How To Clean And Maintain Aluminum Diamond Plate Shine

How To Clean And Maintain Aluminum Diamond Plate Shine

Whether you work in construction, fabrication, or have a trailer, you are probably familiar with aluminum diamond plate. Other popular names for aluminum diamond plate are tread plate, checker plate, or floor plate. The pattern itself has raised diamonds on one side and a flat back (no texture on the backside). You can find this in all kinds of materials such as steel and stainless steel; however, aluminum is the most popular, and has the least amount of hassle. We show you how to clean aluminum diamond plate below.


The uses for aluminum diamond plate are endless. You will see it on stairs, food trucks, walls, and floors. This is great for commercial, industrial, and everyday settings. The raised pattern provides great traction so you don’t slip. Another benefit is that aluminum diamond plate makes a great decoration. Many gyms and trailers use aluminum diamond plate as wainscoting, while you will also see the material on the exterior of construction tool boxes. Ambulances, delivery trucks, firefighter trucks, and food trucks always have aluminum diamond plate on them.

How Do I Take Care Of Aluminum Diamond Plate To Keep Its Shine?
Like any other type of high-use metal, it’s important to know how to clean aluminum diamond plate to help keep it shining and working great. Because it is used for high traffic applications, chances are that it will get pretty dirty frequently. Here is a basic guide on how to clean and maintain aluminum diamond plate for shine and durability.

Step 1: Cleaners
We always recommend to NOT use harsh detergents or floor soap to clean aluminum diamond plate. If you want to use a cleaner of some sort, test it on a small patch or corner to make sure it doesn’t harm the metal. Don’t allow water or any cleaning products to sit in the surface for a long time–always spray and wipe. We always recommend just warm water and a towel because harsh chemicals will eventually destroy the finish when used improperly. If you want to use a more heavy-duty cleaner, use non-detergent car wash soaps. Wash and then rinse thoroughly right away, so you prevent staining, streaks, or water spots. Learning how to clean aluminum diamond plate isn’t as hard as it seems!

Step 2: Sealing + Protection
An option to consider to preserve your aluminum diamond plate is applying a protective coat of wax. Wax helps the material continue to look new. If you do this regularly, you can reduce the amount of time required to clean it on a regular basis. But like cleaners, you always want to test a patch before applying to the whole sheet.

Step 3: Further Action
In some cases, it can take more than cleaning and waxing aluminum diamond plate to get it to look new. You might need some specialized metal cleaners or polishes and a buffer to get it back to its original shine. You can hire someone that polishes metal or do it yourself. Just keep in mind that buffing and polishing takes a lot of time and effort, so set aside the right amount of time. Always make sure you follow the manufacturer guidelines.