Hey guys,

Just need to ask some questions about cleaning chrome metals (not fake plasitc chrome). My recently brought strut has a bit of cosmetic scratching and some what appears to be paint marks, as well as smears and goo on it.

Just wanted to know what you should use? I.e product and rag or cloth or old shirt etc.? How to go about it? Any do's and dont's? things to stay away from? And ways to mask the scratches some what?

Cut and Polish effective?

Also, the chrome on alloys, similar method or diff again? just to remove minor cosmetic scrathes and gutter rash

Cheers, in advance! Brad! :cool:

get a product called purple or autosol best metal cleaner going.

get a product called purple or autosol best metal cleaner going.

Do u just apply it with a rag, small circulur motions etc. I take it use instuctions are on the can yeah?

autosol or brite shine are the best:)

if its good proper chromework you can use the fine steel wool you get from a hardware store. that is what we use to clean overspray and surface rust etc off chrome bars. works well, no mess. just check that it wont scratch it first by rubbing the underside or somewhere inconspicuous.

Do u just apply it with a rag, small circulur motions etc. I take it use instuctions are on the can yeah?

yeah i just used a foam applicator pad to use apply it wait a few min until it comes up chalky looking then buff off with terry toweling/microfibre cloth. Briteshine is also rather good.

Use autosol man.
Comes in small toothpaste like tubes and tins
rub it in with an old rag...
magic stuff man

ringa///art should know mate give him a yell

Coca Cola and Aluminium Foil

']Use autosol man.
Comes in small toothpaste like tubes and tins
rub it in with an old rag...
magic stuff man

if you can get hold of it tuffy get some purple we can order it but cant remember the supplier, if not just nick some from Autobarn. We use it for the bumper and chrome bits on my old mans kenworth, takes ages but damn it comes up well.

']Use autosol man.
Comes in small toothpaste like tubes and tins
rub it in with an old rag...
magic stuff man

+1

Shines up the exhaust tips and towball nicely

Ollie

+1

Shines up the exhaust tips and towball nicely

Ollie
Agreed. After years of using Autosol on all things alloy and chrome I tried Meguiars All Metal P
olish. Not a patch on Autosol.

Well it seems to be unanimous and I have to agree.
I use Autosol and its very good for cleaning, but I find to get it real shiny I use Mothers Chrome Polish after.

Coca Cola and Aluminium Foil

guess you saw that mythbusters also.. soo many uses for Coke!!

ringa///art should know mate give him a yell

if its proper chrome that you are cleaning, i find nothing works better than very very fine steel wool and window cleaner..

just spray the steel wool with the window cleaner and rub the crome til it comes up clean then buff with a clean microfibre cloth..

chrome shouldnt need polishing as its finish shouldnt deteriorate - polished alloy on the other hand is a massive PITA if not polished very very regularly..

Polished alloy (aluminum) takes a fair bit to bring it up good again.. autosol would possilbly be the best metal polish ive come across other than the California (i think thats the brand) Purple Metal Polish..

Tips for polishing polished alloy:

- wear gloves; the polish turns very black very quickly.
- use many many rags (preferably terry/cotton cloths like old nappies, bath towels etc)
- apply a decent amount of the autosol (i squeeze it directly onto the bullbar or whatever it is im doin)
- when you think you've rubbed it in enough, apply some more and keep rubbing it in for twice as long..
- apply more and do it again..
- once you have a mirror looking finish you can change to a foam applicator pad because the cotton/terry cloths will start to leave scratches in the finish (almost like smears) and foam will remove those..

It really is a bastard of a job.. Ive done big full alloy bullbars on Pajeros etc that have been cleaned with abrasive detergents and basically look rooted.. they take hours to do, its a big job so be patient..

Never use any chemical on polished alloy because it will stain very very easily.. A big no no is an acidic based or alkaline based cleaners or degreasers.. acid will turn the alloy to white and alkaline products will cause runs.. general car wash solution wont hurt them but id be weary about the detergents used in automatic car washes etc..

You can polish crome with autosol - but i prefer to do it with whatever wax i put on the paintwork of the car, just to protect it a little.. but yeah.. chrome, when polished wont make the polish/rag/your hands go black..

chrome > polished alloy FTW..

+1

Shines up the exhaust tips and towball nicely

Ollie

exhaust tips are one of the best things to use steel wool and window cleaner on because you get very good results very quickly.. really cuts through the black film that usually covers the tip, especially the rolled tips..

followed with a good going over of autosol tho brings them up like brand new..

WINDEX FOR THE WIN

Give em a good wash as usual and after chamois everything.

Give them a spray with windex and polish with clean microfiber cloth.

Look brand new.

WINDEX FOR THE WIN

Give em a good wash as usual and after chamois everything.

Give them a spray with windex and polish with clean microfiber cloth.

Look brand new.

id maybe try another brand of window cleaner.. one that is free of ammonia..

any window cleaner is good as long as it says on the bottle ammonia free etc..

Been cleaning the 20s on the magna for ages with windex and they still look like new.

Mind u i get my detailer mate to give them a proper clean every few months.

windex wont hurt chrome but its very damaging to windows with tint, interior trims, rubbers etc.. thats why i dont like it..

but yeah its the best way to clean chrome - easy and streak free is the result you are after..

Just like to say, instead of using a polishing rag on the windows, I use a sheet of plain news paper, rolled into a ball big enough to fit in the hand, a splash of metho or windex, wipe over glass, then dry with a fresh piece of news paper. Works every time. Also, to clean chrome on my motorcycles, I use a cotton rag dusted with hydrated lime, the stuff gardeners use on there gardens. Cuts any oily film off, we used that in a chrome plater shop I once worked for.

Pablo