AL-NEW 2-Step Clean & Protect Kit

Oxidation and general weathering of aluminum detracts from the appearance of your residence and patio area. Use of the AL-NEW 2 Step Clean and Protect kit helps remove oxidation and restore faded color on your patio furniture, windows, garage door, light fixtures, fencing, and more. This is an easy-to-apply and fast DIY alternative to repainting. Below are the instructions on how to use the components of your kit and the order in which to
use them. Your kit includes;

• (1) bottle - AL-NEW Step 1 Clean

• (2) plush microfiber towel applicators for use with the Step 1 product

• (2) walnut specialty hand pads - critical to use in combination with the Step 1 product for heavy oxidation

• (1) bottle - AL-NEW Step 2 Protect

• (2) specialty microfiber sponges for application of the Step 2 Product

Step 1 – Use AL-NEW Clean and applicators to remove oxidation

Link to video example on a patio table: Patio Table Example Video

Microfiber towel preparation for use with Step 1 Clean 

Link to video for towel prep: How to Prep your Microfiber Towel

1. Fold (1) of the 14” x 14” microfiber towels 3 times, creating an applicator 7” x 3.5” in size.

2. Wet the folded towel by pouring a few ounces of the AL-NEW Clean in the center (you may want to do this over a paint tray to avoid any spills)

3. Squeeze the towel to distribute the liquid through the layers of the towel

4. You now have an applicator ready to clean your anodized aluminum surface

Wipe the aluminum surface you are treating with the wet microfiber towel

Link to video: How to Apply Step 1 - Clean to a Cast Aluminum Table

1. Wipe the surface with the wet towel (prepared using the instructions above)

2. Apply moderate pressure as you wipe

3. Instant improvement will indicate removal of surface level contamination

4. Re-wet the towel frequently and rotate to clean sections of the towel when needed.

5. For tougher oxidation, the walnut hand pad should be used as the next step

Critical Step for heavy oxidation:  Use the Walnut hand pad in addition to the towel  

 Heavy layers of oxidation take years to develop, so a more robust solution is sometimes needed for full cleaning. Often patio tabletops show the most significant levels of white oxidation and need the walnut pad to get them clean.

Link to video: How to Use the Walnut Pad

1. The walnut hand pad is needed when you have heavy oxidation stains embedded in the metal. 

2. Use the walnut hand pad for a deeper level of clean not achieved with the microfiber towel alone.

3. Pads should be used on a surface still wet with Step 1 AL-NEW Clean.  Test the walnut hand pad in a small area before using on the entire object.

4. Dipping the walnut had pads in Step 1 AL-NEW Clean is a great technique to increase lubricity and improve the effectiveness of cleaning.

5. Agitate the surface with the walnut hand pad using light pressure, which will lift oxidation

6. Follow passes of your walnut pad with a wet microfiber towel to clean off oxidation

7. Continue use of the walnut hand pad until visible white oxidation has been cleaned

8. Allow the now clean surface to dry.

Dry time is subject to environmental conditions such as direct sun or shade, temperature, and humidity. The ideal process is to complete all Step 1 cleaning before applying the Step 2 AL-NEW Protect to seal the surface. Allowing the Step 1 to dry will help reveal any spots that were not fully cleaned, which sometimes are masked while the Step 1 is still wet. You should revisit any areas needing a 2nd pass of Step1 prior to applying Step 2 Protect.  If time doesn’t allow for a complete air dry of the Step 1, a dry microfiber towel can be used to buff the surface dry to ready it for the Step 2 AL-NEW Protect.

Tip:Best results with Step 2 Protect are achieved when Step 1 Clean is allowed to fully dry/cure prior to applying Step 2 Protect. This allows areas that may need a second pass of Step 1 Clean with the walnut pad to be revisited, prior to applying the final sealer in Step 2 Protect.

Drying time for Step 1 Clean varies due to many factors including temperature, UV Index, wind, humidity, and metal type and amount of liquid used during the cleaning process.

Best practice is lightly buff the table with a dry microfiber cloth prior to application of Step 2 Protect. 

Step 2 – Use AL-NEW Protect and sponge applicator to finish the job

The bulk of time invested using the 2 Step Clean & Protect Kit system will be in Step 1. Once you have the object clean of oxidation, the Step 2 AL-NEW Protect application will be very simple and time efficient and adds to the durability of the treated surface.

Link to video example on a patio table: Patio Table Example Video

Here are a few helpful written tips to supplement the video above to get the best outcome:

1. Sponge should be damp, not saturated (too much liquid could cause a white film when dried)

2. Wet the sponge by pressing it to the open mouth of the bottle and inverting the bottle a few times in a few spots in a row on the edge of the sponge. Squeeze the sponge to wring out extra liquid.  See example video at this link How to Use the Blue Microfiber Sponge  

3. Goal is to apply a thin coat of AL NEW Protect (more product is not better here)

4. Use light pressure to apply

5. Slightly overlap your passes to avoid streaks or lap marks

6. On larger surfaces like tabletops or garage doors, use a circular motion with the sponge as you would when waxing a car to ensure the entire area is covered.

7. If streaks do occur, the walnut hand pad in combo with Step 1 Clean can be reused to rework any areas and remove imperfections in the finish coat

8. In direct sun and temperatures above 70F, the AL-NEW Protect will dry to touch within 30 minutes, while the surface will continue to cure for multiple hours

9. A single pass in most cases is all that is needed. A 2nd pass can be applied, layering on top of Pass 1, however care should be taken on smooth surfaces to avoid creating streaks with too much of the Step 2 Protect. We recommend allowing
2 hours of drying time prior to applying a 2nd