how do you clean aluminum?
Use vinegar, it should dissolve away the surface without damaging it.
There is a variety of ways to do this: One way would be reducing the oxidized metal electrochemically, but that's impractical for household applicationsThere is, however, a wide array of silver polish formulations available - you should get some at most stores with a decent selection of household items - which will remove the sulfide from the metal beneathIf you don't want to buy polish, you can also try white toothpaste, or baking soda mixed with a little water.
One of the easiest ways to clean aluminum products with this type of problem (burnt on foods) is to prepare a mixture of white vinegar and waterBoil the water and add one part vinegar to two parts of the waterImmerse the cookware in the mixture for a half hour to an hourThe vinegar will help to loosen the burnt-on food residue so that it can easily be scraped off using a non-abrasive cleaning padVINEGAR is also an effective aluminum cleaner for the exterior of tea kettlesAdd a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to two pints of water and mix wellDip a clean cloth into the mixture and gently rub the exterior of the kettleNot only will the vinegar and water clean aluminum with relative ease, it will also leave behind a pleasing shine to the exteriorIt is also possible to clean aluminum kitchen utensils by immersing them in a bath of vinegar and hot water, or applying the vinegar and water mixture directly with a clean clothIf you have some of the colorful aluminum glasses that were popular in the mid-20th century, they also clean up nicely using vinegar and waterIn order to clean aluminum window frames that are not painted, mix a small amount of mild detergent with warm waterApply with a clean washcloth or spongeFor the detergent, use something along the lines of dishwashing liquidMany liquid hand soaps will also work fine for this type of household cleaning jobThis same mixture of mild detergent and water will also work well when you need to clean aluminum legs and armrests on your lawn furnitureApply with a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse thoroughlyIf you want to add a layer of protection to your clean aluminum furniture, apply a thin coat of car wax after the metal has dried thoroughly.
