Cleaning Brushed Nickel Faucets

Cleaning brushed nickel faucets is somewhat different than cleaning other metallic types of finishes. But if the proper care and maintenance brushed nickel bathroom faucets will keep looking like new for years to come.

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How To Clean Brushed Nickel Faucets

As with any brushed metal the first thing to remember is to follow the grain when you are cleaning it or you will be left with streaks on the finish. Now with nickel there are a few other things you must take note of before cleaning it. On modern brushed nickel bathroom faucets the grain is clearly visible however on authentic or vintage faucets it may be harder to see.

Nickel does not react well to abrasive cleaning agents and some of them could end up leaving that rather old looking blue run going through your tap. This does not resemble that blue steel tint that it already has this mark will stand out and look darker against the metal making it look old and worn out. So beware when using cleaning agents and try and use a gentler cleaning agent such as an un-perfumed soap. If you must resort to a stronger cleaning agent use disinfectant however make sure to dilute the solution using double the water required.

Using soap take a soft cloth and wipe around the taps and fixings following the grain of the metal. The grain is easily followed as this is classified as the brush lines on the brushed nickel faucet. When you have done this let it dry and then take some kitchen paper towel rolls and wipe away the dull sheen that the soap has left behind. Your faucets will instantly shine once dried and there will be no sign of finger prints or marks on your faucet at all.

Cleaning Brushed Nickel Faucets Using The Disinfectant Method

Using the disinfectant method, dilute the solution to ensure it is a weaker solution than normal and wash down thoroughly. Now take the cloth and wring it out, now begin wiping along the grain to soak up any excess water. Again disinfectant can leave a thin dull filament over your brushed nickel faucets and other brushed nickel bathroom fixtures so take some kitchen roll and wipe after the faucets have dried naturally.

Always use paper towels to wipe away the dull filament left behind from the soap or disinfectant. Never use them to dry the faucets, if you use paper towels to dry them instead of letting them dry naturally all you will do is spread the dull sheen and streak the finish.

The above cleaning methods work both with modern and vintage style brushed nickel faucets however what you need to take note of is that some of the vintage faucets are finished with a “living finish”. This means that these faucets are meant to tarnish over time to enhance their authenticity. If however you want to remove the tarnish you can do one of two things.

A slightly stronger detergent can be used very very sparingly to remove the tarnish however remember to rinse the faucet thoroughly after use and continue cleaning using the soap method.

You can purchase metal cleaners however be sure to check that the metal cleaner you buy is suitable for use with nickel as some can do more damage than good. Once you have used the metal cleaner rinse thoroughly and continue to clean using the soap method.

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