If you have aluminum railing installed on your property, and you want it to look great for a long time to come, you need to make sure that you invest some time in cleaning and caring for it.

#1 Basic Cleaning

If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you are not going to have to clean off your railing that often. The rain should wash away any pollen or dirt that gets onto your aluminum railing. If you don't get that much rainfall though, you are going to want to do a basic cleaning on a regular basis. To get rid of dirt and pollen, just spray down your aluminum railing with a hose or wipe it down with a rag and a bucket of water. It is best to clean off your railing on a more frequent basis, as the sun can make dirt and pollen harder to remove from your aluminum railing over time.

#2 Deep Cleaning

If you have not cleaned your aluminum railing in a while, you may need to give it more of a deep cleaning. To deep clean your aluminum railing, you are going to need an environmentally friendly non-abrasive soap. Use a soft sponge and a bucket of soap and water to scrub away any built up dirt on your railings. Do not use a hard scrub brush; this can leave behind scratches on your aluminum railing. 

It is best to deep clean railings, like those from Boss Metal Works, when it is overcast or before the sun hits the area you need to clean. The sun can dry up the soap on your railing, leaving it look streaky instead of clean. 

#3 Hardware

Most aluminum railing has hardware on it. This hardware may need a little extra attention. When you clean, be sure to wipe down the hardware and ensure that it is free of grim and dirt. Take a screwdriver and wrench, and use them to tighten up the screws and/or bolts on the hardware, which can become loose over time. You don't want the hardware to get stiff or rusty, which is why it is a good idea to put a light coat of wax, like you would use on your vehicle, on the hardware on your aluminum railing a few times a year. This will keep the hardware looking nice and will stop the hardware from going through the oxidation process, which is common in areas where the railing gets a lot of light. 

It is easy to take care of your aluminum railing if you rinse it off every few weeks. If your aluminum railing gets dirtier than that, scrub off the dirt with a soft sponge and non-abrasive soap. Be sure to keep an eye on the hardware, protecting it with a thin wax coating and tightening it up when necessary. 

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