Clean And Shine Your Car's Chrome Using Household Products

Posted on: 19 December 2016

If your car's chrome has become dirty and dull, you may decide to do some detailing at to make it shiny again. If so, follow the tips below to use household products to clean and shine your vehicle's chrome.  

Clean Your Chrome With Vinegar And Baking Soda

Before you make your chrome shiny, you first need to remove any dirt or spots on the metal. You can do this by making a solution containing vinegar and baking soda. The vinegar in this solution dissolves residue, dirt, and surface rust, while the baking soda adds a mild abrasive quality to the mixture. 

In a small bucket, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of white distilled vinegar. The amount of solution you need will depend on how much chrome is on your car.  

Use a soft rag to wipe the cleaner on the chrome. Then, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to dissolve the dirt. Once the time is up, rinse away the cleaner thoroughly. Let the chrome completely air dry, then go to the next section.  

Polish Your Chrome With Toothpaste

After you've cleaned your car's chrome, it is time to make it shine. As strange as it may sound, non-abrasive toothpaste does wonders for polishing chrome in much the same way it polishes your teeth.

You also need two or three clean cloth diapers or mechanics cloths to apply and buff the paste. If you prefer, you can also use a chamois cloth. Any of these three types of cloth will remove the polish and buff the chrome without scratching the surface of the metal.

To apply the toothpaste, squeeze a small amount onto your cloth, and work it into the surface of the chrome using small circular motions. Continue until you have covered the entire surface, then let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Taking the clean, unused portion of your cloth, rub the toothpaste off to buff and polish the metal. If your car's chrome is especially dull, you may want to apply a second coat of toothpaste, followed by second round of buffing. 

Using the above tips should remove normal grime from your chrome and make it shine. However, if you find damage or had trouble removing certain spots, you may want to take your vehicle to a car wash that offers auto detailing to discuss your options for cleaning and restoring your car's chrome like A&G Auto Spa & Mobile Detailing.

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