[Norbifier]

We have a home with an old bird cage. The white finish on the door frames is chalky and rubs off on your skin or clothes. What should we do to correct this? Can we clean it or should we paint it? Do you know a local vendor who can fix this? Do we need to buy new doors?

[villagetinker]

I would contact (believe it or not) a marine service that repairs aluminum boats. Aluminum can be tricky to refinish, I have rebuilt around 10 cars, steel, fiberglass, and aluminum, the aluminum ones never turned out right. If you want to DIY, I would clean with TSP and a light sanding (do NOT use steel wool). This would be followed by a high quality automotive primer suitable for aluminum, and then a final coat of metal paint to match your existing bird cage.

[vintageogauge]

Before investing in paint try using automotive cleaner wax on one of the tubes, I have used it in the past with good results, it won't look like new but it will remove the chalk and will protect if from coming back for awhile, if it works and you decide to do it to your entire area, after completion put on a coat of straight automotive wax without the cleaner in it, will last a long time. I use it on my exterior lamp posts and on demand hot water heater that is outside also, it makes a huge difference.