How to Age Aluminum

Co-authored by Surekha Krishnan and Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: November 6, 2022 References

If you have a piece of aluminum you’d like to age, there are several methods of doing so. You can spray your aluminum with bleach and set it in the sun to create an aged look. Alternatively, you can wrap your aluminum in aluminum foil and run it through the dishwasher after adding powdered dishwashing detergent and trisodium phosphate to the dispenser. Or, you can soak you aluminum in cold water and oxygen-based cleaner to create aging and patterns. No matter the method, you’ll create a cool, distressed look to aluminum pieces that are perfect for decor and crafting.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Bleaching Aluminum

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If you want a truly distressed and aged look, but are working with shiny, new aluminum, you can sand it down. Use 80-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface of the metal.^{[1]
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Wear a mask and protective gloves when working with bleach. Do this in a well-ventilated area so fumes can easily disperse. Put regular bleach in a spray bottle and spray it onto the aluminum.^{[2]
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Set the aluminum outside in the sun for several hours. The sun speeds up the process and helps the bleach distress the metal. Soon, the chemical reaction will create an aged look on your aluminum.^{[3]
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Use running water to rinse the bleach off the aluminum, or soak the aluminum in a container of water for a few minutes. If your aluminum piece has electronic parts or other things that would prevent you from rinsing or submerging it in water, use a clean, white cloth to wipe the bleach off the surface of the aluminum.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Putting Aluminum in the Dishwasher

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Place your aluminum piece on a sheet of aluminum foil with the shiny side facing away from the aluminum piece. Fold the foil over so it covers the aluminum piece but is not sealed. The aluminum foil creates distortions as well as a rainbow pattern on the aluminum due to the heat and chemical reaction.^{[4]
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Keep the open ends of the aluminum foil facing upwards so that the water can run down into the package. Stack your pieces in the dish rack of the washer.^{[5]
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Fill the dispenser with powdered dishwashing detergent and TSP. Add powdered dishwashing detergent, like Cascade Complete or Finish Dishwasher Powder, to the dispenser. Then, add 1 teaspoon of trisodium phosphate (TSP) to the dispenser.^{[6]
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- TSP can be found at your local hardware or home improvement store.
Age the aluminum by running the dishwasher on the pots and pans cycle. Turn on the drying cycle as well.^{[7]
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After the cycle is complete, carefully remove the aluminum pieces from the dishwasher. Use caution, as they may be hot. Remove the foil around the aluminum.^{[8]
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If you want to add more patina or increase the aged look of the aluminum, wrap the pieces in aluminum foil at a different orientation and run them through the dishwashing cycle again.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Cold Water and Oxygen Cleaner

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1
Sprinkle oxygen-based cleaner in the bottom of a container. Choose a container large enough for your aluminum pieces to fit inside and be completely submerged. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of an oxygen-based cleaner (like Oxi-Clean, Clorox Oxygen Action, All Oxi-Active, or Shout Oxy Powder) in the bottom of the container.^{[10]
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- You can make your own oxygen cleaner by combining 1 part sodium percarbonate (dry, powdered hydrogen peroxide) and 1 part sodium carbonate (washing soda or soda ash).^{[11]
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- Take care not to confuse either of those powders with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
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Place crumpled aluminum foil in the container to create patterns. If you’d like your aluminum to have patterns in the aging, you can create them with aluminum foil. Crumple up several pieces of aluminum foil and place them in the bottom of the container, on top of the oxygen-based cleaner. Press them flat into the bottom of the container.^{[12]
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- Add a few more tablespoons of oxygen-based cleaner on top of the aluminum foil.^{[13]
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You can put templates, gears, or other items on top of the aluminum that will prevent the covered sections from being aged, if you’d like to make designs or shapes on your aluminum.^{[14]
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Several tablespoons should suffice. Spread the cleaner evenly over the metal and try to avoid building up piles of the powder on top of the aluminum.^{[15]
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In order to keep your aluminum pieces from floating in the water, place a heavy object on top of them. You can use another piece of metal like a weight or a gear, or even a wrapped stack of dinner plates.^{[16]
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Pour cold water in the container until the entire piece of aluminum is submerged. Add up to ½ inch (1.3 cm) of water over the top of the aluminum to ensure it is completely covered.^{[17]
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Carefully tip your container a little bit to one side and then the other in order to get the oxygen-based cleaner to flow. If the container is too heavy for you to move, gently agitate the mixture with a long spoon.^{[18]
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Swirl the mixture to get the powder to flow through the water. The oxygen bubbles produced by the cleaner are what cause the oxidation of the aluminum and make it change colors.^{[19]
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Though you may begin to notice the aluminum changing color after four hours, for best results you should leave the aluminum to soak for at least 24 hours. You can leave it for up to two days if you desire a deeper color change.^{[20]
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Take the aluminum piece out of the water. Use a razor blade or the edge of a plastic card (like a hotel room key or credit card) to remove any heavy crusts of oxygen-based cleaner left on the aluminum.
Mix 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of distilled white vinegar with each cup of water. Pour the mixture over the aluminum or soak the aluminum in the mixture for a few minutes. Then rinse the aluminum with plain water.^{[21]
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Set the aluminum in a dish drainer to dry, if the piece is small enough, or prop it against a hard surface to dry if the piece is large. This aging process creates flowing gray tones in the aluminum.^{[22]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Are there any other ways to age aluminum?

Surekha Krishnan
Metallurgy Expert
Surekha Krishnan is a Metallurgy Expert based in Columbia, South Carolina. Surekha specializes in both arc welding and solid-state welding and has been a Plant Metallurgist at FN America, LLC since 2021. Surekha has over 7 years of experience, is an expert in all heat treat processes and record retention, has prior experience as a Weld Engineer, and has taught various IIW welding courses in the past.

Surekha Krishnan

Metallurgy Expert

Expert Answer

You can also age aluminum by heating it in a controlled environment at higher temperatures. For example, you can place aluminum in an oven at temperatures around 180°F for several hours, depending on its size, for a faster aging process.

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Things You’ll Need

Bleaching Aluminum

Spray bottle
Bleach

Putting Aluminum in the Dishwasher

Aluminum foil
Powdered dishwashing detergent (like Cascade Complete or Finish Dishwashing Powder)
Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
Dishwasher with pots and pans and drying cycles

Using Cold Water and Oxygen Cleaner

Container
Aluminum foil
Cold water
Oxygen-based cleaner (like OxiClean or Shout Oxy Powder)
Heavy item to anchor aluminum (like a weight or a wrapped stack of dinner plates)
Distilled white vinegar