How To Care for your Chromium

Understanding chrome

The average individual is more often than not, going to have chromium on their vehicles, be it car or motorbike. Chromium in other applications is much rarer; however, the care of that chromium would be the same as the chromium on your vehicle. The first thing you will need to do is understand what chrome looks like in comparison to other metals that might be used on your vehicle. Chrome is composed of a material known as chromium. This is a hard metal that is used for many after market products for both cars and motorcycles. Many new vehicles are also seeing a revival in chrome accents. Chrome is prized for its high shine and strength.

Protect your chrome

When washing your vehicle, make sure you dry your chrome before water spots have a chance to set in. They can be very hard to remove and if removed in the wrong fashion, can damage your chrome. Once you have gotten the water off, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a good idea to wax your chrome. There are waxes available that are made specifically to be used on chrome and that is the wax you should use. With a soft cloth, wipe the polish on all of the chrome on the vehicle. Gently rub the wax into the water spots or any other surface imperfections. Micro-fiber cloths are wonderful for this application due to the softness of the fabric. Wipe off the polish or wax before it completely dries. Do not allow the polish or wax to dry completely before taking it off. If you see that there are nicks in the chrome that have allowed rust to form, you will want to consider having the part re-chromed before the damage has a chance to spread throughout the metal underneath the chrome. Never use abrasives of any kind on your chrome. Doing so will at the least, damage the surface of the chrome and at the worst, will remove the chrome leaving the metal underneath exposed to the elements.