Vinegar can damage the finish if you allow it to soak on the metal, so wipe it clean right away. Avoid using any harsh cleaners or abrasive pads that can scratch the finish of your polished nickel.
Vinegar is a popular faucet cleaning solution, but should be avoided on brushed nickel. Also, do not use abrasive cleaners, such as bleach powder or tools like scrubbing brushes.
Never use abrasive cloths or chemical based cleaning products on Nickel.
If you're looking for an easy, cost-effective way to remove nickel plating from metals, vinegar is the answer! Vinegar is a reliable and non-toxic solution that can remove nickel plating from metal surfaces.
A 50-50 solution of water and white distilled vinegar will tackle hard water stains or other difficult-to-remove spots. Toothpaste, soap scum, or salt are some things that can affect nickel's finish but can be cleaned with relative ease. Spray the vinegar on a clean, lint-free cloth, then buff.
Pour your coins into one bowl and fill with cold water until the money is well covered. In the other bowl, pour about 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Dip the toothbrush into the bowl of baking soda and scrub the coins. The baking soda should remove any dirt and grime and won't scratch the metal.
To do this, mix some mild dish soap with warm water until it forms a sudsy solution. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and use it to wipe down the entire surface of your nickel item. Pay special attention to any areas where dirt or grime has built up over time.
Remove hard water stains with a vinegar solution.
To tackle this problem, mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Dip a cloth in the solution. Lay the cloth on the stains or deposits and let it sit there for five minutes. Wipe the area when the five minutes are up.
Other common metals in the kitchen that you should keep away from vinegar include aluminum and copper. The best cleaning option is dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Make a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Spray this on the nickel and buff the item with a clean cloth. Do not soak nickel in vinegar or allow a vinegar solution to sit on the nickel. If the vinegar solution alone doesn't work, you can add a little power to your solution with cornstarch.
Polished Nickel is a high shine finish that is also very easy to care for.
The primary difference between satin nickel and polished nickel is the aesthetics. Satin nickel has a matte-like finish that is not as bright or shiny as a polished finish. It tends to blend into the background of light colors better because it lacks extreme contrast compared to other types of metal finishes.
While oxidation (from the oxygen in the atmosphere) is generally the most common cause of tarnishing, it can also result from a reaction with other materials such as hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide.
Additionally, when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time (such as over 500 degrees Celsius for several hours) or contaminated with chlorides such as sodium chloride (NaCl), nickel can become weakened and more susceptible to corrosive reactions.
Polished nickel will tarnish over time, but it's relatively easy to restore if you have the right materials and are willing to put in the time. On the other hand, only a pro can repair chrome, which can sometimes cost more than simply buying a replacement.
Prolonged exposure to vinegar will damage chrome finishes by eating the finish right off of your fixtures.
Do not use straight vinegar. It is often too abrasive to expose to thin nickel coatings for extended periods. Nickel plating is easily damaged by acid, so vinegar cleaning should be done sparingly on stubborn stains.
Is the CLR product nickel safe? We do not recommend that CLR products be used on any metals except for chrome or stainless steel. Any 'polished' finish usually has a coating and most nickel materials are combination metals (containing zinc) and CLR products could compromise the finish.
Can I use LIME-A-WAY® to remove rust stains from my car or other metal parts? LIME-A-WAY® is meant for cleaning in the bathroom, and is therefore is not recommended for use on most metallic surfaces. Using the product on a vehicle surface may cause paint damage, etching, discoloration, etc.
Polished Nickel Maintenance
Make sure you remove any toothpaste or shaving cream from the fixture right away. If you allow these substances to remain on the nickel, it can damage the surface over time and change the appearance of the nickel.
My Greener Living — Cleaning with Bar Keeper's Friend
“On my kitchen sink, I have a brushed nickel faucet, handle, and soap dispenser. These get a lot of water spots on them when I am washing dishes. Just a little Bar Keeper's friend on a damp cloth will polish the kitchen faucet and accessories very well.”
A high pH value of the plating solution can cause abnormally high plating rates that may lead to roughness, pitting, and/or cloudy deposits. Too low of a pH will cause slow deposition rates and matte/dull finishes.