DPD testimonial for aluminum

[maloney108]

My wife's aunt gave me these two pizzelle irons.  One is fairly clean but the other is absoluteoly gummed up, so I thought this woud be a good chance for me to try cleaning aluminum. Since Michelle tipped us off on Dawn Power Dissolver, I ran out and bought a bottle.  First I did the magnet check to make sure that they really are aluminum.  Then I decided to just let the DPD do it's thing without scrubbing.

I liberally coated one side of the irons (since they're made of aluminum, shouldn't we call them aluminums? ;D) and left the other half as a control.  After letting it sit for about three hours, I wiped it off with a paper towel and scrubbed a little bit with a toothbrush - nothing harder.  After a water rinse, they results are in: The stuff really works!.  It's not a miracle, since the crustier piece will need some elbow grease, but I was really impressed!  

The pictures below are of the two irons (?) side by side; first, outside view before DPD, next outside after DPD and last, the inside view one side treated the other untreated. It'll take two more posts to get all the pics.

THANKS, Michelle, for giving up your secret wonder sauce! (by the way, it was only $2.29 at Walmart).

[maloney108]

The one on the left has a lot of carbon build-up, so maybe I'll try the self-cleaning oven method that Tom likes.  The one on the right looks great as-is - a little more DPD and some elbow grease will have it shining.

[maloney108]

The insides will take a little more work - I think it's carbon buid-up and not just gunk.  Results are still pretty amazing.  If it's not obvious, the top half is treated and the bottom untouched.

Once again, Kudos to Michelle.

[Tom Neitzel]

Thanks for the examples Jim.  I did go out and find a bottle but haven't tried it yet.  I sure have to now.

I try to remove the steel handles from irons like yours before putting them in the oven.  The steel permanently darkens with the heat.  Sometimes they are screwed in - sometimes it is a press fit.  If a press fit I just heat the aluminum with a torch and work it out.  The reverse process is used to put them back, sometimes a combination of heat on the aluminum and putting the steel in the refrigerator makes them slip quite easily back together.

Tom

[maloney108]

Thanks for the advice, Tom!  I was wondering about that.

[Mark Ritter]

I also tried this as I mentioned before on hammered aluminum skillets and dutch ovens. Like I said before, "Thanks" Michelle for sharing this tip with us. It has saved me so much time and energy cleaning these things I almost enjoy cleaning again. It really makes it so much simpler and I also used it on nickel plated pieces and it worked fantastic. If you haven't tried this, give it a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[danduhman]

well , now it's my turn to jump on the band wagon .THIS STUFF WORKS!!!!! just cleaned a couple of waffel iron paddles with it and they came out great. (aluminum). :o

[Ed Allspaugh]

I tried DPD on the bottom of an iron Safety Kettle to clean the build up off to be able to read it. Wanted to leave the rest of it alone,It has that nice aged look. Worked real good! Thanks for the tip Michelle. Any good products for shining up copper? I ain't looked yet, just thought I'd ask.

[maloney108]

Question for the Moderator:

Can we add something about this to the aluminum cleaning section?  

It seems to be a significant addition to the section.

[Al Andrews]

Where is everyone finding the DPD ?

Al

[Ellis Morehead]

We could not locate any in the Tacoma area, so the wife ordered it online from Aubuchon Hardware, Westminster, MA.  1-800-431-2712 or email help@aubuchon.com

Was under $3 a bottle, 12.8 oz.  Smells just like oven cleaner.

Cheers, Ellis

[Ed Allspaugh]

Krogers Supermarket has it here.

[fatfutures]

Look near the dishwashing liquid in your grocery store, Walmart, Target, etc....


Hmmmm, wonder when they'll start packaging it in bulk  ;)

[C. Perry Rapier]

Look near the dishwashing liquid in your grocery store, Walmart, Target, etc....


Hmmmm, wonder when they'll start packaging it in bulk  ;)

From the Queen of Mean, I mean Clean.  ;D

[fatfutures]

LOL


I'm not mean, Perry! I'm a pussycat!

meow!