How to clean a wrought iron table

How To Clean Wrought Iron Furniture and Railings

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

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Updated on 02/16/21

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Wrought iron is a beautiful and durable material when used for outdoor furniture, railings, and ornamental accessories, as well as for indoor accents, such as shelves, brackets, and fixtures. Because the texture is somewhat rough, wrought iron tends to collect dust and grime a little more readily than smooth surfaces, but when painted and maintained properly, cleaning is quite easy.

Wrought iron is a metal with a very low carbon content when compared to steel, which makes it very malleable and easy to shape and weld into decorative pieces with intricate shapes that can collect dust and dirt. In addition, all iron-based metals will eventually rust and corrode; wrought iron is especially susceptible to this if the surface paint coat is allowed to peel or chip away. Especially in outdoor locations, cleaning wrought iron can involve sanding or grinding away loose paint and rust in order to thoroughly clean the metal before repainting.

Here are some basic supplies you should have on hand to clean wrought iron:

Vacuum cleaner with attachment brush
Bucket
Mild dish soap
Cleaning rag
Small nylon detail brush
Pressure sprayer or garden hose (optional)
Paint scraper
Sandpaper
Dust mask
Eye protection
Drill with wire brushes and sanding discs
Touch-up paint

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

General Cleaning

Routine cleaning of wrought iron is really not much different than cleaning any household surface.

Wrought iron surfaces can be quite dusty, so begin by using a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove as much of the loose dust and grime as you can.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Use a mild mixture of water and dish soap to clean all surfaces. On intricate pieces, dip a small nylon scrubbing brush (a toothbrush will work) in soapy water and use it to scrub crevices and tight curves.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Rinse with clear water. On outdoor furniture or railings, you can spray the wrought iron with a garden hose.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Cleaning Prior to Touch-Up Painting

A more thorough cleaning is necessary if your wrought iron pieces have chipped paint or rust.

Use a paint scraper to remove any loose paint. Make sure to sweep up and dispose of paint chips.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Use a drill with a wire brush to remove peeling paint from small crevices and to remove most of the rust from bare iron surfaces. This can be a messy job, so wear eye protection and a dust mask.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Once all loose paint is removed, use sandpaper to remove any remaining rust on exposed metal surfaces.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Do a thorough cleaning of the entire piece to remove any loose dust.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Pressure-sprayer Option

A high-pressure sprayer may be an option on wrought iron pieces with a lot of chipped, peeling paint. A pressure sprayer can make short work of stripping loose paint from metal surfaces, provided they are in good shape. A pressure sprayer is a powerful, serious tool, so use it with caution, and be careful not to damage adjoining surfaces.

Tips on Repainting

Once all loose paint, rust, and grime is removed, proceed as soon as possible to painting the wrought iron. Left exposed, the iron will quickly develop more rust. For best results, use a rust-proofing primer on all bare metal, then apply at least two coats of durable enamel paint. Spray paints are the best choice when painting ironwork with intricate detailing. Applying several light coats provide better results than attempting to cover with a single heavy coat.

Tip: Painted wrought iron surfaces can be periodically polished with automotive wax to protect them and maintain their luster. After the wax has dried, buff the iron with a soft cloth to create an attractive shine. Waxed surfaces are also less likely to collect dust and dirt, and less likely to rust.

How to Clean Wrought Iron

If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, you've probably learned by now how to take care of and clean your cast iron pans. But what about the other kinds of iron in and around your home? Because it's used ornamentally or as furniture, wrought iron—cast iron that's been heated and worked on with tools—requires a bit of a different process than the cast iron you use to cook breakfast.

After it's shaped by an ironworker, wrought iron is commonly used ornamentally for gates, railings, and garden furniture. You may also see wrought iron used for candle holders, curtain rods, or even wine racks. While wrought iron is relatively corrosion-resistant compared to other metals, it can still become dusty, dirty, and rusty over time—so you'll need to clean it relatively frequently. Luckily, with the right tools and a bit of time, anyone can restore wrought iron.

Here's how to clean wrought iron like a pro.

How often you clean wrought iron depends on what you use it for and how likely it is to accumulate dirt and debris. For example, if you have wrought iron patio furniture, you'll want to clean it a few times per season (or as soon as you notice it's getting dirty). Because you're not sitting on them, you can get away with cleaning other types of wrought iron, like fences and gates, less frequently—potentially once or twice a year. If you have wrought iron accessories in your home, clean them once a season or as needed.

John Keeble/Getty

Step 1: Remove the Dust

Like anything else in your home, wrought iron can collect dust over time. Make sure to remove all visible dust first so you can effectively clean your ironwork. If your wrought iron surface is small, you can simply use a duster or even a microfiber cloth to do the job. But if you're working on a larger surface like a railing or patio set, you may want to use your vacuum.

Simply attach the brush attachment on the hose, and work your way up and down the surface to get rid of any loose dust and debris.

Step 2: Wash The Wrought Iron

Next, it's time to remove pesky dirt and grime from your wrought iron. Start by adding a few drops of gentle liquid dish soap into a large bucket of warm water. In general, aim for one tablespoon of soap per quart of water.

If you're cleaning indoor ironwork that's not as dirty, you can also use a mild vinegar and water solution—just add about a half cup of distilled white vinegar per half gallon of water.

Then, dip a sponge or appropriately sized brush in the solution and use it to clean the surface. A medium- or large-sized brush works well for larger surfaces, while you may want to use a smaller one that can reach curves and crevices for detail work.

Step 3: Rinse With Clean Water

Once you've thoroughly cleaned the wrought iron surface, rinse away the soapy residue. If you're indoors, you can use a microfiber cloth or cleaning rag soaked in clean water to finish the job. When you're cleaning a larger, outdoor area, simply use your garden hose to spray away the remaining soap.

Rikki Snyder

Step 4: Remove the Rust

After cleaning the dirt from your ironwork, you may want to touch it up by removing rusty spots. A paint scraper or sandpaper may be enough to take care of it, but for particularly rusty spots, you may need the help of a chemical called phosphoric acid.

Phosphoric acid, which comes in gel and spray forms, works by converting rust into a hard, black crust that's easier to remove. Always use phosphoric acid outdoors or in a properly ventilated space. Before you apply it, put on gloves, eye protection, and a face mask. Allow the acid to sit on the surface for a full 24 hours before touching it again. Then, use a wire brush to get rid of the flakes.

Once you finish, you may want to repeat the cleaning process, especially if you plan to repaint your ironwork.

Step 5: Repaint as Needed

Painted ironwork, especially patio furniture, may be vulnerable to paint chips from daily use. Once your wrought iron is totally dry, you can use medium-weight sandpaper to smooth out any chipped areas. If your wrought iron has a lot of chipped paint and debris, a pressure washer may do a better job of stripping it before you paint. If you use this method, make sure to let the surface fully dry before attempting to paint.

Once the surface is dry, wipe away any remaining dust or debris with a dry, microfiber cloth. Then apply the matching touch-up paint with your brush and allow it to dry.

Cleaning wrought iron requires a bit more time and energy than other household chores, so after you finish cleaning or repainting, protect it. Try spraying car or specialized-iron wax on the surface after the paint dries to add a protective coating that'll shield your wrought iron from pesky scratches and paint chips over time.

Cleaning your wrought iron as you go can also prolong the duration between deep cleans (and prevent unnecessary damage). For example, if you have a wrought iron patio set, always wipe away any splatters and spills when they happen. Pay attention, too, to sunscreen or bug spray residue, which can create discoloration on wrought iron.

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Wrought iron table

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Forged items: getting rid of rust

8(965)188-80-71; 8(925)777-04-99

Dear customers. Visit your nearest forge to get acquainted with our work and consult with specialists. All the works presented on our website are made by the craftsmen of SC Drug Ognya, together with partner design and carpentry workshops. During the production of your orders, we provide the opportunity to visit the production and visually control all stages of work. To save your time, our specialists will come to the site free of charge for the necessary measurements, consultations and conclusion of a contract.

How to order:
If you like our work, you can call the order department or write us an e-mail with the sketch number, delivery address and contact phone number. Our staff will contact you and advise on your questions.
Specialists of IC "Friend of Fire" travel free of charge for consultation and measurement to Moscow, Lyubertsy, Odintsovo, Istrinsky, Krasnogorsky, Ruzsky, Orekhovo-Zuevsky, Pavlovo-Posadsky, Noginsky, Balashikhinsky, Schelkovsky, Ramensky, Mytishchinsky, Egorevsky, Pushkinsky, Sergiev Posadsky , Dmitrovsky, Solnechnogorsk, Podolsky, Serpukhov, Stupinsky, Domodedovsky, Chekhov, Voskresensky, Kolomna, Klinsky districts.
Addresses of blacksmith shops and working hours, you can see in contacts.

Estimated cost for artistic forgings:
Forged gratings price from 3100 rub/sq.m
Wrought iron gate price from 7000 rub/sq.m
Wrought iron fences price from 2500 rub/sq.m
Wrought iron stairs price from 6000 rub/sq.m
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Wrought iron benches price from 6000 rub/piece
Wrought iron ritual fences price from 3000 rub/m.p.m.
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Forged chairs price from 6000 rubles / piece
Wrought iron tables price from 12000 rub/piece
Interior items, forged furniture, weather vanes, forged lanterns, polycarbonate canopies and other non-standard metal structures, due to the variety of shapes and sizes, are calculated individually
Installation of forged products from 10% to 30%

Vacancies

Seasonal promotions and discount products
Promotion for forged gratings
Wrought iron gates at a discount.

If there is anything that can ruin the beautiful look of wrought iron gates, wrought iron fences and wrought iron gratings, it's rust. Many, when they notice rust on forged products, attempt to paint over it. However, this only causes more harm.
It is believed that forged products do not require any maintenance. And this prejudice causes people to remember wrought iron gates, wrought iron fences or wrought iron railings only when they already require a thorough restoration. To prevent this from happening, periodically inspect the wrought iron gates, wrought iron railings, wrought iron stairs, and wrought iron accessories in your home for rust. The most important rule in the fight against rust is to get rid of it as soon as possible so that it does not spread further.
The easiest way to remove rust is to remove it with a sponge soaked in a special solution. However, most often it happens that recesses have appeared on the metal, also affected by rust, and it is not possible to clean them with a sponge. Large items such as wrought iron gates, wrought iron fences, wrought iron stairs can be cleaned of rust using sandblasting and recommendations for it. But what about small (forged handles, candlesticks, etc.) details? They can be soaked for a while in the solution. Now in stores there is a large selection of solvents that will perfectly cope with rust on your forged products. The main thing to remember is that when working with solvents, safety measures must be observed, as they are very caustic. Work only with rubber gloves and protective clothing. Also wear safety goggles and a face mask to protect your eyes and face from splashes of the solution. Read the instructions carefully before use and strictly follow them.
To make your wrought iron stairs last longer and not get rusty, apply special waxes to them that prevent rust. They create a kind of protective mantle on the surface of the metal and give the products a special shine and beauty. Also be careful when using waxes. You can apply the liquid to the sponge and cover the product with it, or you can spray it directly on it.