"A quick wipe-down with acetone or mineral spirits usually does the trick—takes just a few minutes and saves headaches later on."
Good point about degreasing, but honestly, acetone can be a bit harsh and pricey if you're doing a larger area. I've had pretty solid results just using regular dish soap mixed with warm water to cut through grease and grime. It's budget-friendly, gentler on your hands, and still gets the job done. Might take an extra minute or two of scrubbing, but hey... saving a few bucks never hurts.
Yeah, dish soap worked pretty well when I tried it too. But I noticed it left behind a slight film sometimes... anyone else experience that? Wondering if maybe I didn't rinse thoroughly enough or something.
I've seen that film issue pop up before too, and honestly, I think it's probably more about the type of dish soap than your rinsing technique. Some brands have moisturizers or additives that leave behind residue no matter how much you rinse. Have you tried using a basic, no-frills soap instead? I've had better luck with simpler formulas. Also makes me wonder if long-term, any leftover film might affect the metal surface in some way... thoughts on that?
"Also makes me wonder if long-term, any leftover film might affect the metal surface in some way... thoughts on that?"
That's an interesting point about the residue possibly affecting the metal over time. I've seen similar issues during inspections, especially with aluminum edging—sometimes it can dull or even pit slightly from prolonged exposure to certain residues. Have you noticed any discoloration or texture changes yet? Switching soaps definitely seems like a good first step, though. Curious to hear if that helps clear things up...
"Switching soaps definitely seems like a good first step, though."
Hmm, I'm not totally convinced soap residue alone would cause noticeable pitting or corrosion, at least not quickly. I've seen metal edging that's been exposed to harsher stuff—bird droppings, tree sap, even road salt—and it usually takes quite a while before any real damage shows up. Maybe it's more about the quality of the metal itself? Or possibly environmental factors like humidity or proximity to saltwater... Just thinking out loud here.
