How to Clean Wrought Iron
Items made from wrought iron can look beautiful, grand and elegant, but it only takes a few years for them to make your house looking like a haunted house more than an elegant one. Learn how you can keep those wrought iron like garden furniture, gates and the like continously beautiful with these tips:
What You Need
Steel wool pad, the non soapy kind
Turpentine or kerosene
Wrought iron paint or wax
Warm water
Bucket
Sandpaper
Cleaning Rags
Rubber gloves
Method 1
This method is for maintenance cleaning of your wrought iron items.
Mix water and a mild detergent, such as Ivory, in a small bucket.
Use a clean cloth or cleaning rags to wipe down the iron wrought item, taking care that you get into all those nooks and crannies. Feel free to use a soft-bristle toothbrush as well.
Wipe with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
Method 2
This method is used to clean heavy rusting and dirt from your wrought iron items. Do not smoke, leave the substances in direct sunlight or start a fire while doing this method, as kerosene and turpentine are highly flammable.
Put a few drops of turpentine or kerosene on your steel wool pad.
Rub the steel wool against the wrought iron, putting some pressure on the problem spots such as rusty areas.
Once the rust has been fully removed, do a quick wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
Use your paint or wax specially made for wrought iron to protect the iron from any further damage in the future.
Method 3
A variation of Method 1, this method provides a more thorough cleaning.
Repeat steps one and two of Method 1.
Rinse your iron wrought item with a hose or just plain clean water.
Allow the item to air dry.
Once it has dried, use a sandpaper to sand down rusty or stained parts in the wrought iron item or furniture.
Paint the sanded areas with paint for iron wrought materials to protect from further damage.
Quick Tips
Commercial rust removers are accessible and easy to use, but if you have children or pets in the house, go for organic rust removers instead. They yield the same results without posing a health risk to your loved ones.
Cover up your furniture with plastic sheets or tarpaulins when not in use, during rainy days and in the winter season to prevent moisture from getting into the iron wrought material.
Sand blasters can be used if you think sanding down manually is too tedious.
If your wrought iron item can be taken apart, by all means, take it apart when cleaning to make your the cleaning process more thorough.
Always keep your hands protected when using chemicals and dealing with rust. Clean your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Regular cleaning maintenance of your iron wrought items are key to keep them looking like new. The older the rust and stains are, the more difficult they are to remove. Don’t be surprised when you are able to thoroughly clean your iron wrought item after a long period of time. Chances are, you will just have to paint over the stains to cover them up completely.