You'll find aluminum in a ton of your household items, especially in pots and pans. With time and use, aluminum can start to dull, tarnish, and just otherwise look... not so great. If you're ready to restore your aluminum and have it look like new, we have all the tips you need. Learn how to clean aluminum, remove tarnish, and restore it to its original shine.
Before cleaning aluminum, you need to determine if it is finished or unfinished. If it's covered with a coating (like paint or enamel), you'll need to follow instructions for cleaning the coating. If it isn't coated, you can use these instructions.
How to Clean Brushed Aluminum
You may find brushed aluminum surfaces on appliances like stoves and refrigerators, in kitchen and bathroom fixtures, or on your vehicle's hubcaps. This method will restore it to its original appearance.
Materials
- 3 dry, clean cloths
- A non-abrasive cleaning pad
- White vinegar
- Water
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- A bucket
- Cream of tartar or baking soda
- Commercial glass cleaner
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
Instructions
- Take one of the cloths and wipe the surface of the aluminum thoroughly to remove any debris or dust.
- Use a non-abrasive cleaning pad to remove any crusted or dried-on dirt.
- If there's still debris and dirt that you can't remove, fill the bucket with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap.
- Take a cloth or a non-abrasive pad and soak it in the water and soap solution. Use it to work off the debris from the aluminum. Use either a gentle circular motion with the pad or, if there's a clear "grain" to the piece, follow the direction of the grain with the pad.
- Prepare a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water in a bucket. Use one of the cloths and immerse it in the bucket, soaking up some solution.
- Take the wet cloth and rub it on the aluminum, using a circular motion and concentrating especially on discolored areas.
- If you can't remove the more heavily discolored areas, make a paste using a tablespoon of cream of tartar or baking soda and about a half tablespoon of water (use enough water to make a paste-like texture that isn't too wet).
- Take the paste and coat the hard-to-clean spots. Wait at least 10 minutes. Take the wet cloth and rub the paste away.
- Once you have all the discolored spots removed, spray the aluminum with glass cleaner. Use a clean, dry cloth to remove the glass cleaner.
Aluminum loses its shine because of oxidation, which develops a coating on the surface. You'll need to use an acid-based solution (like lemon juice or vinegar) to remove the oxidation. Always wear gloves to protect your hands when cleaning with an acid solution.
How to Clean Cast Aluminum
You'll find cast aluminum in kitchen cookware and some types of furniture.
If the cast aluminum item you are cleaning is a cooking pot or pan and it has food that has been burned on the bottom or sides, add water and some vinegar to the pan and set the water to boil for a few minutes. Then, take a wooden or plastic spatula and use it to remove the softened burnt food from the pan.
Materials
- 3 clean, dry cloths
- A non-abrasive cleaning pad or a soft-bristled toothbrush
- 4 cups water
- 3 tablespoons cream of tartar
- ½ cup lemon juice
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
Instructions
- Add the water and cream of tartar to the pan and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Empty the water and cream of tartar solution from the pot and allow it to cool until you're able to handle it. Use a cloth, non-abrasive pad, or toothbrush, and gently scrub the pan using a circular motion.
- Once the pot is clean, make a mixture at a ratio of a half cup of lemon juice to 1½ cups water.
- Dip a cloth in the mixture and use it to rinse the pan clear of the tartar solution.
- Take a dry clean cloth and wipe the pot or pan clean.
How to Clean Tarnished Hammered Aluminum
You may find hammered aluminum in older items and antiques. These pieces get black oxidized areas that look like tarnish.
Materials
- A large cooking pot
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup cream of tartar
- 2 cups vinegar
- Clean, dry cloths
- A non-abrasive cleaning pad
- Mild dishwashing liquid
- Rubber gloves
Instructions
- Fill the cooking pot with water, cream of tartar, and vinegar.
- Bring to a rolling boil on the stovetop.
- Pour the boiled mixture into a plugged sink or a bucket and place your aluminum item in the solution. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain out the solution and fill the sink or bucket with hot (but not boiling) water. Add a teaspoon of dishwashing soap. Continue to soak your item(s) for another five minutes.
- Use a cloth or non-abrasive scrubbing pad and gently rub the items to clean them.
- When all the black has been removed, take the item out of the water and rinse it so that all the soap residue is removed. Dry it thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth.
How to Restore Oxidized Aluminum
If your aluminum is dull or chalky, you can use this process to restore it.
Materials
- Clean, dry cloths
- A non-abrasive cleaning pad or a soft-bristled cleaning brush
- Bucket
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 1 tablespoon mild dishwashing liquid
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 cups warm water
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
Instructions
- Use a cloth or cleaning brush to remove any debris on the aluminum.
- In a bucket, add about a tablespoon of the liquid dishwashing soap and a gallon of warm water.
- Wet the brush, pad, or cloth in the water and soap mixture and gently clean the aluminum. Be careful not to press too hard, as you don't want to damage the surface.
- After you've cleaned the entire surface, rinse out the cloth, pad, or brush and then use it to remove any soap residue.
- Allow the aluminum to dry on its own.
- Mix the vinegar and water.
- Wet another cloth and use it to gently clean the aluminum.
- Use a clean, wet cloth to rinse the item.
- Allow it to completely dry.
How to Clean Tarnished Aluminum
Tarnished aluminum refers to the appearance of dark or dull areas on aluminum items, such as the bottoms of pots and frying pans, utensils, and more.
Supplies
- Small bucket or bowl
- ¼ cup borax
- A few drops of water
- 1 soft-bristled cleaning brush or toothbrush
- Clean, dry cloths
Cleaning Tarnished Aluminum With Borax
- Make a borax paste by mixing the borax and water in a bucket or bowl. Add a few drops of water at a time until you get the right consistency. You want to create a paste that you can apply to the aluminum, so it should be wet but not so wet that it falls apart when you apply it.
- Take the brush or toothbrush and gently daub some Borax paste onto the tarnished areas of the aluminum. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. For deep-set stains, you can let it sit for as long as an hour.
- Use the brush or toothbrush to gently rub the paste into the stain. You should see the tarnish coming off as you do this.
- Use a damp, clean cloth and remove any trace of the borax paste residue.
- Use a clean, dry cloth to dry the pieces.
The Best Ways to Clean Aluminum
Aluminum is present in so many items in our homes, but unfortunately, it does succumb to wear and tear and environmental factors. This leads to unsightly oxidation and tarnish, which can make an item appear to be "ruined." However, if you use the correct method for the type of aluminum, you can restore items to look as good as new.
