How To Clean Alloy With Household Cleaners

By  Kallie Johnson

Things Needed

  • Lemon juice

  • Spray bottle

  • Cotton cloth

  • Hose

  • Aluminum foil

  • Cola soda

  • White or cider vinegar

...

Alloy is a metal and, when it gets dirty, it must be properly cleaned to prevent rust, corrosion and oxidation. While there are many products manufactured to clean alloy, there are also many household products which can both clean it and remove spots and stains. Using harsh chemicals or harsh scrubbing agents, such as bleach, hard-bristled brushes or steel wool, can cause discoloration or scratching and should be avoided.

Routine Cleaning

Step 1

Combine 1/2 cup of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of warm water in a spray bottle.

Step 2

Spray the diluted lemon juice onto a soft cotton cloth. Rub the cloth into the alloy, coating the entire surface in an even layer. Lemon juice is naturally acidic and slowly eats away at all dirt, dust and debris, leaving behind a clean, shiny surface.

Step 3

Allow the lemon juice to work into and clean the alloy for 10 minutes.

Step 4

Rinse the lemon juice from the alloy. Depending on the size of the object, this can be with a hose or by dampening a cloth and wiping the lemon juice off by hand.

Rust Spots

Step 1

Dampen aluminum foil in a cola soda. Do not use a diet cola.

Step 2

Rub the foil in a back and forth motion over the rust spot. Much like sandpaper, the combination of foil and cola works to remove the rust, while being gentle enough not to scratch the metal.

Step 3

Rinse the cola from the alloy. Depending on the size of the object, this can be with a hose or by dampening a cloth and wiping the cola off by hand.

Grease

Step 1

Dampen a cotton cloth in white or cider vinegar.

Step 2

Lay the cotton cloth over the grease spot on the alloy wheel. For smaller objects, a bucket or bowl can be filled with the vinegar and the item can be submerged in it.

Step 3

Allow the vinegar to work into the grease stain for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Remove the cloth or remove the item from the vinegar.

Step 5

Rinse the vinegar from the alloy. Depending on the size of the object, this can be with a hose or by dampening a cloth and wiping the vinegar off by hand. Repeat as needed, until the grease or grease stain is removed. This may take several attempts.

References

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