Cleaning up my I beams

[fitz73222]

Hey Guys,

I'm working on my new used trailer and would like to brighten the Aluminum I beam. They are just a little gray and chaulky from sitting in storage. and I want to clean them up. I'm not interested in buffing and polishing a trailer, just looking for something I could spray on and hose or wipe off basiically just to break the haze and brighten it a little bit. I also want to be able to flush out my disc brakes effectively without crawling under the trailer and blasting them. I thought about rigging up some spray heads of some kind and make my own kit unless someone has a vendor suggestion for a good disc brake cleaning device.

Thanks,
Fitz

[Blue Agave]

Woody wax, I have not used it on an aluminum trailer but I have used it on aluminum with great results.

[John Jones]

I was told that swimming pool rust stain remover cleans aluminum pretty good but I have not tried it.

These folks used to sell a brake flush kit.  It's just plastic hose, fittings, and a hose coupler.  You can buy all the parts and make your own but the kit saves some running around.
http://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/

[wingtime]

There are some aluminum brighteners that pressure washing companies sell for use on aluminum tank trucks and dump trucks.  They are acid based and etch the aluminum a bit but they do work.  Another option is greased lightening.  It has a mild acid in it that will brighten the aluminum a bit.  spray it on... let it sit...  maybe hit it with a scrub brush if it is really bad.  Wand wash it off.

[gran398]

A LIGHT acid....quickly hosed. let dry, then spray on Rupp Aluma-Guard to lubricate, protect and beautify.

(Yea I know...sounds like a make-up infomercial)

If you guys have never used it...the Rupp is a terrific product. PREVENTS corrosion and pitting.

[GoneFission]

Try ammonia.  Brush it on, scrub it with a hard-bristle brush, let it sit a while, and hose it off.  Works pretty well as a de-oxidizer.