HELP! Think I've ruined my chrome shower - photo

[CraneBoysMysteries]

After some help please! I have a lovely polished chrome shower unit which I always try to keep free of limescale in a hard water area

I don't know WHAT I was thinking but today I used a more abrasive cloth and some viakal. I've clearly scratched it!

I don't know what to do now! All of the chrome looks dull and is clearly scratched when you get close to it.

Is there any hope for it? Can I polish and buff it back into shape? If so, please talk a dummy through it as I obviously can't be trusted!!

Try toothpaste. Lots all over and leave for 30 mins. Then wipe off. See how that goes. Baby oil is also good, same method.
If neither of these work, then you could try commercial chrome scratch remover. But I've never used that, so can't comment on how good it is.

@Ofbollocks Thank you so much for the reply. I'm going to administer toothpaste now and I also have baby oil so will try both and then move to scratch remover if needed

I'm absolutely kicking myself for absentmindedly doing this. Was too busy watching trash tv on the ipad rather than paying attention to what I was doing!

Haha. Did something similar myself. That's how I know. Good luck.

I’m not going to blow smoke OP

No you can’t do a throng about that

but I can guarantee you will get used to it after a few weeks of feeling very cross whenever it catches your eyes!

The issues is they aren’t “marks” so nothing to remove.

they have permeated the surface

Try using a metal polish like Peek

This is my worry.... Can't believe I did it. Nice and clean and all it does now is show up how scratched it all is.

Anyway - I've deployed the toothpaste on the off chance!

Did you ever get it back to pre scratched condition? I've now covered it in toothpaste!

If toothpaste manages to remove actual scratches… then please tell me the brand as I want to ensure it never gets even close to mine or my children’s teeth!!

Well, you'll know if it works in a bit.

Metal polish called PEEK

Will also look up PEEK following several recommendations. Toothpaste still on. Used about half a tube of Oral B !

T Cut - stuff might work....it removes scratches from cars..?

The whole point of toothpaste is that it is very slightly abrasive. That's how it cleans your teeth. But very fine abrasives can polish out scratches on metal surfaces, so that is presumably how come the OP has been advised to use it.

The Brasso wadding stuff might work too.

Nope, that is fucked, sorry. I know this because I had to replace mine when a cleaner did this.

My tip- buy a new set of taps and invest in a water-softener. You'll never have to care about limescale ever again. Game changer.

It won’t work.

toothpaste is not designed to lift enamel so it’s sure as heck not going to magic away scratches

If the scratches have actually permeated the metal, then no - they can’t be “polished out”

Toothpaste is off. In fairness it has smoothed the worst of the scratches out and they don't look quite as obvious.

But clearly still there so I will have a look at the other recommended product and see if that works a bit more magic!

Well, that does look better. Bung some baby oil on next. Worth a try!

Bar keepers friend will fix that in a second.

I wonder why someone suggested using toothpaste then.

Try bar keepers friend, I don’t know if it will work but it’s good stuff so worth a try

You could try Autosol, it'll get rid of fine scratches.

Warning: A little goes a long way.

www.amazon.co.uk/Autosol-Metal-Polish-75-ml/dp/B003XJ1ODM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=79OK3MUERRW2&keywords=autosol%2Bmetal%2Bpolish&qid=1677244701&sprefix=autosol%2Bmetal%2Bpolish%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-5&th=1

Came across your post because I did something similar. As a couple of previous posters have mentioned, have you tried Bar Keeper's Friend? There's a powder version but I just used the cream cleanser. Squirt a bit on clean, damp cloth or a cotton pad and rub gently in a circular motion. Shined the chrome right back up. Hope that helps!