Model Forum / General / Rockets / May 2007

The chemicals in the dishwashing detergent combined with the heat of the
wash cycle may damage the finish on case or etch the aluminum.  I'd be
careful.  Aluminum is more delicate than most people think.  It can corrode
and be damaged by lots of chemicals.

Where I work, we clean lots of aluminum parts.  The "good old stuff" like
trichlor has been banned, so we have to clean parts with alkaline aqueous
cleaners instead.  Of course these "cleaners" don't work as well as
trichlor, and present significant risks to the parts.  I've seen aluminum
parts corroded, etched and blackened by these water-based cleaners,
especially if the cleaning tank is being ran hotter than 150 degrees.  Point
is aluminum is not hard to ruin via cleaning.

Regular soap, hot water, and a bottle brush should be all you need.  After
the case is clean, I like to wad up paper towels stuff them in the case, and
shove them trough with a stick.  That helps clean that last bit of gunk off.
Dry cases thoroughly after washing.

Joe Michel
NAR 82797 L2

The gunk becomes harder to clean the longer the motor sits around.
Unless you have a portable dishwasher that you can bring to the field,
I think you're better off using baby wipes...

-E