Can cleaning question

[Kotto]

Has anyone had much luck cleaning rust stains off aluminum cans? This applies not only to beer cans, but also oil cans from the 60s and 70s that are made of aluminum. The rust stains are from metal cans that were also in the dump surrounding the aluminum. Have you had problems with oxalic peeling the thin paint right off the aluminum can? Any advice appreciated.

-John

[Candog]

Lemon Juice. 50/50 mixture.

[Chris E.]

You can use oxalic without a problem, but make sure the water is reasonably cool and do not leave it in very long or it will put ugly green stains on the lids that don't come off. I usually leave them in 15-30 minutes in relatively weak acid.

Chris E.

[Kotto]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a try both ways.

[canhawk]

John, I have had this problem. I use lemon juice (citric acid) to clean steel dumpers, but rust stains on aluminum often remain. For these, I place the aluminum can in strong citric. I think the staining is attached to mineralization on the surface, and the citric removes the minerals (and the stain). I also have used a little barkeeper's friend (which has oxalic), make a paste and spread it over the stain. Lay a wet paper towel over it to keep it wet. This will lift it off, too. I have a Hamm's draft aluminum with rust stains, I'll try to show the process in a separate post.