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
Cleaning nickel plated copper: When cleaning nickel plated copper it is forbidden to use any aggressive chemicals (neither vinegar) or rough materials as you may damage the plating and thus void the warranty.
You can also remove the grime and grease from nickel by using household ammonia mixed with water. A good mixture would be 25-percent ammonia and 75-percent water. Soak for 30 minutes and check if the grime is coming off. If not, add more ammonia and re-soak. You may need to brush gently with a soft cleansing brush.
Nickel maintenance and care tips
Don't use chemical products: Anything too harsh could simply strip the nickel plating off your items. Don't over soak: As per advice above, soaking items in neat vinegar or ammonia, or leaving them longer than 30 minutes could actually cause more damaged than good.
Do not use vinegar... it attacks the chrome finish. Use citric acid. Acetic acid attacks chrome and damages the silicone joints. As does muriatic acid and formic acid.
Fill a small bowl with one part white vinegar and three parts water. Use a fresh microfiber cloth to thoroughly wipe down the fixture. The white vinegar can help restore shine to the finish, and also descale any remaining buildup.
Vinegar is often recommended for cleaning hard water deposits on chrome bathroom fixtures, but this advice can be misleading. While it can dissolve mineral buildup, its acidic nature poses a risk to chrome finishes. Prolonged exposure to this solution can lead to the acid eating away at the finish.
(Non-creamy hand dishwashing liquid, such as Dawn, works well.) To remove mineral deposits, Parobek recommends using a half-and-half solution of vinegar and water, followed by a thorough rinsing and then drying with a soft cloth.
Tools with exposed edges, like kitchen knives, are especially vulnerable to vinegar. Cleaning knives with vinegar can damage the finish and leave the edge pitted, says Frank Spinelli, head of appliance testing for CR. Other common metals in the kitchen that you should keep away from vinegar include aluminum and copper.
Let's start at the root: Not all metals tarnish, however, metals such as silver, copper, or nickel will tarnish when elements within the metal oxidize when exposed to air, sweat, or other chemicals (think hand sanitizers, cleaners, etc.).
#2 – Try a simple soap (dish-soap), a clean rag (not from the work-shop please) and water. These are usually soft enough to remove finger-smudge marks, which Brushed Nickel is most prone to. Avoid using scented hand-soaps as these might leave additives or have things like scrubbing-grit.
Does baking soda damage brushed nickel? Even though common household items may occasionally splash on nickel faucets, baking soda, peroxide, sodium fluoride or phosphates can damage the nickel if left on for too long.
What kind of cleaner can I use on my faucet featuring the Spot Resist® Stainless or the Spot Resist® Brushed Nickel Finishes? A damp cloth and mild liquid dishwashing soap may be used, followed by rinsing with water and drying with a soft cloth.
Directions for Cleaning Brushed Nickel Fixtures:
Spray Simple Green Pro HD Heavy-Duty Cleaner onto the surface. Scrub. Use a wet, soft toothbrush to scrub, paying close attention to crevices. Rinse.
This paste is excellent for removing rust from iron, steel, aluminium and other metals. However, please don't leave it on any surface for too long, as vinegar can erode it, weakening the metal and making it more susceptible to rusting.
Brushed nickel finishes, which are rubbed with an abrasive while still at the factory to create their special look, are especially susceptible to damage from bathroom and kitchen cleaners that contain low-concentration phosphoric acid. If not rinsed promptly, these can damage or even remove a brushed nickel finish.
Gold, for example, doesn't react with vinegar.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
Can I use vinegar on my brushed nickel tapware? While vinegar and water can be effective for removing water spots, it's best used sparingly to avoid potential damage to the finish. Always dilute it with water and rinse thoroughly afterwards.
A mixture of salt and lemon juice or commercial cleaners can be used to clean chrome and nickel hardware. You will need to clean bright and polished metals more frequently to preserve the shine.
Is brushed nickel rustproof? Brushed nickel hardware resists rust, but it's not 100% rust proof forever. The plating will wear off at some point, and that depends on how often it's handled and cleaned. Don't worry, the hardware can still last for years without rust.
Let the vinegar sit on the material for about five minutes, then scrub the surface. Finally, rinse the chrome surface using warm water and wipe off the excess moisture using a microfibre cloth.
Wet a microfiber cloth and add a little dish soap (dawn is fine for this) and start to gently buff it out. Don't use too much pressure or stubborn as it can scratch the metal. Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down and if you see any more problem spots repeat.