How to Polish Nickel Faucets

Nickel faucets, particularly brushed nickel, can be difficult to maintain and keep polished, as accumulations of unsightly hard water deposits, smudge marks, and calcification all become more visible and less attractive on its surface. Polishing a nickel plated faucet, choosing the right cleaners to use in polishing those faucets, along with knowing which cleaners to avoid using to keep the nickel surface looking its best, will be less challenging if you follow the tips below.

Tip 1 – Cleaners to Avoid Using

There are several items you will most definitely want to avoid using on your nickel faucet if you want to maintain its polish and beauty. First, avoid using any oven cleaner or other abrasive type cleanser. Also, avoid using any type of ammonia or acid based cleaner. These will mar the nickel, and make polishing it more difficult.

Tip 2 – Removing Stubborn Stains

To polish nickel surfaces with stubborn stains, you will need to first remove the stains. To do this, make a paste composed of baking soda and water. Use a plastic container as a mixing bowl, mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste and allow it to dry. Finally, rinse with warm water, then buff dry, using a soft, lint-free cloth.

Tip 3 – Removing Smudge Marks

Nickel is especially difficult to polish if there are smudge marks on it. To remove these smudges without damaging the finish and making it nearly impossible to polish, just use a clean, soft cloth, dish detergent, and water. Use caution in using hand soaps, as some of these have a gritty substance in them that can dull the nickel finish. Once you have removed the smudge marks, use a clean, dry cloth to polish the nickel surface.

Tip 4 – Removing Hard Water Stains

To remove hard water stains on nickel surfaces that dull its polished look, use the same method as suggested in the tip above for removing smudge marks. After cleaning your faucet surface with detergent and water, rinse with clean water. Once this is done, add rubbing (denatured) alcohol to a cotton pad and clean the stained nickel surface. When finished, rinse it thoroughly, removing any alcohol that remains on the faucet. Then, dry and polish the faucet with a clean, dry, nonabrasive cloth.

Tip 5 – Using White Vinegar

Some manufacturers of nickel faucets recommend simply using a cleaning solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar to clean the nickel surface enough for it to then be polished. To apply this vinegar-water cleaning solution, pour a small amount into a spray bottle and spray it onto the nickel faucet. After applying the solution, wipe it off and polish with a clean, soft cloth. Then, to polish it, buff it briskly with another soft, dry cloth.