How Can I Clean My Rims With Chrome Coming Off?
Chrome, which can be used to coat car rims, is a delicate material that can rub off or scratch if it is not handled with the proper care. If the chrome on your rims is already starting to come off, with black marks altering the once silver finish, then you need to be especially careful when cleaning your rims. Harsh cleaning materials or methods can cause the chrome to come off even more, which can make for an unsightly finish.
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Things You'll Need
- Hose
- Spray nozzle
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Bucket
- Dishwashing liquid
- Soft cloth
- Clear nail polish
Instructions
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Wait for your rims to cool from the sun and outside heat before you start cleaning. If possible, park your vehicle in the shade to keep the chrome rims from heating. If the rims are hotter than a comfortable inside temperature, the chrome surface softens, making them more easily scratched. That is especially true for cheap models of rims with a thin layer of chrome.
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Rinse your chrome rims gently with water to remove any built-up debris. Use a gentle mist from your hose or a spray bottle to remove debris without making the peeling worse. If your chrome rims are severely damaged, avoid spraying the rims and just wash with a cloth to avoid further issues.
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Mix together a small amount of dishwashing liquid with a half-filled 8-gallon bucket of water. Wet a very soft linen cloth.
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Use the saturated soft cloth to gently remove the black-particle brake dust and other debris from your rims. Let the cloth do the cleaning with a minimal amount of pressure applied by your hand. Be especially careful around areas where the chrome is coming off. If the chrome is peeling away, it is better to remove that piece of chrome before it starts to peel over to an undamaged area.
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Rinse the chrome rims again with a gentle mist of water from your hose or spray bottle. Continue cleaning with the soft cloth and rinsing with the hose, avoiding harsh scrubbing, until you've removed all the debris and have exposed the original silver color.
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Give your chrome rims one final rinse with your hose. Let the rims air dry, with the assistance of a fan if the weather is cold. Drying with a cloth will cause the chrome to come off even more. To prevent even more damage, clear nail polish can be added with an applicator to the chipped areas to provide more protection from water.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean your rims immediately after they have been exposed to road salt.
Wax new chrome rims to ensure that the chrome does not begin to chip away in the first place.
Avoid all cleaning products that contain ammonia or acid, which will both eat away at chrome rims.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
