Wrought iron is an ornamental metal that is widely used to make patio furniture, railings, shelves, and other decorations such as wine racks and candle holders. Wrought iron can give a distinctive impression both indoors and outdoors. In addition, wrought iron furniture is generally more durable than furniture made of other materials. However, due to its slightly rough texture, wrought iron sometimes traps more dust and dirt and causes it to rust. Cleaning and caring for wrought iron furniture on a regular basis is an important step to protect and keep it looking beautiful.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Wrought Iron
Step 1. Prepare a place to clean the wrought iron furniture
You can do it indoors or outdoors which doesn't matter if it gets dirty or wet. The place to clean the wrought iron furniture should be one that is easy to clean once you're done as this cleaning process will be quite messy and wet.
Step 2. Fill two buckets or spray bottles with warm water
Your wrought iron furniture should be cleaned and rinsed. One of the buckets or spray bottles will be used only for rinsing and only needs to be filled with water. Make sure the water is not too hot. You certainly don't want your hands to burn when you start cleaning wrought iron furniture.
- If you are cleaning large items such as furniture, use a bucket. For smaller items, a spray bottle is an easier option.
- If you're cleaning wrought-iron furniture that is usually placed outdoors or on fences, it may be easier to use a hose to rinse it out. If using a hose, you only need to fill one bucket with water.
Step 3. Add the soap solution
Choose a mild cleaner such as dish soap or furniture cleaner to gently clean the wrought iron, without damaging it. Avoid antibacterial soaps or cleansers that contain bleach.
Add about 14 ml of soap to 1 liter of water. If you are using a special furniture cleaner, mix 1/4 cup (or 60 ml) with 2 liters of water
Step 4. For a gentler cleaning, use vinegar
If you are cleaning wrought iron furniture stored indoors, white distilled vinegar can be used instead of soap. However, for outdoor furniture, vinegar may not be strong enough to remove dirt.
Mix 120 ml of white vinegar with 2 liters of water
Step 5. Clean the wrought iron furniture of decorations or other objects
The furniture that you are going to clean should be free of anything that could get in the way of the cleaning process. Remove any pillows or bolsters, and remove any other covers.
If your furniture is made of a mixture of various materials, such as a garden chair with a wooden stand and metal sides, you may not be able to isolate the wrought iron part alone. If so, carefully clean the joints of the wrought iron and other materials. You might want to try wrapping parts other than the wrought iron with plastic wrap
Step 6. Wet a rag or sponge with the cleaning solution
No need to bother squeezing the sponge. You'll need plenty of soapy water to make sure every dent in the wrought iron is exposed to the cleaning solution.
If you're using a spray bottle, spray the cleaning solution on a sponge or rag until it's completely wet
Step 7. Remove dust and dirt with a sponge that has been sprayed with soap
Scrub the wrought iron in a circular motion to clean small parts at once to keep all parts perfectly clean. Re-wet the rag or sponge as needed.
Step 8. Rinse the wrought iron
Dip a clean sponge or cloth in a bucket of water that has been set aside. Wipe the wrought iron one more time to rinse off any remaining soap solution and dirt. Keep dipping the sponge or rag in the water to clean the sponge or rag as you rinse the soap solution off the wrought iron.
- If you're cleaning your wrought iron outdoors, rinsing with a hose is easier.
- If the water in the bucket becomes very dirty, throw it away and replace the water with clean water.
Step 9. Allow to dry completely
Wrought iron furniture that is outside can be dried in the sun. Wipe the furniture in the room with a clean, dry cloth to dry it.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Rust
Step 1. Remove rust with a wire brush or sandpaper
Gradually, most wrought iron will rust. If your item starts to rust, remove the rust immediately with a coarse wire brush or sandpaper after cleaning. This step improves your wrought iron, as well as making it durable and looking new.
Step 2. Treat stubborn rust with phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid converts rust that cannot be removed with sandpaper into ferrous phosphate which looks like a hard, black scale. Allow the phosphoric acid to adhere to the wrought iron for a day for this change to occur.
Phosphoric acid is available in spray and gel form. Always make sure to protect your hands and face when using it in any form. Use rubber gloves, a mask and eye protection when applying or spraying it
Step 3. Clean up the rest
Once the phosphoric acid has worked, you should be able to clean the rust marks on the wrought iron with a wire brush. After that, your wrought iron furniture should be rust free.
Step 4. Repeat the cleaning process
After all the rust is removed, you will still need to re-clean the wrought iron furniture. Repeat the cleaning step of part one starting from the first to the eighth step. This step is to ensure that there is no trace of the slightest rust left.
Method 3 of 3: Treating Wrought Iron
Step 1. Apply furniture or car polish
Once the wrought iron furniture is clean and dry, coat it with polish. You can use a soft, clean, dry cloth to apply the polishing product in a circular motion like when rubbing soapy water. The polish will protect the wrought iron from weather and wear.
Step 2. Let the polish dry
The polish has to soak into the wrought iron so you have to let it dry completely. This drying step can take eight hours or even overnight depending on the size of your wrought iron furniture.
If you are cleaning furniture outdoors, check the weather forecast before starting the polishing process. You certainly don't want freshly polished furniture to rain before the polish is completely dry
Step 3. Polish the wrought iron furniture
When the polish is dry, use the clean side of the rag to scrub the wrought iron. Do it in the same circular motion as when cleaning and applying polish.
Step 4. Clean the dust adhering to the wrought iron regularly
To care for wrought iron furniture, use a soft microfiber cloth or duster to dust off at least once a week. This way, you won't have to clean or sand your wrought iron furniture too often.
Tips
- You can protect wrought iron furniture from scratches or rust by applying clear varnish. Varnish can also protect painted metal surfaces from peeling off easily.
- If you want to paint your wrought iron furniture or renew the paint, do so after the wrought iron furniture has been cleaned, dried, sanded, and re-cleaned. Before you start painting, you may need to apply an oil base coat.
