Fall leaves mean time to clean the cable! 
Cold weather is approaching and now is the time to take care of some essential tasks to help protect your cable railing going into a new season. Here at Key-Link, we recommend these three ways to prep your cable railing for the winter.
Clean and tension your horizontal cable to get ready for winter
Clean the Aluminum Railing
Your railing might not look dirty, but seasons outdoors do result in an accumulation of dirt, air pollution, salt deposits, or other contaminants. Using a non-abrasive cleanser and soft cloth or sponge, take some time to wipe down your aluminum top rail, bottom rail (if applicable), brackets, and more. Remove all dirt and discolorations and rinse if necessary.
Clean the Cable
If you have cable, now is the time to clean it! As with the railing, it might not be visibly dirty, but you’ll want to remove any dirt or moisture that might be lurking between or on the strands of cable. Key-Link recommends specific products, including Boeshield’s Rust Free ® to clean the cable and Boeshield T-9 ® to protect the cable and make sure it doesn’t corrode or discolor.
Never use steel wool or anything abrasive to clean your cable or fittings.
Cable fittings should be tensioned with a 7/16" wrench
With changes in temperature, cable can loosen over time. This is an easy fix with just a few tools. For horizontal railing, simply insert a hex key (an Allen wrench) into one of the end posts and tighten to the appropriate tension (preferably measured with a tension gauge). Vertical cable is tensioned from underneath with a 7/16” socket wrench, and cable fittings require a 7/16” wrench.
For both horizontal and vertical cable, it is essential that you do not overtighten the cable, as that can compromise the integrity of the system.
Once you’re done with these tasks, your railing and cable are protected and you’re ready to enjoy the winter season—or maybe just dream of spring on the deck!
For complete details, including illustrations and recommended tools, please download our Cleaning and Maintenance Guidelines.