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.
If your nickel-plated item has stains that won't come off with soap and water alone, try using baking soda or white vinegar as an abrasive cleaner. Sprinkle some baking soda onto dampened cloth or sponge (or saturate it in white vinegar) and gently rub the area affected by stains until they vanish.
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.
Be sure to avoid using acid, alcohol, or solvent-based cleaners. These types of cleaners can ruin or discolor the more delicate surface of the brushed nickel finish. Vinegar is a popular faucet cleaning solution, but should be avoided on brushed 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.
Once hydrogen peroxide is added as an oxidant to the leaching reaction, pure nickel is oxidized to nickel oxide, subsequently flowed by dissolution reaction with sulfuric acid.
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.
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.”
Polishing Nickel with White Vinegar
Once your nickel item is dry, prepare a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a bowl or sink. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and use it to buff out any scratches or marks on the surface of your item. Be sure not to scrub too hard, as this can cause damage!
I grabbed a handful of grimy pennies and nickels, dropped them into a cup of cola and let them sit overnight. While most of them didn't return to their original shine, the black tarnish was removed from virtually every penny. However they did require a bit of polishing with a wash cloth.
Bleach-based cleaners or other products that claim to "remove rust or tarnish" can be detrimental to the surface of the nickel, as they likely contain hydrofluoric, hydrochloric and/or phosphoric acids.
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. You can heat up your mixture to give it a little more cleaning power if you desire.
Combat limescale with a vinegar solution.
Wipe down the surface using gentle circular strokes. Don't lay the cloth on the surface. Even diluted vinegar can ruin a brushed nickel surface from too much exposure. Use a clean dry cloth to dry the surface, moving in gentle circular strokes.
Restoring your nickel-plated cast iron doesn't have to be difficult; just follow these simple steps! Start by removing any rust or tarnish with gentle soap and water (or steel wool for tougher spots). Then, rub on some commercial metal polish, followed by waxing for an even shinier finish!
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.
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.
For items fitted outside if you start to see pitting marks in the nickel a metal polish such as “Brasso” or “Peek” can be used to polish the layer of nickel. Regular cleaning to remove dirt, finger prints and water marks will ensure your Polished Nickel products will last for a very long time.
Never use abrasive cloths or chemical based cleaning products on Nickel.
Delta specifically states to avoid Scrubbing Bubbles, Lysol Basin Tub, Soft Scrub and Tile Cleaner (avoid on the brushed nickel – it probably works just fine on tile/tubs/sinks).
Prolonged exposure to vinegar will damage chrome finishes by eating the finish right off of your fixtures.
Polished nickel tends to show water spots and fingerprints much like chrome, and it does tend to require a bit more maintenance than chrome does.
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 is a high shine finish that is also very easy to care for. We recommend wiping your faucet or shower fixture after each use to prevent mineral and oil buildup.