Chrome Cleaning

[Fireman]

Wanted to pass on a simple and environmentally friendly tip I got the other day for cleaning chrome.

Get a piece of tinfoil and scrunch it up, shiny side out, and a little white vinegar in a bowl. Dip the foil in the vinegar and rub the rusty dirty surface of the chrome, GENTLY, you do not need to apply force here.

Wash with soap and water and VIOLA! Beautiful.

I used this on the mufflers on my GS850 today, and was amazed at the ease of how it works. Just dont ask me about the chemistry. Apparently you can also use a little baking soda in the vinegar if things are extra ugly.

[dr_fosg8]

Yep, it works pretty well. I have even just used water on the foil and it will work too. I imagine the vinegar does a better job to help chemically remove the rust also.

[Nessism]

Aluminum foil will scratch the chrome if you rub hard. And vinegar is acid.

I recommend oxalic acid for cleaning chrome. There are some threads around that detail the process.

[JEEPRUSTY]

cleaning chrome with oxalic acid is simply idotic.
To do so is to strip the chrome.

It is best to use an abrasive polish rather than resort to soemthing that etches stainless steel and disolves corneas and finger nails on contact.

Inexplicable the suggection of such a harsh and incredibly poisonous substance.

[Nessism]

cleaning chrome with oxalic acid is simply idotic.
To do so is to strip the chrome.

It is best to use an abrasive polish rather than resort to soemthing that etches stainless steel and disolves corneas and finger nails on contact.

Inexplicable the suggection of such a harsh and incredibly poisonous substance.

Oxalic acid is great stuff. You obviously have never used it.

Oxalic acid is in deck cleaner. You can spray it on your rear deck and hose it off right on top of your plants and it won't hurt a thing.

The automotive industry uses oxalic acid on brand new cars after transporting them over the rail road - it eats off the metalic rail dust. If major OE car companies use the stuff you can be sure it won't hurt the finish.

[Adler]

cleaning chrome with oxalic acid is simply idotic.
To do so is to strip the chrome.

It is best to use an abrasive polish rather than resort to soemthing that etches stainless steel and disolves corneas and finger nails on contact.

Inexplicable the suggection of such a harsh and incredibly poisonous substance.

Oxalic acid is great stuff. You obviously have never used it.

Oxalic acid is in deck cleaner. You can spray it on your rear deck and hose it off right on top of your plants and it won't hurt a thing.

The automotive industry uses oxalic acid on brand new cars after transporting them over the rail road - it eats off the metalic rail dust. If major OE car companies use the stuff you can be sure it won't hurt the finish.

I have heard only good things about oxalic acid and rust... I will be trying it pretty soon, but if you have something to back your comments, I'd love to heard it.

[Nessism]

I have heard only good things about oxalic acid and rust... I will be trying it pretty soon, but if you have something to back your comments, I'd love to heard it.

I restored an old Schwin bicycle using oxalic acid to remove the rust. Dunked the parts into the sauce paint and all and the paint wasn't harmed and the rust was removed. Great stuff.

[chuck hahn]

ED isnt that the same stuff as wood bleach? I have heard of the bleach before. Whats the mix ratio of the powder per gallon of water..I got a lot of stuff i would also like to soak. And have you ever used it on aluminum?? I know some acids will turn aluminum a dark grey.

[Nessism]

ED isnt that the same stuff as wood bleach? I have heard of the bleach before. Whats the mix ratio of the powder per gallon of water..I got a lot of stuff i would also like to soak. And have you ever used it on aluminum?? I know some acids will turn aluminum a dark grey.

Hi Chuck,

I don't rightly remember the concentration to use, but found this thread with some info. I used more concentration than this recommendation but I'd go easy at first.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=172565

[ddaniels]

I've always had good success with Turtle Wax chrome polish and some 0000 steel wool.

[JEEPRUSTY]

well I get mine at the local pharmacy. It is prolly a pure crystalized form.
I am undeterred it si still poisonous. It is absorbed through skin and generally buggers you up.

[GS ace]

I've always used Mothers and 000 steel wool on chrome rims and fenders with great results. You don't have to bear down on it and is easy to wipe off.

[GS ace]

JC, it leaves very very little, since the cleaner's wetness pretty much keeps the shake bound to the wad of wool. What is left behind is easily wiped off, because it's stuck and not going everywhere as if were used dry.

I made an oops and said that I use 000. It's 0000.

[waterman]

Aluminum foil will scratch the chrome if you rub hard. And vinegar is acid.

I recommend oxalic acid for cleaning chrome. There are some threads around that detail the process.

Vinegar is a 5% solution of Acetic acid. Acetic acid is considered a weak acid. Oxalic acid is 3000 times stronger than Acetic acid and considered a strong acid. I have personally drank acetic acid and have used it to clean with. I would not want to work with oxalic acid without gloves and definitely outside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetic_acid

I am sure both of these will remove corrosion, obviously the oxalic will react quicker but remember that it is not any safer. Please, be safe when using cleaners. Personally, I will stick with evapo rust and other commercial products or there primary constituents if available.

[Adler]

Here are some of my results from using wd-40 and tin foil...




Note that those are different sides of the exhaust but they were corroded more or less the same.

There were a few spots that wouldn't come off, so I plan on attacking them with some barkeepers friend (OA) this summer.