Cleaning aluminium towers

Aluminium's great virtue is that it protects itself — the dull grey surface is an oxide layer that stops corrosion. Cleaning a tower is mostly about removing the trades' by-products that jam mechanisms and hide damage, and doing it without attacking that protective layer.

The right method

• Warm water and mild detergent (washing-up liquid grade), a stiff brush for tubes and a scraper kept for decks. That combination handles almost everything a site throws at a tower.
• Rinse and dry before storage — standing water in tube ends is the one way a stored aluminium tower deteriorates.
• Same-day rule for wet trades: plaster, render and mortar wipe off wet and grind off set. Rinse splashed components before they cure, especially claws, platform hooks and castor wheels.
• Paint spots: scrape gently once dry or use a mild solvent sparingly on the spot — test first, and keep solvents away from plastic latches and deck surfaces.

What to avoid

• Caustic and strong acid cleaners (including many brick-acid and heavy degreaser products) — they attack aluminium visibly and quickly.
• High-pressure washing at seals and bearings: a pressure washer is fine on frames and decks, but blasting castor bearings and spring catches forces grit in and grease out.
• Wire wheels and aggressive abrasives, which strip the oxide layer and leave scratches that hold dirt.

Clean = inspect

Cleaning is the closest look a tower gets between formal inspections — you will find the cracked weld, the bowed brace and the tired castor while you scrub. Fold what you find into the inspection routine, and dry everything before it goes into storage.