Cleaning and Caring for Your Metal Foyer Coat Rack

If you have a metal foyer coat rack, cleaning and keeping it looking pristine might seem like a difficult task. There are so many care techniques for various metals, but there are some things that apply to almost all of them. Below are some tips to help your coat rack stay looking its best.

1. Avoid fingerprints. Greasy fingerprints are usually the culprits of grime on metal. Avoiding fingerprints will make it easier to clean your coat rack and keep it looking clean for longer than 5 minutes. Try to grab the coats, and not the rack itself.
2. Cleaning brass and steel. For brass and steel, one cleaning option is to rub vinegar and salt on the metal. You can also use ketchup, as tomato juice reacts well with shiny objects to remove grime. Just let either compound sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. And then use a rag to dry it and polish it off.
3. Avoid moist areas. Metal and moisture do not mix well. So if you have your coat rack in a moist area, such as a poorly insulated closet, you might want to move it elsewhere to avoid rusting. This might not usually be the case indoors, but this is something worth taking note of.
4. Clean regularly. A grime buildup can be a nightmare to clean, so try to clean off your metals once a week. Overtime, metal can darken and lose its sheen because of the lack of a decent cleaning regimen. Once this happens, it can be hard to restore it, although not impossible.
5. Avoid abrasive cleaning supplies. To maintain the polished look on the outside of your metal, avoid scratchy rags, hard brushes, and strong chemicals that may damage the finish. Instead, use something that you would be comfortable with using on a piece of glass.
6. Consider over cleaner. If there is a darkened area of the metal that you want to clean, consider using oven cleaner on it. Let the oven cleaner sit for a few hours before washing it off. Leave it overnight for tougher stains. Make sure that you do this in a well-ventilated area as the fumes can be pretty strong.
7. Cleaning non-shiny metals. If you are cleaning something like wrought iron, you can be a little bit tougher with it. Harsh chemicals and stiff brushes may work just fine when the finish is not an issue.

Looking to buy a new metal coat rack for your foyer? Below are some great picks that will look good in any entryway.

Evergreen Coat Rack by Adesso. This coat rack comes with 6 5.5-inch coat hooks extending from the center pole. It has a sturdy weighted base and a satin steel finish. 

Maybelle Coat Rack - Aluminum/Natural Wood by EuroStyle. Made with a durable steel frame, this coat rack features clear lacquer natural hardwood knobs. 

Freewheel Coat Rack by Uttermost. This antiqued, silvery black vintage bicycle metal is crafted into a freestanding holder for coats, hats and umbrellas.