Tony asked: How do I clean kerosene soot off of aluminum? We have a screened in room in the country. We used a kerosene heater and a film has developed on the aluminum walls.
Table of Contents:
Kerosene heaters can quickly leave smoke and soot marks behind on every surface in the house. Fortunately, removing the stains is not difficult, but can be a bit time consuming. Here are some steps to freshen up the area and remove the soot marks.
You Will Need:
- Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP)
- Murphy’s Oil Soap
- Soft cloths
- Soot sponge (optional)
- Vacuum with attachments
- Water
Steps to Remove the Soot:
- Begin by vacuuming the wall to remove as much of the carbon as possible.
- Next, wipe the area with soot sponge. These sponges are coated with a cleaner and designed to absorb the soot in the pores.
- Mix one tablespoon of TSP with one gallon of water.
- Moisten a sponge or soft cloth with the solution and wipe it over the soot-stained area.
- If the stain remains, wipe the area with Murphy’s Oil Soap.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Dry with a soft cloth.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- Ash vacs are specially designed for vacuuming away soot without redistributing it into the air. They utilize special filters to make cleaning more effective.
- If the soot is not removed with the methods above, a slightly abrasive cleaner, such as a powdered cleaner, may help remove the soot stains.
