Best way to clean rust from chrome?

I have a little rust appearing on my bumpers and was wondering the best way to clean it off without scratching the bumper all up. Also, what do you use to protect it once it is cleaned? I was thinking of using phosphoric acid but wasn't sure it would etc the chrome. Any idea?

I tried to do a search for this sort of thing but didn't really get much on it.


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I have used different things depending on how bad they were. Sometimes just regular old chrome polish and a rag will remove it. Sometimes It needs a very fine steel wool and then polish. If its really bad, I have used naval jelly, but do not get it on paint at all.


I have seen people use aluminum foil even and just rub the chrome.

Any other ideas? I want to hear as well.

The finest grade steel wool you can get. I use #0000 steel wool on chrome, stainless and glass. #0000 is the finest grade I can get locally. #000000 is better if you can find it. I also use it on aluminum wheels that are trashed to get rid of water spots, followed by polishing.

I am in the process of restoring my dad's old 73 Honda cl125. It was used as a dirt bike for a while when me and my brother brought it out of its rest in storage (an old barn)as kids. What I have been doing is using fine steal wool then polishing with green compound followed by just regular mothers. For a polisher I got a cheap buffing wheel and put it on a 1/4" shank for my die grinder. Maybe not the best way but thats what I have and looks really good for 33 year old chrome.

*****BUT MAKE SURE AND DON'T GET GREADY, I ACCIDENTLY POLISHED THROUGH THE CHROME IN ONE AREA! IT IS SO HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT IMPORFECTIONS....... BUT IT IS 33 YEAR OLD CHROME*****

I learned this long ago with my old Crager SS wheels. Dogs are supposed to be our friend,Right?

Take a piece of aluminum foil,crumple it up and clean away. It does not scratch and does a great job of cleaning the rust.
Follow it with a chrome polish.

I've used WD-40 before and fast orange, gojo etc. works on crusty stuff

Go from this



to this, with turtle wax chrome polish/rust remover, it is in a brake fluid type container.

The best thing about Flitz products are that they leave a protective coating .

Like a cleaner wax.

I was introduced to flitz products for cleaning brass like never dull but wont smudge as easy.

check them out VERY good products IMO.

http://www.flitz.com/products.html

http://www.flitz.com/crust_remover.html


Rob

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coke and foil will clean rust off of chrome classic coke pour it over the chrome and use some foil and rubs out the rust

Aluminum foil, sure. My grandfather used wadded up foil to clean the bumpers of his 56 Chevy.
Add Coke and you just get sticky bumpers. Once again, Coke has no perceivable effect on rust. They tried it on the TV show "Mythbusters" and it's also nicely written up at http://truthminers.com/hoaxarticles/coke.htm along with other places.

I thought it was a joke when I first heard of using aluminum foil and I still don't understand how it works but it does.