What Cleans Nickel Plating?
- Regular polishing with a soft cotton cloth keeps most nickel-plated items in good condition and prevents tarnish without the use of products or cleaning solutions. You may also be able to remove the first signs of tarnish with a good polishing cloth and some elbow grease.
- A number of specialized products clean metals, including nickel. Use cleaning products designed for nickel-plated faucets, tarnish removal, metal and guns. Read the ingredients before using an unfamiliar product on nickel, and stay away from anything containing ammonia or that may be corrosive.
- Home remedies may work for cleaning nickel, but you should use caution and do your research before trying home remedies on specific items. The more commonly suggested cleaners include distilled water, soap and water, a 4-1 mixture of distilled water and vinegar, and toothpaste. Jewelry cleaner and baking soda also work but can cause small scratches in the nickle plating.
- Sometimes the nickle plating starts to flake off a coated item. Do not attempt to clean damaged plating with any type of product or rub it with a cloth. Touching or rubbing plating that has started to flake, even to clean it, could cause it to come off more quickly. You should take your item to a professional for repair if you notice the nickel plating starting to flake or peel off.