Which acid is used for cleaning aluminum?

Acids used for cleaning aluminum include white vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tartar. In other words, use fairly mild acids to clean aluminum. One simple cleaning solution for an aluminum pot or pan is to add two tablespoons of a mild acid to a quart of water.

The solution should be brought to a rolling boil, left for about 15 minutes, then rinsed out.

Some cleaning solutions also call for borax to clean an aluminum sink. Borax, also called sodium borate, is a salt of boric acid. In this case, the homeowner cleans the worst of the grime from the sink, sprinkles the borax over the metal, rubs it in with a damp cloth, then rinses.