How to Polish Chrome, Stainless Steel and Exhaust Tips

Bright metal details – exhaust tips, chrome grilles, handles, polished wheel lips and stainless steps – give a car a premium look. Heat, humidity and hard wash water make them oxidise, dull and pick up spots and surface rust.

First: Know Your Metal

• Real chrome on metal: cold and heavy; can be polished gently because the chrome layer is thin.
• Stainless steel, polished aluminium, copper and brass: polish very well.
• Chrome-look plastic: light and not cold, with a very thin layer – never use an abrasive polish on it; just shampoo and spray wax.
• Clear-coated or painted metal: treat it like paint.

The Right Product

SOLVAR Metal Polish is a professional cream that:

• Cleans, removes oxidation and tarnish, and polishes in one step.
• Uses fine alumina micro-abrasive that works evenly without scouring the metal.
• Leaves corrosion inhibitors that slow re-tarnishing for up to 4 weeks.
• Works on chrome, stainless, aluminium, brass and copper, by hand or by machine at low–medium speed.

Method

1. Clean the part of dust and grease. For sooty exhaust tips use Super Max Degreaser or Rim & Wheel Cleaner for iron deposits.
2. Make sure it's cool – exhaust tips stay hot for a while after driving.
3. Apply a small amount to a microfiber or cotton cloth and rub in small motions with medium pressure.
4. The cloth will turn black – that's normal; it's the oxidation coming off.
5. Wipe and buff with a clean, dry towel to a mirror shine.
6. Repeat on heavily oxidised areas.

Tips

• Mask paint and plastic next to the part – the polish is mildly abrasive.
• Don't use it on clear-coated wheel lips – polish those like paint.
• Afterwards, a spray of Hydro Shield Pro extends the shine and makes washing easier.

FAQ

Does it remove rust? It removes surface rust and oxidation, but peeling chrome or rust that has eaten into the metal needs re-plating or replacement.

Can I use it on motorcycles? Yes – on exhausts, chrome and polished aluminium, away from discs and brakes.

How long does the shine last? Corrosion inhibitors slow tarnishing for roughly up to 4 weeks depending on conditions.