The secret to keeping your metal and aluminum gates clean and possibly also painting it can be a tricky task because it sounds simple, but it rarely is. The idea here is that you have to keep an eye out for rust and other potential issues that might come up. Your gate could have elements that might come loose as you wash it, and it’s possible that the water you use could accelerate the process of rusting certain areas that are no longer protected by paint. In such cases, you’ll have to ponder the situation carefully and make the call as to whether or not repainting your gate might be necessary.

The cleaning process should be done in two steps:

1. First, use soapy water to gently remove all the dust and dirt. Then, once everything is clean, you have to check for rust and remove the rust by rubbing it with sandpaper. Since that process can cause your metal gate to become dirty again, it’s important to clean it a second time.
2. The second process should be the same as the first one, using nothing but a cloth and some soapy water, then washing the gate again and rinsing it to remove any leftover debris, rust and soap.

Once you’re done with all that, you might notice that a lot of the previously rusty areas are now directly exposed to the elements, so it’s best to apply some primer and paint over it all, to ensure that your gate is well-protected.