20 best folk and chemical ways to clean aluminum from oxides
In every home, you can find products made from durable aluminum. Most often, pots, pans, accessories, sinks and window frames are made from this metal. Over time, the surface of aluminum oxidizes, and therefore everyone should know all the features of cleaning aluminum from oxides.
Hardware Features
Aluminum is a metal whose surface is painted in silver color with a slight white tint. This material has certain features that you should familiarize yourself with in advance. These include in particular the following:
- High level of density. Products made from this metal are very durable and do not suffer mechanical damage.
- Good thermal conductivity. This indicator is almost the same as that of silver, gold or copper.
- Protection against corrosive deposits. Aluminum structures never rust, but instead of rusting, oxide may appear on their surface.
How to clean at home
There are several effective home remedies that can help clean the surface of aluminum from the oxide formed.
A soda
You can use baking soda to remove oxidation on the aluminum surface. The main advantage of such a tool is its availability, since soda powder is found in almost every household.
Before proceeding with the removal of oxides, it is necessary to prepare a solution. To do this, 150 grams of soda is added to 300-400 milliliters of water. The mixture is stirred until a thick slurry is formed. The prepared composition is used to treat the damaged surface and wash it off with water.
Coca Cola
Many people think that soft drinks can only be used as a drink, but this is not the case. Housewives use them to remove rust and oxidation from metal surfaces. Among the most effective drinks, Coca-Cola is distinguished, which will help restore an aluminum product. To remove oxides, the damaged coating is placed in a container with an effervescent liquid and left for 40-60 minutes. If there is a lot of oxidation, the procedure is prolonged for up to 2-3 hours.
sorrel
Some people only use oxalic acid, but even fresh sorrel leaves will help remove the oxides. First you need to put a bunch of sorrel leaves in a small saucepan and pour cold water over it. Then the container is placed on a gas stove and boiled for half an hour. When the liquid boils, an aluminum product is dipped in it.
The procedure takes an hour and a half, after which the soaked surface is rinsed and wiped dry.
lemon acid
Citric acid is an effective remedy that helps eliminate oxidation quickly.It is added in the amount of two tablespoons to a one-liter container filled with cold water. Then the solution is brought to a boil, boiled for half an hour and removed from the gas stove.To remove recently appeared traces of oxides, the surface is wiped with a sponge dipped in a solution of citric acid. To remove old oxidations, the product will need to be soaked in a liquid.
Apple
Fresh apples contain trace minerals that help remove oxidized stains from any metal surface. This method is very easy to use. Just cut an apple into two equal parts, then rub the oxidized trace. After 40-50 minutes, the treated coating is washed off with soapy water and dried. If the stains persist, the procedure is carried out again.
Mustard powder, vinegar and salt
Sometimes, to eliminate blackening on the surface of aluminum products, agents prepared from several components at once are used. A solution of mustard powder, vinegar and salt is considered effective. The components are mixed to obtain a homogeneous mixture, after which a sponge is dipped in it and the oxidation is wiped off. In 20 minutes after application, everything is washed off with heated water.
Salt
Clean aluminum cookware can be made with table salt. For this, 85 grams of salt are added to a liter of heated water. The components are mixed until the salt particles are completely dissolved in the water. Then a cloth is dipped in the liquid and the contaminated area is wiped. Before using the product, it must be thoroughly rinsed to remove salt residue.
Acid
Effective antioxidants include foods that contain natural acids. Most often, people use cucumber pickle, yogurt or regular kefir.One of the listed means is poured into a container, after which an aluminum part is dipped in it. After 10-15 hours, it is removed, rinsed and wiped off residues of oxidized contamination.
Tartar cream
When removing blackening on an aluminum surface, scale is often used. To do this, dissolve 100 grams of the product in five liters of heated water. The product is placed in a container filled with liquid and soaked for at least two and a half hours. Then it is removed and wiped with a dry sponge to remove the remaining traces of dirt. The procedure is carried out regularly, after the appearance of the first dark spots.
Sour milk, kefir, pickle
These products contain natural acids that effectively fight oxidation. Brine, curd and kefir do not need to be mixed, so these products can be used separately. They are poured into a small saucepan, after which a piece of foil is placed there. It is soaked for about three hours. This is enough to remove even old oxides.
Solder and glue
Sometimes serious oxidation appears on the metal, which is difficult to remove. In this case, it is better to use a product based on glue and soda. To create it, four liters of water are poured into a saucepan, after which 80 grams of soda and 2-3 tablespoons of glue are added to it. The prepared solution is boiled for forty minutes, then the aluminum part is wiped with the created liquid.
Ketchup
Regular tomato-based ketchup will help remove minor traces of oxidation. This is an unusual method that housewives do not use very often. The main advantage of this method is that after its application the aluminum surface will begin to shine.
To remove contamination, ketchup is applied to the surface in a thin layer and left there for 10-15 minutes. After that, it is washed off under running water, and the part is wiped with a dry towel.
Onion
Oxidation on the metal surface can be removed with an ordinary light bulb. To do this, pour water into a saucepan and add several heads of onions.Then the mixture is boiled for 40-50 minutes, after which the part is dipped in the onion boiled liquid. You can also not boil the onions, but just cut them and wipe the dirty surface with them.
Garage Recipes
There are several garage recipes to help you prepare your antioxidants.
Boil soda
Ordinary boiled water will help remove new traces of oxide. The liquid should be boiled in a small saucepan in advance. Then boiling water is poured into a bowl, in which all the parts to be cleaned will be soaked. The soaking time lasts about 3-4 hours. Then all the products are washed and wiped from the rest of the water. If the oxides have not disappeared, you will have to use other, more effective means.
Boura
A dense oxidized film can be removed with a special pharmacy borax. To restore an aluminum product, follow these steps:
- add 10-15 grams of borax to a glass of water;
- stir in a mixture of 3-4 drops of ammonia;
- the metal coating is treated with the prepared liquid;
- after forty minutes, the remnants of the composition are washed off the surface.
Sodium hydroxide
A stubborn layer of dirt can be removed with caustic soda. The advantages of this procedure include the fact that it is easy to perform at home.The agent in an amount of 150-200 grams is added to 7-8 liters of water and thoroughly mixed. It is necessary to use heated water, the temperature of which is 60-80 degrees. The part must be washed with the prepared sodium chloride solution.
Coca Cola
This soft drink has excellent cleaning properties that help repair dirty aluminum coatings. Several liters of Cola are poured into a saucepan. Then they put the product in there and soak it for about an hour. During this time, the blackening should disappear completely.
If Cola did not help to cope with the oxide, then you will have to use the remedy more effectively.
Household chemicals
The most effective way to clean aluminum dishes is considered to be the use of household chemicals. Most often, the drug "Mole" is used, which is used to combat blockages in the drain pipes. A few spoons of powder are added to half a liter of water. The oxidized parts are placed in the created solution for two minutes, then cleaned with a brush and soapy water.
Anodizing as a means of protection
When using this technique, you will need to add purified water mixed with sulfuric acid into a plastic container. Then a special power source is connected to the electrolyte bath and the part. The electricity will pass through the electrolyte solution. The procedure lasts 35-45 minutes, after which the product is washed off to remove loose dirt.
Rules for the care of aluminum cookware
There are several recommendations that will help properly maintain aluminum cookware:
- the products must be washed after each use;
- dishes should be stored in rooms with average air humidity;
- when washing, do not use abrasive products.
Conclusion
Over time, aluminum products begin to oxidize and become covered with dark spots. To get rid of them, you will need to familiarize yourself with common and effective methods of cleaning aluminum siding.