Think I’ve ruined our new black taps...

[bettyskitchen]

Cleaning the bathroom today and these white marks aren’t coming off the taps.
Stupidly went straight in with the bathroom cleaner to try and get rid but after a couple of attempts they’re still there. Quick google tells me I should have only used soap and water!! Any tips on cleaning matt black taps / getting rid of these marks?! Praying OH doesn’t notice, bathroom is only 2 months old....

Get some matt black plastic paint (or whatever they are made of) and touch them up? It looks like you’ve taken some of the coating off.

Are you sure it's the coating that's come off and not just limescale? Depending on what they are made of, a squirt of limescale remover, vinegar or barkeepers friend will do the trick

Looks like the coating coming off, not dirty

Looks like the coating has come off to me too and using anything risks making it worse. I’d just touch them up with black matt plastic or metal paint.

Limescale?

No I think it's the coating coming off too, sorry

If the coating has started to come off after just 2 months, I would be wanting the taps to be replaced, absolutely ridiculous if you can’t clean a tap with a bathroom cleaner. The taps sound completely unserviceable to me.

Yes, I'd go back to the manufacturer if they are only two months old.

I’d send them back, take a photo and email the supplier. Don’t mention you’ve used anything other than what they said though!!!

I would too.The rubber on the top of them doesn't look good after just 2 months either. :/

Hang on a sec - I have exactly the same kind of marks on the black plastic lid of my glass kettle. I tried soap and water to remove them, but it didn't work. Haven't tried limescale remover yet, but I'll scoot off now and see if that works.

BRB...

Careful with limes ale remover. I ruined a new shower within a week by squirting it where I shouldn’t have. Still living with the stains.

Hmmm. I applied Viakal to a damp cloth and gently applied it to the white marks on my kettle lid. Left it for 5 mins and wiped off. I think it's a bit better, but I don't know whether it's worth you risking it on your new taps. I did a bit of footering around on t'interweb and you could try vinegar or lemon juice:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/aug/23/how-to-remove-limescale

why did you need to 'clean' them....how would they be dirty?

you just buff with a soft cloth

Bad quality taps

The marks were there before you used the stronger cleaning product?

Bit pointless of taps to be that delicate the coating wears off so quickly.

I doubt you could just paint the edges without it being very obvious you had done so - and without it peeling back off once you've cleaned it a few times.

What a weird response @DenimDrift It’s hardly unusual that the OP would use bathroom cleaner in her bathroom.

Do you work for the tap company?

DH works in a plumbers merchant. Said his shop would happily take them back.

Swap them for chrome ones I recommend. There's a good reason 99% of taps are chrome plated.

@DenimDrift

why did you need to 'clean' them....how would they be dirty?

you just buff with a soft cloth

I always clean mine with the anti bac spray. Wouldn't be happy doing any less

@DenimDrift

why did you need to 'clean' them....how would they be dirty?

you just buff with a soft cloth

But bathroom taps get turned on with hands that have just wiped bums...surely they need a proper clean?

Have now tried vinegar on my kettle lid and there's a definite improvement, OP. I can't imagine it would do any damage to your taps, so worth a try if the marks are indeed limescale.

Try soaking a cloth in vinegar and wrapping it tightly around the tap. Leave for an hour or two and then give it a wipe.

@NotMeNoNo

Swap them for chrome ones I recommend. There's a good reason 99% of taps are chrome plated.

Yes and bloody sinks grrrrrrr. I learnt the hard way.

You could also send it off to a plating specialist to be re plated (the sort of place that does motorbike custom parts etc) they will do matt black.

But bathroom taps get turned on with hands that have just wiped bums...surely they need a proper clean?

I use toilet paper, not my hands.

The amount of germs transferring from a hand that has touched toilet paper that's touched your bum will be minimal.