December 8

How To Clean Wrought Iron

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Anything made of wrought iron is super easy to take care of. However, when you skip the occasional maintenance sessions, dirt and grime take over. 

Believe me, I've been there; you get complacent with wrought iron furniture and soon enough, the appearance gets far from what they looked like originally. Recently, my patio furniture was looking worse for wear, so naturally I decided to go down the deep-cleaning route. 

After all, it’s almost Christmas, and I want everything to look perfect, ergo squeaky clean. So, I got my husband and son to help out, and I must say it went pretty smoothly. That’s when I decided to go the extra mile and create this guide for you.

Hi, I'm Stacy Smith, and today I'll be sharing everything you need to know about how to clean wrought iron. It's all very simple; just follow my technique, and you're sorted. 

Without further ado, let's begin. 

clean wrought iron

The Wrought Iron Cleaning Process

Things Needed To Clean Wrought Iron Items

  1. Spray bottles or a bucket
  2. Garden hose (optional)
  3. Protective gloves
  4. Mild dish soap
  5. Vinegar
  6. Plastic cling wrap
  7. Cleaning rag
  8. Sponge
  9. Paint scraper
  10. Small nylon detail brush
  11. Sandpaper
  12. Touch-up paint

Steps To Clean Wrought Iron

clean wrought iron

Step 1 - Washing The Wrought Iron Pieces 

Fill a bucket or a spray bottle with warm water and start by thoroughly rinsing your wrought iron pieces. Do not add any cleaning solution while washing the items for the first time. If you're working on furniture or decor items, a bucket or two of water will suffice. 

However, I'd suggest using a hose in case you're cleaning a wrought iron gate or railings. Ideally, it's best to work outdoors, or any place where cleaning up the water after is not much of a hassle. Also, wear protective gloves while washing the items and throughout the cleaning procedure.   

Step 2 - Choose Your Cleaning Solution

Now, add a liquid cleaner to a bucket of water. You can use any mild cleaner for that matter, such as liquid dishwashing soap; however, avoid cleaning agents that contain bleach. Also, do not use any antibacterial soaps as they can damage your wrought iron belongings.  

Pour and mix a quarter-cup of liquid soap with 1900ml of water or use white vinegar as a cleaning solution. For the latter, half a cup will do with the same amount of water. That said, you need to make a judgment call here between these two options as the results may vary. 

Nevertheless, I'd suggest using liquid soap for outdoor items as you'd need something strong enough to clean the dirt and stains. On the other hand, vinegar will do for indoor wrought iron pieces. 

Step 3 - Prepare The Items For Cleaning 

Remove covers, pillows, cushions, or any decorative furnishings from your wrought iron products. In case your item has wrought iron parts, for instance, a wooden chair with wrought iron armrests, you must make sure to clean those parts only. 

The best thing you can do to isolate those parts is cover the remaining sections with plastic cling wrap. This will keep the other parts unaffected and dry during the cleaning process.   

Step 4 - Scrub Thoroughly For Deep Cleaning

Soak a sponge in your preferred cleaning solution and scrub the wrought iron item. Avoid squeezing out the excess water if it's a large item, as you'll need enough soapy water to cover the entire area.  

Apply the solution generously on the parts where you can see more dirt and make sure to cover every corner and joint. More often than not, these are the places that accumulate more dirt. For smaller items, use a solution-filled spray bottle and a rag. Depending on the condition of these wrought iron articles, you may need to apply some serious elbow grease.  

Step 5 - Use Circular Motions

If you're wondering how to restore wrought iron, simply use the magic trick of circular motions. However, this is not so much a magic trick than a tried and tested technique. Once you're done with the initial cleaning with soapy water, start wiping the wrought iron in a circular motion. 

Cover small sections at a time and keep soaking your sponge or rag in the cleaning solution. It's more effective this way as you can pay attention to individual parts and places that have more smudges.  

Step 6 - Rinse The Dirt And Soap 

Rinse the dirt with a clean cloth or soap and change the bucket of water. Keep wiping and cleaning till all of it comes off. For railings or other larger outdoor items, you can use a hose to speed up the process. 

Step 7 - Allow The Pieces To Dry

Once you're done with the cleaning, leave the items under the sun to dry completely. Small wrought iron decor pieces can be wiped with a dry rag until all the moisture is removed. 

Step 8 - Remove Old Paint And Touch-up The Items

Now, this step is completely optional but just as easy; all you need is some touch-up paint. Scrape off the previous coating using a paint scraper and use sandpaper to prepare the surface. 

This also takes care of any rust that may have developed on your furniture. Some people skip sanding, but I recommend it as it ensures better paint adhesion. After that, evenly apply the touch-up paint with a brush or cloth and let it dry. 

Depending on your requirement, you can use two coats. You may also use a small nylon detail brush to reach places that are otherwise inaccessible with a paintbrush or a piece of cloth. 

Final Words

clean wrought iron

And that's all, folks. 

I'm sure you can get rid of all the stains and dirt in no time by following these simple steps. However, before you get started, it's best to assess the situation. 

Basically, in this guide, I've explained how to repair wrought iron without welding, but depending on the degree of damage, you may want to consult an expert. Because sometimes it just makes good sense to restore things professionally.  

However, if it's only dirt and lack of timely cleaning giving your wrought iron items a hard time, simply follow steps 1 to 7 (or 8). On that note, I'll be signing off. 

Till next time!


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