How Does Aluminum Cleaner Work?
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Chemistry
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Aluminum cleaner can be toxic, although some newer technologies have replaced the old hydrofluoric acid products with an intelligent blend of acid and acidic activators, also known as catalysts. Other elements in aluminum cleaner, such as detergents and surfactants, remove any substance that is not part of the natural aluminum. Foreign substances, such as grease, paint, or oil, are separated from the aluminum surface when aluminum cleaner is introduced to the material being cleaned.
Diluting
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Aluminum cleaners work in all kinds of weather, but the cleaning detergent must be diluted accordingly. For example, hot weather will require that you apply a good amount of diluting to the aluminum cleaner. Colder weather will require that you apply less diluting for the aluminum cleaning detergent. Aluminum cleaner is diluted by pouring one part aluminum cleaner into a bucket filled with twenty-four parts water. Some detergents come with a measuring cup, though most dilution must be done on a trial-by-error basis.
Measuring with the eyes can be deceiving, so it is best to run a test of the diluted cleaner on a small area of aluminum. By testing the diluted aluminum cleaning detergent on a small area of aluminum, the dilution can be adjusted without wasting detergent or destroying the aluminum surface. Allowing the cleaner to set for a few minutes will yield the results of the test. Old aluminum, such as the aluminum on old trailers, turns slightly gray when cleansed. With older aluminum materials it is best to dilute the aluminum cleaner more than it will with newer aluminum materials. Newer aluminum materials are treated with an aluminum cleaning detergent that is one part cleaner and fifteen parts water. By decreasing the water added to your solution, the detergent will be more acidic and remove tough stains and foreign materials from the aluminum's surface.
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Cleaning Process and Materials
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Rubber glove for protecting the hands is highly recommended for working with any kind of detergent, especially acid solutions like aluminum cleaner. A steel wool scrub pad or brush is the tool used in the aluminum cleaning process for scrubbing away oils, stains and grease. Aluminum cookware is cleaned by filling the cookware (pots and pans) with one quart of water, lemon juice (or vinegar), and a table spoon of cream of tartar (or mix 1 tbsp. of aluminum cleaner per quart of water). If you use aluminum cleaning detergent, do not heat the pan. If you're using natural remedies, such as lemon juice or vinegar mixed in water, then boil the water in the pan or pot for about ten minutes. After allowing the pan to cool, the pan is then scrubbed with the steel wool pad or brush. The brush is used to gently brush the pan back and forth (not in a circular motion). The water is drained, and the outside of the pan is gently brushed, and finally wiped with a cloth or rag.
Other aluminum materials are cleaned similarly. For example, aluminum sinks are cleaned by pouring Borax over the surface. Instead of steel wool, the sink is wiped clean with a rag or cloth. Cleaning outdoor aluminum requires attention to weather conditions. If the temperature is below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or the weather is very hot, avoid cleaning the aluminum that day. Aluminum cleaner is applied with a rag or cloth to exterior aluminum materials, and then washed off with water. The final touch is to dry the entire surface area of the outdoor aluminum material thoroughly.
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