Advice for cleaning with citric?

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The Can Kid
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Advice for cleaning with citric?

#1

Post by The Can Kid »

I have some soda cans that I would like to clean with citric. They are not valuable, but I don't want to lose them.
Can anyone tell me what not to do with citric, and tips to give the cans a larger chance of survival? :smt017


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Re: Advice for cleaning with citric?

#2

Post by Tom Hoefer »

Don't make the solution too strong. A cup of citric in a cat litter box full of water is plenty. Don't scrub too hard with a toothbrush. Be very delicate.

Be patient it atkes 12-36 hours to clean cans in citric as opposed to oxalic, which may take only minutes.
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Re: Advice for cleaning with citric?

#3

Post by BeerMe »

I use between 1/4 and 1/3rd cup per gallon of warm water. Its better to put the water in the bucket first, then mix the acid. Don't ask why. I have never trusted Oxcilic acid. Citris acid is available in bulk from soap supply companies. Its cheap and safe. That said, it will stain your clothes and dry your skin, so better to wear rubber gloves. How long I leave the cans in solutution depends. Do not wash them with soapy water first as this will reduce the effectiveness of the citric acid. If the cans are dirty, rince them off in water first to get the loose dirt off. You will probably need to light rub the cans after being soaked in acid. Use a soft rag and don't rub hard or you might damage the paint. Silver and gold colored paint can be tarnished if you leave them in acid too long. Its one of those things that kind of trial and error. By the way. do you collect Canadian cans?
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Re: Advice for cleaning with citric?

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Post by The Can Kid »

do you collect Canadian cans?
Yes. I collect all beer cans, Canadian, US or foreign.
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Re: Advice for cleaning with citric?

#5

Post by canhawk »

I use lemon juice, which contains citric, with good results. I always go cool or room temperature, and it does no harm to mertallic paint. About one part juice to 3-4 parts water. I start pulling out and checking the least rusty cans after about 2-3 hours, but most rust buckets stay in overnight. Use the softest bristle toothbrush you have on the can surface, and use a stiff brush on the lids, rims and seams. I will sometimes use a wire brush on seams or lids without any logos or writing I want to preserve. Once clean, I let cans soak in plain water for about 20 minutes to pull out any remaining acid, then shake off water and wipe/blot as dry as I can get it. This way, non-painted areas won't be left looking bright orange with a new rust film.
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Re: Advice for cleaning with citric?

#6

Post by BeerMe »

The Can Kid wrote:
do you collect Canadian cans?
Yes. I collect all beer cans, Canadian, US or foreign.
I have quite a few different Canadian pull tabs from mostly the seveties and eighties if you interested I can send some pics.
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