demand a structural repair you'd typically need to supplant the particular unless it's expensive. You can take holes footing out and aluminum welded and ground to resurface, just that's typically not worth the cost.
Question

How tin can I remove product stains from my faucet when I've used the wrong cleansing product?

Corrosion from acidic cleaners or scratching from abrasive cleaners is damage and cannot be cleaned off.
Question

I take an Airstream RV, and it is actually oxidized. How do I make clean and smooth information technology up?

Attempt to piece of work a smaller surface at a time, like merely the door, with the same general principle: wash, scrub, make clean, polish and wax. Since information technology is a vehicle, and you probably intend to use it, yous may desire to go to a mechanic.
Question

How do I my clean a range hood'southward aluminum filters that have discolored in the dishwasher?

OxyClean and a soft brush. It may take a few applications. Mine were pretty bad from the dishwasher.
Question

How do I remove an oxidized aluminum shower door frame?

Lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda work well. Paint it on, leave to piece of work and wash/scrub off.

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

VideoRead Video Transcript

If you are cleaning an aluminum pot or pan, clean the pan thoroughly and use natural methods rather than commercial cleaners.
Make certain you lot apply commercial cleaners outside or in a well-ventilated room.

Advertizement

Things Yous'll Need

Dish soap
Flat border spatula
Vinegar
Lemon juice
Cream of tartar
Clean cloths
Aluminum cleaner
Aluminum polishing paste
Automotive wax

Most This Article

Commodity Summary X

To clean oxidized aluminum, outset wipe off whatever clay or debris on it using a make clean cloth. So, wet the cloth with soapy water and gently clean the aluminum with it. Rinse off the soapy remainder and let the aluminum dry. If there'due south still oxidation, mix 1 tablespoon (fifteen mL) of white vinegar with ii cups (480 mL) of warm water and wipe down the aluminum with the mixture. The acid in the vinegar will assistance break down the oxidation. For stubborn spots, cutting a lemon in half and dip i of the halves in some common salt. And so, rub the salted lemon against the oxidation. The acid from the lemon mixed with the common salt's abrasiveness should remove nearly stubborn stains. If the oxidation persists, you may need to utilize a commercial oxidation remover, which you tin find at your local hardware shop. For tips on how to make clean big aluminum surfaces, read on!

Did this summary assistance yous?

Thank you to all authors for creating a page that has been read 381,194 times.