How to Clean Aluminum

Aluminum products have a bright, silvery sheen when you first get them home, but over time, this metal oxidizes and that luster grows dull. There are plenty of ways you can bring the shine back and give old aluminum that shiny new look.

Things You'll Need

• Car wax
• Water
• Mild detergent
• White vinegar

Instructions

Cookware and Utensils

1. Brighten up aluminum cookware by boiling a solution of two tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water for ten minutes. Toss your aluminum utensils in the water to brighten them up at the same time.

2. Remove stains on the outside of your cookware with a mild, nonabrasive cleaner. Avoid using steel wool unless the stain is so bad that nothing else will remove it.

3. Soak cookware that is stained with burned-on food in hot water for one hour, then remove as much as possible with a wooden spoon before using steel wool to remove the rest.

4. Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

Tea and Coffee Pots

1. Clean a tea kettle or coffee pot that has been stained by hard water calcium deposits by boiling equal parts of white vinegar and water in the pot.

2. Let it stand for an hour.

3. Repeat as many times as necessary to remove all the calcium build-up.

4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Window Frames and Furniture

1. Use a mild detergent solution or commercial cleaner on painted aluminum.

2. Use soap and water on unpainted aluminum.

3. Rinse thoroughly with water after cleaning.

4. Protect aluminum outdoor furniture with a light coating of car wax.

Tips & Warnings

• Aluminum is a fairly soft metal, so it's important to use cleaners that don't scratch.