Summary for aluminum window frames cleaning Discussion
focus_keyphrase: aluminum window frames cleaning. The thread asks whether there is a wipe-on product that can remove decades of dirt and oxidation from old aluminum window frames without heavy scrubbing. Goran Budija suggests a hot solution of sodium carbonate, water glass, and water, but only on well-degreased objects and with gloves. Sara Smiley recommends SOS pads rather than Brillo, saying they clean and shine aluminum. Sherrye Anderson reports that WD-40 improved dark brown oxidized frames. Ben Tsao describes a more hands-on method: remove hardware, wash, lightly sand with a sanding block, and clean corners with cloth on a screwdriver to restore a like-new look. Later, Millie Barnes says Autosol removed oxidation from 1957 frames, while Jamed Larson recommends Mothers Cleaner and Polish for a chrome-like finish. One reply warns that Naval Jelly is not for aluminum and that abrasives can scratch it.
Q. My friend is moving into a new/old building that has aluminum windows … deeply oxidized, stained with dirt that is over fifty years old. She has tried various remedies to clean up the windows and steel wool only gets her half the distance. The desired product would be something that, when applied, will clean up the “fine” dirt spots…as with removing tarnish from silver. Is there a substance that has a molecular make-up, or anything else for that matter, that will turn this job into a “wipe and clean” from an overly rigorous exercise?
Thank you kindly,
Thomas Closz
home owner – Chicago, Illinois
2003
A. Try this mixture:
10-40 gm sodium carbonate
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon]
5-10 gm water glass
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
1 lit water, temperature 80 °C
Only for well degreased objects (petroleum or benzene or
⇦ on
eBay
or
). Use rubber gloves
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] . Rinse well.
Goran Budija
– Cerovski vrh Croatia
A. Try SOS pad
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] . Not Brillo. They’re messy but they do the trick and shine the aluminum as well.
Sara Smiley
hotel industry – Key West, Florida
2004
A. I just tried using WD-40
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
on my dark brown oxidized aluminum window frames & it improved their appearance quite a bit. Worth a try!
Sherrye Anderson
– San Diego, California
2007
A. I finally found the way to clean it and I am very happy.
Tools: large and small slot screw driver, sanding block, spray bottle, old tooth brush, used cotton underwear, paper towel.
1. Remove any moving part and clean them with soap water separately. The latch, screen holder and turn handle can all be removed by loosening the screws. Get new screws from hardware store (cost $5.00 for a 100, two types of screws are needed, a long one and a short one). If you gonna spend the effort to clean them, you may as well enjoy the new screws to make it worthwhile. The handle is a little tricky, study the underside of the window to see how to dislodge it. Once you dislodge one, everything else is easy. Aluminum windows are very sturdy, it is not likely you break any parts by cleaning. Lightly pry open the slot by 1/32 inch to remove the handle, it will budge but it does not break.
2. brush away dirt, spray soap water (laundry detergent will do) and clean with wet cleaning pad (must have some scratchy surface, not just sponge. Too much water will get very messy to deal with. Wipe dry any excess water when it starts dripping ).
3. Spray soap water again and sand with a sanding block lightly (wearing rubber gloves). Wipe away dirty water to see whether more sanding is needed. When the sand block gets smooth, restore it by washing it in the water. You can get sand block from home depot which is sand surface coated on a piece of hard sponge.
4. Tiny corners can be cleaned with cloth wrapped around a screwdriver.
This will get aluminum window back to its wonderful “like new” state. I have been wondering how to do it for 8 years. I finally got it last week.
ben tsao
– palo alto, california
July 29, 2009
A. I am using a product called Autosol
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
which is taking all the oxidization off my 1957 aluminum frame windows – :)
Millie Barnes
– Los Angeles, California, USA
September 24, 2011
Q. I am trying to fix up the exterior of a small, freestanding building. The windows are large with aluminum mullions that have “oxidized” from the salt air. They are in decent conditions. I just want to remove the oxidation and leave it unpainted. I’m trying to find out what is the overall best process to do this including what product(s) I should use? Any suggestions would be helpful.
Best regards,
Jeff
Jeff Abramson
– Encinitas, California, USA
June 5, 2012
A. Naval Jelly
Sherlene Mats
– webster, Texas, usa
July 1, 2016
A. The best thing to use on aluminum window frames is Mothers Cleaner and Polish. Did one side of my VW bus and they’re starting to look like Chrome. Wipe it on and wipe slowly back and forth will start to see back the Polish. Wipe off with a soft cloth and repeat it until Thursday if you want. Just did it tonight; starting to look like Chrome. Use a small buffer in between cleanings. Hope this helps
Jamed Larson
– Deklab Illinois
September 9, 2016
A. Naval jelly is not supposed to be used on aluminium, read the label. Using any abrasive will leave scratches on the metal. I have used steel wool and Murphy’s Oil Soap
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
with good results; however, have not found a good wipe-off chemical solution. Looking into aircraft cleaner next. This is not a cleaner that will be available at big box stores. You will need to look into commercial cleaners.
Erin Schmorleitz
– San Diego, California
November 22, 2016
A. I agree with the Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] . My windows are the “bronze” aluminum clad and 30 years old. Lots of oxidation and dirt. The Mothers cream wipes on and you rub lightly until it starts to turn black, then buff with a soft cloth. It’s more time consuming than actually being hard work but the finish will look new.
Q. Now if only I can remove the black water stains on the inside wood.
gord zuelke
– gladstone Michigan usa
July 10, 2019
A. Hi Gord. Oxalic Acid / wood bleach
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
should remove the blackness from the wood. See thread 54875 for starters on that.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
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A. I’m cleaning the interior window frames of a school built in 1960. Although it is a lot of elbow and wrist “grease”, I’m using the sanitizing surface wipes (like Lysol) with the gritty surface they add to some of them. Wipe the (largely alcohol) wetness over about 3 feet of frame, wait a little bit (like 15-20 seconds) and then start wiping with the same gritty wipe … back and forth … back and forth. Not perfect (and rather product wasteful) but I’m satisfied; it can keep the glass from needing to be washed and it’s (relatively) non-toxic.
Daniel Geary
– Missoula Montana USA
May 26, 2020