Aluminum patio furniture has always been a popular outdoor furniture option because they are extremely practical and they look good. Most homeowners consider aluminum patio furniture the ideal outdoor furniture see they require minimal care even after years of use, and they can withstand high temperatures.
Even when it is painted, you can care for it like any other painted surface, by occasionally cleaning it with soap and water. You can also repaint it every couple of years to give it some shine. Although aluminum patio chairs don’t rust, they are weak against oxidation.
This is expected since outdoor furnishings are exposed continuously to changing climate conditions. Oxidation is essentially slow corrosion, which gradually eats away at the brilliant shiny finish that comes with the furniture. Oxidation usually causes pitting to appear on the chair. If you purchase aluminum patio furniture online, and you want to know if it’s suffering from oxidation, keep an eye out for specks on the surface.
These specks tend to spoil the polished aesthetic of the furniture. If you want your aluminum patio furniture shining every day, you’ll need to clean and polish it regularly.
How to Clean Oxidized Aluminum Patio Furniture
Every day, grime is collected and deposited on the aluminum as debris, and the only way to remove it is through regular cleaning. Remove all the cushions before you start cleaning the chairs. Cushions tend to be a source of settled dust.
You can clean the aluminum patio furniture with mild household detergent, the kind that doesn’t contain industrial additives or bleach. Aluminum also gets scratched easily so you should always use a piece of sponge, or if that isn’t available, soft fabric in cleaning the chairs.
Cleaning the Chair
- Spray the furniture with the cleaning agent
- Allow the spray to settle on for about two minutes. Do not wipe off immediately
- Use the sponge to rub the chair down gently
- Rinse off with a water hose when you’re done
- Use a dry cloth to dry the chair
Avoid using cleaning materials that have ammonia or baking soda on your aluminum furniture. They can start a harmful chemical reaction, which can permanently ruin the chair.
Even if you clean your aluminum patio furniture regularly, there’s a good chance that some problems need to be dealt with specifically if you want to restore the shine.
Tending Scraped Surfaces
If there’s one thing that ruins the polished appearance of aluminum patio chairs, it is scuff marks. You can use non-abrasive cleaners and special gels to decrease the effect of scuffing. Spread the gel or detergent on the scuffed area and use a sponge to rub down.
Restoring the Shine
The best material you can use to restore the shine in old aluminum patio furniture is car wax. Waxing should be done after you’ve cleaned and dried the chair. Wax helps to prevent grime from settling on the chair and also protects it against deep stains.
How to Wax the Chair
- Take a sponge or soft cloth and Use it to spread the wax on the chair. Some wax brands come with their applicators that you can use in applying the wax.
- After you’ve applied the wax, give it a few minutes for it to dry-off
- Rub the chair with a dry piece of cloth
Alternative Shining Methods
If you don’t have car wax around, you can create your alternative. All you need is vinegar and water and to mix it in a ratio of 1:1. While it isn’t as effective as the car wax, it will help to reduce the general tarnished appearance.