How to Clean an Aluminium RIMOWA without Erasing Its Character

Empty the case and place it on a clean towel in good light. Retract the handle, close the latches and brush or lift away dry grit from grooves, wheel housings and frame edges before introducing moisture. A sandy particle caught beneath a cloth behaves like an abrasive even when the cloth itself is soft, so the dry inspection is part of the clean rather than a cosmetic prelude.

Look at the mark from an angle. Airport belt residue, dust and superficial transfer often sit on top of the anodised surface; a scratch catches a fingernail, and a dent changes the reflection or panel shape. Photograph any new structural damage before cleaning, especially after a flight. Once the case is wet and the mark is disturbed, evidence for an airline report becomes less clear.

• Empty the case and photograph fresh travel damage before touching the surface.
• Lift loose grit from the grooves and frame with a clean soft brush or dry cloth.
• Test wheels, handles and latches now; cleaning is not the remedy for a functional fault.

Dampen a clean light-coloured microfibre cloth or non-abrasive sponge with plain water and wring it until it no longer drips. Wipe with the grain of the panel and along the grooves rather than scrubbing one spot in tight circles. Turn the cloth frequently so lifted grime is not redistributed. For a stubborn superficial mark, repeat several gentle passes instead of increasing force.

Use a second cloth dampened only with clean water to remove loosened residue, then dry the shell and frame. Keep water from pooling around latch openings, handle tubes and wheel bearings. Open the case after the exterior is dry and allow any incidental interior moisture to air at room temperature before storage. The aim is a clean travelling surface, not a uniform factory sheen.

• Tool: soft light-coloured cloth or non-abrasive sponge; liquid: clean water only.
• Technique: long gentle passes, a regularly turned cloth and no concentrated scrubbing.
• Finish: wipe again with clean water, dry the frame and allow the open case to air fully.

RIMOWA specifically advises against scouring detergents, abrasive cloths or sponges, window-cleaning agents, vinegar-based cleaners and disinfectants. It also excludes solvents, dilutions, aggressive alcohols, petroleum distillates and nail-polish remover. These products can haze, stain or strip the appearance of anodised aluminium while failing to repair the underlying mark.

Metal polish is also the wrong instinct. Anodised aluminium is not bare silverware: polishing can create a bright patch that looks more conspicuous than the original scuff. Magic erasers are micro-abrasive, and stiff brushes can mark plastic and painted details. If plain water does not move a superficial stain, stop and send photographs plus the serial number to RIMOWA for material-specific advice.

• Avoid abrasives: scouring powder, rough pads, magic erasers, metal polish and stiff brushes.
• Avoid reactive cleaners: vinegar, window spray, disinfectant, solvent, acetone and aggressive alcohol.
• Avoid home dent work: heat, suction, hammering and pressure can distort the frame or finish.

RIMOWA says deep dents and scratches cannot be removed and frames them as the unique patina of a case. That is brand language, but the physical point is sound: a line cut through the surface or a displaced aluminium panel is not dirt. Repeated attempts to erase it can enlarge the visible area and create a second, chemically altered mark around the first.

Judge the case by operation once it is clean. The frame should meet, both latches should close normally, every wheel should rotate without drag and the telescopic handle should extend through its normal range. Cosmetic change is part of aluminium ownership; closure failure, a jammed wheel or a handle that will not lock is a repair issue. The distinction is more valuable than a flawless reflection.

• Cosmetic: surface scratch, shallow dent or colour variation with normal closure, rolling and handling.
• Functional: distorted frame, failed latch, non-rolling wheel, stuck handle or a shell that no longer protects the load.
• Store only when fully dry, open and away from sustained humidity or heat.