How do I clean cast aluminium?

Question

I have ab old cast aluminium tray and just noticed that there is discoloration on it. I'd like to be able to 'polish' it up, but silver polish and/or bartenders friend doesn't seem to work.

Ricardo B · Answer

Save the silver polish for real silver.  Instead, be sure to clean it with very hot water and a mild cleaner to get the gunky stuff off.

Now simply grab the name brand Stainless Steel cleaner you use on your stainless steel kitchen sink.  If you don't have some, not to worry, your grandma has some under her kitchen sink.

If you're afraid to use store-bought cleaner as being too harsh.  Confirm with you grandma what I'm about to recommend as Plan B:

Go into your fridge and pull out that box of Arm & Hammer Soda that's been in there since two christmases ago when you left that cheese ball go fuzzy.  Use elbow grease and a cotton cloth and have at it.  Does that help, Rose?

Rose S · Answer

Thanks Ricardo, I will give it the old college try and see what happens. Will report back.

Rose S · Answer

Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.

HandyANDY - Handyman & All Repairs, LLC · Answer

Bartenders Keeper is awesome stuff.  Any idea what the discoloration is from?

Rose S · Answer

Thanks HA, it looks like the dish had the plague at some time in the past, but it appears that the dark spots are under some kind of clear coating. I guess I will try Barkeepers friend one more time. I just thought that now with Valentine's day coming up, a nice and shiny heart shaped dish might look nice on the coffee table. But if the BKF doesn't do it with a second try, I'll learn to live with it.

Sun79032 · Answer

If it has a coating on it, you might try some nail polish remover & see if that takes the coating off.  Once the coating is gone, you can use the Barkeepers Friend for the rest of the job.

Rose S · Answer

Aha, will try that. Thanks for the tip. :-)

Annie H · Answer

weird or not, spread with tomato ketchup, leave on for about 10 minutes then wipe off, finish by rinsing in warm soapy water! it works!

Rose S · Answer

Thanks, that is how I stripped furniture in the past when I ran out of stripper. That works for that as well. I appreciate the tip, I had forgotten all about it. Many years ago I used to to finish a bedroom and just had a bit to go. Ketchup to the rescue. Thanks. :-)

Marilyn Scholl · Answer

there is a product in the automotive section of walmart called mothers aluminum polish ..wheel cleaner.......works great, the stains are in the metal, and will not come out,but will lighten....sold hammered aluminum at antique stores for years...makes it shiny...need lots of rags, will come off as a black coating.. you are removing years of oxidation....remember to wash in hot soapy water..expect its not good to ingest.  Once cleaned, just rub w/cotton rag once in a while and it will stay shiny for years......some of mine are 10 yrs since the last hard work.

Chas' Crazy Creations · Answer

Here's a post that might help - https://chascrazycreations.com/silver-cleaning-hacks-15/

How do I clean cast aluminium?

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How do I clean cast aluminium?

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