More and more products are made of aluminum due to its strength and lightness. Aluminum is a widespread silvery-white metal used to make wheels, cans, window frames, and many more. Given that many automotive and household items are made of aluminum, it pays to know how to keep them clean and make them shine.
You can use everyday substances like water and vinegar to make aluminum shine. But before attempting to shine aluminum, you should clean it with a mild detergent or degreaser. In some cases, you may have to sand it to get the best results.
Keep reading if you want to bring your aluminum items back to their former glory without using polishes that contain harmful chemicals. This article will walk you through each step in cleaning and shining aluminum.
1. Clean the Aluminum With a Mild Detergent or Degreaser
Before attempting to make aluminum shine, getting rid of dirt is imperative. Since aluminum is a soft metal, you could end up embedding dirt into the surface if you start buffing it before cleaning. Moreover, avoid using abrasive scrubbers to prevent scratching the aluminum surface.
Aside from dirt and debris, you may also notice a hard thin film on the aluminum surface. This film is most likely aluminum oxide, which forms when aluminum is exposed to air or oxidizing agents.
To clean aluminum, use a soft cloth or sponge with an acidic or mild detergent. Alternatively, you can use Borax or vinegar as a cleaner. Mix the Borax or vinegar with water and apply them to the dirty areas.
Avoid dishwasher detergents because some contain corrosive chemicals that may cause the aluminum to discolor. Anodized aluminum products are more resistant to corrosion since they have a harder surface than steel, but polished aluminum is more sensitive.
For stubborn stains, you can use a degreaser or a penetrating fluid like WD-40. Use fine-grain steel wool to remove the stain if it won’t come off with a soft cloth. Since steel wool is abrasive, make sure to use light pressure and only use it on problem areas.
Make sure to rinse the aluminum thoroughly with clean water after cleaning. After rinsing, dry the aluminum with a soft dry cloth or micro-fiber towel.
2. Sand the Aluminum
After cleaning the aluminum and removing dirt and debris, the next step is sanding to eliminate or at least lessen scratches and kinks. Despite many people’s hesitation with sanding aluminum, it is often a critical step in getting rid of imperfections and achieving a brilliant shine.
Prep the surface for sanding by spraying a generous amount of WD-40 to lubricate the surface. Sandpaper made of silicon carbide is more suitable for aluminum since its grains stay more consistent than aluminum oxide sandpaper. Silicon carbide sandpaper is also ideal for wet-sanding and leaves a smoother finish.
Any sanding project should start with a coarser grit and gradually work your way up to something smoother. This process ensures you can smoothen imperfections with minimal effort while achieving the best finish possible.
If the aluminum has a lot of visible scratches, you need to start sanding with coarser sandpaper, ranging between 200 to 300 grit. Do not use a grit level below 180 since it is too abrasive for soft metals like aluminum.
After sanding the surface with low-grit sandpaper, work your way up. Use 400 grit on your next pass, then move on to 600 grit while keeping the surface well-lubricated. Continue to move up until you’re happy with the finish.
If you want to achieve a mirror finish, you can use a higher grit. However, make sure to increase grit levels gradually. Jumping from 300 to 1500 grit will wear out your sandpaper and involve more work to get your desired results.
You can purchase sandpaper sets with various levels of coarseness. The Verones Sandpaper Bundle (available on Amazon) contains 90 pieces ranging from 400 to 3000 grit. This sandpaper is made of high-quality silicon carbide that will not tear or crumble during use.
3. Create a Polishing Solution With Household Items
With the aluminum sanded down to your desired finish, you will need to remove residual dust and debris from all the sanding. The final touches after sanding can further enhance the appearance of your aluminum.
There are many aluminum polishing products in the market. But, aside from containing harmful chemicals, aluminum polishes may not be worth purchasing if they just end up on a shelf after using a small portion.
Fortunately, you can create a polishing solution with everyday household items and still achieve good results. The best part is you don’t risk exposure to harmful chemicals, and you get to save a few bucks.
Here are common ingredients you can use in place of aluminum polish:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Cream of tartar
- Toothpaste
- Ketchup
Some items on the list may surprise you, but they can work wonders in restoring your aluminum. Below are instructions on how to use them.
Vinegar
Vinegar is generally a good cleaner because of its acidity. It can effectively remove stubborn stains and dissolve undesirable debris.
You can create a cleaning solution by mixing white vinegar and water in equal proportions. White vinegar and water can effectively polish and restore your aluminum’s luster, but this mixture will have a watery texture. If you want something that has the paste-like qualities of regular polishes, you can add salt and flour.
To make a cleaning solution out of vinegar, salt, and flour:
- Add one teaspoon of salt to 230 mL of white vinegar.
- Gradually add flour while mixing the solution.
- Keep mixing until the mixture becomes a paste.
Cream of Tartar
Cream of tartar is also highly acidic and is often used to remove nasty burn stains from the bottom of aluminum cookware.
To make a cleaning solution using cream or tartar:
- Mix two tablespoons of cream of tartar into a bowl of water.
- Mix well until the mixture becomes a paste.
- For a stronger or more acidic solution, you can add white vinegar.
Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
You can also use baking soda and lemon juice to clean aluminum since lemon is acidic. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can simply cut and squeeze the lemons and mix them with water.
To make a cleaning solution using baking soda and lemon juice:
- Mix two tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl of lemon juice.
- Mix well until the mixture becomes a paste.
- For a stronger or more acidic solution, you can add white vinegar.
Toothpaste
You can also use toothpaste for cleaning aluminum since it contains cleaning agents like sodium lauryl sulfate. Aside from detergents, toothpaste has chalk or silica-based abrasives that help remove or smoothen imperfections. It also contains water, so you do not have to mix it with anything else, although adding more water and baking soda is an option if you want to increase its quantity.
Toothpaste can remove dirt and stains from aluminum as effectively as it does for your teeth.
Ketchup
It may sound like an unbelievable hack, but you can use ketchup to clean metal surfaces, including aluminum. Ketchup usually contains vinegar, which we know is an effective cleaner, but tomatoes also contain citric acid.
4. Apply the Solution
Once you’ve made your cleaning solution, the next and final step is application. However, each cleaning solution is applied differently, as indicated below.
Cleaning With Vinegar
To clean aluminum with vinegar:
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture onto the aluminum surface.
- Wipe it away with a soft dry cloth.
- For added shine, use fine-grain steel wool.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
If you’re using vinegar mixed with salt and flour:
- Apply the paste using a clean, dry cloth.
- Let the paste sit for 15 to 60 minutes (the longer, the better).
- Wipe the paste off with another cloth.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
Cleaning With Cream of Tartar
To clean aluminum with cream of tartar:
- Rub the paste into the aluminum surface using a dry cloth.
- Let the paste sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Buff the paste off using another dry cloth.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
Cleaning With Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
To clean aluminum with baking soda and lemon juice:
- Rub the solution into the aluminum surface using a dry cloth.
- Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Buff any residue off using another dry cloth.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
Cleaning With Toothpaste
To clean aluminum with toothpaste:
- Rub the toothpaste into the aluminum surface using a dry cloth.
- Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to agitate dirt and reach tight areas.
- Buff any residue off using another dry cloth.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
Cleaning With Ketchup
To clean aluminum with ketchup:
- Apply the ketchup to the aluminum surface using a dry cloth.
- Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Rub the ketchup across the surface using a dry cloth.
- Buff any residue off using another dry cloth.
- Rinse the aluminum thoroughly with water.
- Dry aluminum with a clean cloth or microfiber towel.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a fancy polisher or expensive polishing compounds to make your aluminum shine like new. Given all the household items you can use to restore aluminum, there’s no doubt that you can get started without having to leave the house.
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