How to clean aluminum with lye "stains"

I got careless and used a lye solution to clean an aluminum moka pot. The end result was that the whole thing was covered in sodium aluminate with some stains standing out from the rest.

Here's what the bottom looks like after a whole lot of scrubbing:

Can I get it any cleaner than that, or is this just the corrosion? Is there, in general, a good way to get the aluminates off with a minimum of effort?

Best Answer

A weak acid solution should do it - you could use a dilute (white) vinegar solution for some time. How dilute, I don't know, but I would start with a 1:100 dilution, then incubate for an hour and see how it goes. If, after a few (3-4) hours there's no change, go for a more concentrated solution.

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How do you clean badly stained aluminum?

How to Clean Aluminium & Polish with Vinegar, Flour, and Salt

Place 1 teaspoon of salt in 230mls of white vinegar.

Make a paste by adding flour gradually. ...

Apply the paste on the metal with a cloth.

Allow the paste to act for at least 15 minutes, and where possible, for 1 hour.

Rinse with warm water.

Can you clean aluminum with lye?

This is a warning not to use lye to clean the aluminum transmission covers. The resulting hydrogen could cause an unexpected explosion. By Ken Todd on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - 12:02 pm: Also the fact that the lye will eat the heck out of the aluminum and leave it looking terrible.

How do you remove chemical stains from aluminum?

Vinegar is an effective resource to clean aluminum. Mix one part white vinegar to one part water to create an acidic solution. The solution can then be used in different ways depending on the object being cleaned. To clean and shine an exterior, dip a cloth into the mixture and scrub the object clean.

Can you remove stains from aluminum?

Fill your soaking area with hot, but not boiling, water and then add in about a teaspoon of mild liquid dishwashing soap. Continue allowing the aluminum items to soak in this new mixture for at least five minutes. Take one of the cloths or the non-abrasive scrubbing pad and gently rub the items to clean them.

How to Clean Oxidized Aluminum

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