How to clean aluminum from oxidation?

Contents:
  • How to clean aluminum from oxide?
  • Cleaning of kitchen utensils
  • Cleaning of aluminum sinks
  • Cleaning of aluminum products and parts

In any house there are products made of lightweight but strong enough material - aluminum. Such household items include: pots, frying pans, sinks, window frame elements and furniture fittings. Like any material, aluminum is covered with dirt and oxide film. To prevent this, you need to know how to clean aluminum from oxidation and do not damage the product.

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How to clean aluminum from oxide?

Anyone can clean aluminum from oxides at home:

  1. The easiest way is mechanical, but it can only be used on planes or parts that have a simple relief.
  2. To clean a metal with a difficult-profile relief, it is necessary to use a chemical method - etching.

Consider several ways to remove oxide film and other contaminants on household items.

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Cleaning the kitchen utensils

In order to restore the shine, you will need the following items:

  • Water.
  • Soft cloth or sponge for utensils.
  • Vinegar or lemon juice, tartar.
  • Scraper for dishes.
  • Soft detergent.
  • Salt.
  • Towel.
  • Bucket or other large container if the dishes need to be cleaned from the outside.

After preparing everything you need, get to work:

  1. Wait until the pan or frying pan cools down after cooking.
  2. Remove all grease and dirt from the surface of the cookware. Add a dishwashing detergent in warm water and wash off any debris.
  3. Scraper for dishes scrape off all the carbon deposits and food residues. If you can not completely clean the pan with a scraper, pour some water into the utensils, bring to a boil and scrape off the dirt from the metal with a wooden spoon.
  4. Prepare a sour solution: 2 tbsp.spoon of tartar, white vinegar or lemon juice, dilute 1 liter of water.
  5. Pour the solution into a saucepan.
  6. Put the utensils on fire and bring the liquid to a boil.
  7. Boil the solution over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
  8. As soon as the aluminum brightens, turn off the fire.
  9. Wait for the pan and the contents to cool.
  10. Pour the solution out of the dishes.
  11. Gently wipe the pan or pan again with a scraper to remove any remaining dull spots.
  12. Clean the dishes with a clean towel.

Tips & Warnings:

  1. Do not use steel scourer for cleaning, as it can scratch the surface, and this will lead to disastrous consequences.
  2. If you want to clean the dishes not only from the inside, but also from the outside, then place it in a large pan or bucket. Pour an acidic solution, at the rate of: 1 liter of water - 2 tbsp.spoons of weak acid( vinegar, lemon, tartar).Place the container on the fire. Boil 15-20 minutes to clean the aluminum from oxidation.
  3. If there is no large capacity, clean the pan from the outside with a cut lemon, pre-dip it into salt.
  4. The acidic solution reduces the tarnishing of the metal. Therefore, to clean the surface of dishes use juice of sour fruits and vegetables, for example, rhubarb or apples. Instead of a solution in the water for boiling, you can put the skin of acidic apples - in such a simple way you will be able to purify aluminum from oxidation.
  5. If you do not want to spend time boiling utensils, then use a mild aluminum cleaner. Use it as well as a soft brush for dishes or soap. Wipe the dishes with a sponge soaked in a cleaner, and then rinse the product with water.
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Cleaning of Aluminum Shells

The aluminum shell must be regularly cleaned of food, dirt and oxide film residues. In order for the plumbing to shine like new, proceed as follows:

  1. Gently wipe the sink with a brush, as food particles can interfere with the removal of the oxide layer and make surface cleaning difficult.
  2. Wash the equipment with a dishwashing detergent.
  3. Thoroughly rinse off any detergent.
  4. Cut the lemon in half.
  5. Dip one half of the citrus into the salt.
  6. Wipe the surface of the shell cooked with half a lemon.
  7. With a damp cloth, remove any salt and lemon residue.
  8. With a dry towel, wipe the surface of the sink.
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Cleaning of aluminum products and parts

In our houses, many products are made of light metal, for example, aluminum fittings or furniture. Due to surface oxidation, the metal does not rust. However, oxidation itself is considered a form of corrosion. As a result of this process, a thin film forms on the surface of the metal, which protects it from water. Unfortunately, with time the oxide film grows and the metal dims. All this negatively affects the appearance of products. Therefore, it becomes necessary to purify aluminum from oxidation.

To clean the aluminum items in the house and yard, use the following tips and tips:

  1. You can clean aluminum parts of window frames or doorways with one of the universal detergents, for example, Domestos. Although this is quite aggressive, it will not damage the parts, since such aluminum products are coated with a stable anti-corrosion coating.
  2. Use the following method for cleaning aluminum outdoors:
    • Wash the metal surface with water and a mild detergent such as soap. It is necessary to remove dust, dirt and grease from the coating.
    • To remove scratches, use a soft abrasive, such as Soft Scrub.
    • Thoroughly rinse with water. You can use a garden hose for this purpose.
    • Mix acid with water in a 1: 1 ratio. You can use: vinegar, tartar or lemon juice. If you process accessories or aluminum furniture, then instead of soft acid, use a paste to polish the metal.
    • With a soft brush for dishes and a prepared solution, wipe the metal. Try to remove all dark spots caused by oxidation.
    • Rinse with water. Ensure that there are no traces of solution left on the surface of the product.
    • Thoroughly wipe the surface with a dry cloth.
    • Apply a layer of wax paste to polish the car on the product. Apply the wax with a soft cloth, rubbing the paste in a circular motion.

Useful advices:

  1. Clean the metal outdoors in moderate weather, as aluminum does not tolerate too high and too low temperatures.
  2. When cleaning the aluminum surface with a steel washcloth, use the thinnest. The surface should be cleaned forwards and backwards, but not in circular motions, in order to preserve the uniformity of the surface texture.
  3. If it is necessary to clean the aluminum covering of walls covered with a coating, use trisodium phosphate. Mix the preparation with warm water in the proportion: 30-50 grams of funds per 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is applied to the surface, but beforehand protect the eyes and hands with protective agents.
  4. You can achieve the gloss of metal with a special liquid WD-40.Handle the product in the fresh air. Apply liquid with a rag or sprayer. After a couple of minutes, wipe the surface with a stiff washcloth or thin twisted steel wire, which is used to remove carbon from the dishes. After the treatment, wipe the aluminum product clean with a rag.
  5. Clean the exterior aluminum surfaces with ordinary detergent. In 8 liters of warm water, dissolve a quarter of a glass of detergent without bleach. Apply the solution with a sponge. After the surface treatment, rinse thoroughly with clean, cold water.
  6. Use for pickling metal - caustic soda. The procedure takes a little time, so it is acceptable at home. You can use chemical household means "Mole", which is used to eliminate blockages in the drain. Use the drug to clean the aluminum from oxidation, as follows:
    • 1-2 teaspoons of the product dissolve in 0.5 liters of warm water( up to 60 degrees).
    • Place the items of aluminum in the solution.
    • After 1-2 minutes, wash the product with a sponge and soap.
    • Rinse thoroughly with water.
  1. Use soda to clean the metal. The product is immersed in a solution: 2 tbsp.spoon of soda for 1 liter of water. Put the container with the contents on the fire and boil for 10 minutes. After handling, cool the object and rinse. You can also use a warm solution of caustic soda.
  2. Remove the dirty-dark color film in the following way:
    • In a glass of water, dissolve 10 grams of Drugstore.
    • Add a few drops of ammonia.
    • Use a prepared compound to cover the object.
    • Allow the product to dry for half an hour.
    • Wipe the object with a dry cloth.

Take care of objects made of aluminum and clean them in time from dirt, food debris, carbon deposits and oxide film. Especially watch out for items on the street, since they are most susceptible to oxidation. When working with chemicals, do not forget about the means of protection: glasses, gloves and a respirator.

We hope that our advice and recommendations helped you to clean the light, but strong objects from aluminum and they spark even better than new ones.