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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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sulfuric acid stains on an aluminum kitchen sink

My landlord stained my kitchen sink very badly when using sulfuric acid to unclog the drain and because this is my kitchen sink (and it looks absolutely filthy-disgusting) I am still washing my dishes in a bucket and drying them on a rack in the tub. I've tried everything -even hydrogen peroxide (after reading so many responses for it on this site) but it didn't work in my case. The sink has what looks like rust all over it -can you help? or will I simply have to move?

Magg Dubeau
student - Cochrane, Ontario
August 26, 2008

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Hi, Magg. I don't think you'll achieve it chemically. I think you'll need to sand and buff, which is a lot of work. Although the sink may look like aluminum to you, unless you know otherwise, I think it's stainless steel.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August , 2008

A cleaning product (xline - unsure of exact name) was used on my recycled aluminum sink and now it looks dirty and stained - can anything be done to save it? I know it is aluminum and not stainless. It seems as if the coating has been removed.

Lesley Rigg
- Sycamore, Illinois, USA
December 20, 2008

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Hi, Lesley. Apparently the sink had an organic clearcoat on it. I'd suggest completing the removal of the clearcoat with the Xylene ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , polishing it with a buffing wheel and some aluminum polish, and then clear coating it again.

I'm not suggesting that it will be as easy as that and end up as perfect as that, but I think those are the steps and the results will be proportional to the time spent on it. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 28, 2008