Tips for Cleaning Different Types of Metal

Just because the finish on your stainless-steel appliances has faded, that doesn’t mean you must replace them. Metal is meant to be durable, and even if it seems like wear and stains are unliftable, that doesn’t mean they truly are. Anyone mourning the patina of their favorite metal items needs only explore a few tips for cleaning different types of metal to restore their full beauty.

Using Household Items

Few people realize that they don’t have to spend a lot of money to fix or replace old items. A variety of the goods we have in our cupboards will work quite nicely to clean different types of metal. The materials you will use depend primarily on the type of metal that needs cleaning.

For instance, a salt soak is a great way to strip patina from metals such as brass and copper. However, soaking cast iron in a water bath of any variety is likely to cause rusting and will strip any established seasoning layers. Polishing with white vinegar or baking soda is all-around much safer and works on just about every metal type.

Using Specialty Products and Cleaners

While a little elbow grease and vinegar go a long way, there are several easier tips for cleaning different types of metal. Various products are readily available at hardware and general merchandise retail businesses. Investigate the cleaning aisle for practical items that are specifically designed to clean the type of wear your metal is suffering from.

Many polishes, grease cutters, stain removers, and rust busters exist and will clean items much quicker than at-home remedies. However, softer metals like silver require special techniques to remove heavy tarnish. As such, they tend to benefit most from dedicated cleaners made especially for silver.

Using Mild Abrasives

It’s important to note that many metals are very soft. As such, it’s important to avoid using abrasive materials that are generally intended for refinishing surfaces. Using a material that’s too coarse will destroy the finish of the metal. Additionally, many consumer items are plated in finer metals such as copper.

Abrasives can strip away the fine layer of metal, revealing cheaper metals below, such as tin or an alloy. In general, steel wool is the harshest abrasive that can be used on metal, though it should only be used to remove major stains or rust from steel or iron. In general, seek soft cloths such as microfiber, cotton, or chamois cloth. Most metals benefit best from patient polishing to lift patina.