Naval Jelly Just May Get You Out of the Jam

Question: We have a prefabricated room that was added on to our house five years ago that has anodized aluminum doors and windows. Over time, they’ve become pitted. Is there any way to remove this?

C.A.,

Placentia

Answer: “Naval jelly, available at most hardware stores, will probably remove the pitting,” says Debbie Mundt of College Glass & Mirror in Anaheim. “But it’s also going to take off the anodizing, or at least harm the finish. Anodizing is where the manufacturer dips the metal into a chemical vat that coats the aluminum to protect it.

“Once anodized, aluminum becomes really pitted over time and there’s not much you can do. You could always sand them down and have them repainted if it’s really unsightly. When you’ve just had them installed, I’d suggest coating them lightly with wax, which would help preserve the finish.”

Q: We have a year-old no-wax vinyl floor in our kitchen that’s lost the no-wax shine. Is there something we can put on it to bring the shine back?

D.U.,

Fountain Valley

A: “This is a problem that occurs when people use a harsh cleaner on their floor, like Spic ‘n’ Span or Pine Sol,” says Jim McCarty of A-1 Vinyl Floor Coverings in Anaheim. “Cleaners like that will destroy the shine. With no-wax floors you should always use something like vinegar and water or a little bit of dish soap and water.

“The floor manufacturers make cleaners, and Armstrong also makes a de-waxer for people who have mistakenly applied wax to their floor. Armstrong also has a product that will create a new shine, that you apply after the floor is clean and that will bring back the shine, although you’ll have to apply it about every six months.”