How to Remove Tarnish From Aluminum
Aluminum is a light and soft metal with characteristics that make it ideal for use in many industries. Most commonly, aluminum is used as container material for food and other goods. It also is used as a lightweight building material for aircraft. Aluminum forms a "natural oxide," or tarnish, when exposed to the air. Unlike harmful tarnish and rust that decrease the usefulness of other metals such as silver and iron, aluminum's oxidized coating serves as a protectant. If you wish to remove this dull, gray coating and return the luster to your household aluminum items, there are several methods for doing so. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Citrus oil
- Large pot
- Plastic tub
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Rags
- Metal polish
- 100-percent cotton cloth
Instructions
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Blend 2 cups of water, 1 cup of vinegar and 1 tsp. of citrus oil in a large metal pot.
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Soak your tarnished aluminum object in the solution for 30 minutes or more until you see a clear improvement. Use heat to increase the effectiveness of your cleaning acid by placing the pot onto the stove and allowing it to boil for 15 minutes or more.
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3
Fill a plastic tub with hydrogen peroxide until it is of suitable depth to submerge your tarnished aluminum object. Dip the object into the solution and let it sit. Immersion in hydrogen peroxide can help clean heavily tarnished coins and other items, or can be used if the acid method did not provide the desired results.
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Check the object in a few minutes to gauge the progress of the cleaning. If you are cleaning coins or other valuables, continue to check in short increments to ensure that pitting and wear does not occur. The peroxide will clean the object but is harsh and may cause damage if not watched carefully.
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Clean the surface of your aluminum object with a sponge soaked in dish soap and warm water. Dry with a clean rag.
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Apply your polish as indicated on the bottle. Typical methods include applying the polish with a 100-percent cotton cloth while applying enough pressure to remove the coating or tarnish. When the polish turns black, remove it and apply more or buff it out.
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Tips & Warnings
If you wish to shorten the acidic cleaning process, slice a lemon in half, dip the open end in salt and scrub your aluminum item with its surface.
Purchase a light-grade metal polish suitable for aluminum polishing at a local auto parts or auto-care retailer.
Never use baking soda or washing soda on aluminum. These materials may cause undesirable reactions with the metal.
References
- IR Info; Polishing Aluminum Panels; Gil Fuqua
- Hawg Wash; Polishing Metal; David W. Bynon; 2002
- Natural Healthy Home Cleaning Tips: Natural Metal Cleaning Recipes
- Metal Detecting World; Chemical Cleaning of Aluminum and Iron Coins; Segei T.
- How to Clean Things; How to Clean Aluminum; Eric D. Ronning
- Sam Davyson: Aluminum Corrosion; Sam Davyson
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
