The Parkers guide to restoring chrome

While chrome-dominated designs have fallen out of favour in car design circles, chrome trim is still here and features on a lot more cars than you’d first think. Take a look at the first page of the Parkers New Car Reviews section and the vast majority of cars will feature at least a little chrome.

Related: The best classic car waxes for extra protection

Chrome trim looks absolutely stunning when it’s cleaned and polished, especially during the summer months. It’s also fairly robust and tough, but that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually rust or dull, and when it does it can make your car look flat and drab. Whether you’ve got a classic or a modern car in need of a visual overhaul, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow guide on bringing back any lost shine and keeping your chrome protected. You don’t even need a machine polisher.

Top tip – Make sure it is chrome and not painted plastic. Simply touching the panel with a bare hand should be enough to determine if it’s plastic or chrome. The abrasive steps in this restoration guide will damage plastic trim so it’s important to double-check.

Step one: Clean the area

There’s no point trying to restore chrome that’s covered in dead flys and bird poo, you’ll need to wash it before you can really go to town bringing back that lost shine. If you don’t want to wash your entire car, you can localise the cleaning by shampooing the areas you want to restore. Just don’t rinse it off yet, those lubricating suds will come in handy for the next step, removing surface rust.

Step two: Brush off any rust

Now the chrome trim is cleaned you can start tackling any surface rust that may have built up over time by scrubbing it away. While you can go for a wire brush, ultra-fine steel. Work with the lubricated surface to lift any surface oxidisation and the chrome will begin to come back to life. Once you’re satisfied it’s also time to rinse off the shampoo and dry the chrome with an old microfibre towel (don’t use a new one, it may collect steel fibres which will wreck paintwork).

Step three: Metal polish

This is the part that’ll restore lustre to the chrome. Apply the polish to a microfibre towel or applicator and apply to the chrome, making sure to cover every inch and gently agitate to get the best results.

If you’re wanting a better finish you can invest in a metal polishing attachment for a drill. These cone-shaped foam attachments aren’t necessary for the best results but can speed up the process and are pretty cool to use.

Step four: Protect

The final stage is to keep that freshly polished chrome as sparkly as possible for as long as possible. Car waxes are one choice but for the ultimate in chrome protection, a good paint sealant is what’s required. There are a handful of dedicated metal sealants on the market but a good paint sealant should be sufficient, just check the label before applying it to chrome trim.

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