I have used steel wool on a few small chrome pieces to clean them up. They are not show pieces, but wanted to clean them a bit more than chrome polish alone could do. I was surfing facebook and someone posted a few things that got my brain turning.

Someone said steel wool leaves behind "slivers" and will rust. Would that be an issue if you wipe down the area with detailing spray that you just buffed?

Some say to use steel wool dry and others say window cleaner. I used a small bowl of water so it's not dry. Which is the best method?

I also read fine grade (000 grade) bronze wool works better. Has anyone used this and if so, do you use lube like steel wool?

I have also read aluminum foil and water (or coke) work as well. Anyone try this?

When I used steel wool it was very light pressure, almost like gliding across the surface. I treat the areas as if they were clayed and apply a sealer or wax when done for protection.

I have an old air cleaner that is chrome and I may tape off the bottom side into sections and try different methods, but was wondering what your opinions/experience with this was.

I'll use brass or bronze wool for a light cleaning of chrome, but prefer polish/cleaners first


Steel wool is too aggressive for chrome and just opens you up to possible rust residue down the road IMHO

What about Nevr-Dull? What is a good polish to use?

Semi Chrome works well or Flitz..
Steel wool just scratches..

SemiChrome should be here in a few days from Amazon. I don't have show pieces on the car, so rather mess with spare parts before parts on the car first. If I do get minor scratches in the chrome, it's driver quality and not really hurting it more than it is. Figure if I get the methods down now, when it gets repainted or new chrome, I will be good to go.

0000 super fine works great..i think the steel wool fibers were on rubber tires for whitewalls...otherwise the wool has nothing to stick on..

https://youtu.be/9AtAdU_i_OU

I've used the 0000 on chrome a lot as I used to detail cars back in the day. Use detail spray or glass cleaner as a lubricant and apply very light pressure. Anything will scratch chrome if you get crazy with it.

Semichrome, mag polish etc can scratch chrome too.

Got an old air cleaner I have just hanging in the garage. Think the base is chrome and under the lid is as well. Going to mess with it next time I'm off and nice weather. Would like to try a few different methods at the same time and tape off sections and label them. That way I can see how it turns out side by side. If the wife's not home, I may do it inside for a "controlled environment". Don't think she'll buy that excuse.

I know a clay bar isn't the same as steel wool, but a clay bar can leave marring as well if pushed too hard and using it dry. I found that out the hard way and was a pain to get the dry streak off.

Uh-huh...

Been using it to clean my exhaust tips for 20+ years...

Chrome still looks new...


(And if'n you're worried about OOOO being too aggressive, spray a little PO down first...

So not to highjack the post BUT ... can a minor scuff be buffed out of chrome ??

If the chrome is a little rough to start with, fine steel wool, followed by chrome cleaner followed by wax will make it look a whole lot better vs any of these products alone. If chrome cleaner alone will not do it worth trying the fine steel wool in my experience.

Be careful with your chrome. It is very thin and can easily be damaged or removed. You cannot polish out small blemishes. I would not use any type of abrasive.

Chrome is not like SS or aluminum. Those material can be polished to remove blemishes. Chrome is a thin layer on top of a layer of nickel and perhaps copper on top of a base metal.

Once chrome is compromised you cannot get it back unless it is stripped, polished and re-plated.

Sectioned off the air cleaner (8 sections) base and used 7 methods.

0000 steel wool followed by a polish (semichrome)
Aluminum foil and coke followed by a polish (semichrome)
Turtle wax chrome polish
Semichrome polish
Mother's Chrome polish
Meguiar's Ultimate compound followed by Meguiar's Ultimate Polish
Nevr-Dull

All sections were followed by Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax for protection. One section was left cleaned, but not polished or waxed. It's hanging in the garage to see how it looks a few months after the experiment. I may hang it outside to see how the weather effects it. I took a photo of the polish/compound pads after they were used. I used the same cordless drill and pads (made mini ones from a larger polishing pad)and you can see some turned more black than others.

My chrome is not flawless, just want to clean it up the best I can. I am leaning towards semichrome or just using Meguiar's.

Years ago at local bumper shop (rechrome, straighten, etc) . . . before they wrapped up the rechromed bumpers, they would wipe them with a solution of "Bon Ami" . . . same as "bar keepers friend" . . . make a paste with it, then wipe the chrome, and let dry to a haze, then wipe off . . . been best kept secret. . . takes all the crap off and will not scratch . . .nothing like an "old timers" tip . . .(uhh,not that I am getting to be old timer . . .)