How to Buff Aluminum Chrome Trim
Chrome plating is a common finish on cars and trucks that looks great and is long-lasting when properly cared for. Over time, though, it can start to tarnish and dull. If it is not polished and cleaned regularly it can also begin to rust, which will eventually damage the plating. Buffing the chrome with polish can also remove small scratches.
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Instructions
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Wash the chrome trim with a mild cleaner like Simple Green that has been diluted with water. Rinse the chrome with water and then dry it with a clean, lint-free towel.
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2
Polish the chrome to restore its depth and shine with a high quality chrome polish like the kind from English Custom Chrome Polishing (see Resources). Place a small amount of polish onto a micro-fiber towel and buff the chrome until any hazing is gone. If there are any small scratches, work the polish into the chrome and buff the scratches out.
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Remove more extensive scratches with a fine grade of steel wool. Keep the chrome damp when using steel wool so that the finish does not get damaged. Place a small amount of the polish onto the steel wool and work it into the scratches in a circular manner.
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Rinse the chrome with water and dry it with a clean dry rag. Polish the chrome again with a clean micro-fiber towel.
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Tips & Warnings
Larger scratches or pitting from rust cannot be removed from chrome because of the hard nature of this type of plating. If the scratch goes through the surface of the chrome and into the metal that is plated, the part will have to be re-chromed by a shop that specializes in chrome plating.
