Vinegar damaged my chrome taps

[JMH73]

I used vinegar to clean my bathroom taps as some water marks would not budge. I soaked a cotton wool pad in vinegar and laid it on the offending area for several minutes. I thought vinegar was a safe cleaning product to use. One tap in now brown and has a rough texture. Has anyone any tips how this can be remedied? Many thanks in advance.

Was it malt vinegar?

The brown stain might be where it has soaked into limescale.

Viakal bathroom spray is probably better.

You're meant to use white vinegar not malt.

Sadly you’ll have to replace the tap. You’ve removed the chrome coating

Vinegar is an acid. It is safe in terms of not being poisonous and harmful to the environment but it will still act like acid when in contact with metal.

I did use white wine vinegar

I was fearful the tap needs replacing. Thought I was doing the best option. Very frustrating.

Are you sure? Chrome is extremely durable. Has it actually flaked off like glitter? The tap would be brass (gold coloured) underneath.

Try some chrome polish like Autosol.

Viakal ruined my brand new chrome taps.

Can you include a picture?

White wine vinegar is not the same as white vinegar, so that could be the problem.

I also use the white vinegar spray occasionally and haven't yet had any issues on taps but I will now be avoiding this! I do use it on my mirrors and noticed loads of little scratches and they're relatively new still, don't know if that's from the vinegar but I'm steering clear from now on. I use the cif stainless steel on my kitchen tap most of the time and it's brings it up lovely and shiny.

it's possible to remove chrome platic with strong acid (some descalers will do it) but I don't think I've seen vinegar do it.

Acid cleaners will damage stainless steel, though.

@endofthelinefinally how?

I've used vinegar on my taps in various houses and it's never caused damage to chrome. I always used distilled vinegar though (not white wine). Shouldn't imagine it would be any different though.

I don't want to sound snotty...was it a cheap tap..?? Only this happened to my old bathroom one that cost £20 !!

Mine were definitely not cheap. I picked up viakal in error, MIL had left it in her flat and DH brought it home with a lot of other cleaning materials.
It took the shiny finish off and left white marks.

Oh....I fitted new kitchen and bathroom taps last week so will just use a bathroom spray...Pink stuff from B and M works well.

That's bizarre, Viakal is sold for removing watermarks from chrome. Something has gone wrong if functional items like taps can't be cleaned from everyday watermarks or limescale.

@endofthelinefinally

That's really bizarre op. I use viakal in my bathroom n kitchen. In my old house n now new house. Quite the opposite. Mine get shiny and remove watermarks. Are You sure your mil didn't put something else in the viakal bottle.

[quote ruby4ever]@endofthelinefinally

That's really bizarre op. I use viakal in my bathroom n kitchen. In my old house n now new house. Quite the opposite. Mine get shiny and remove watermarks. Are You sure your mil didn't put something else in the viakal bottle. [/quote]
That is perfectly possible now you mention it.

are you are sure they were chrome and not stainless? Stainless can be marked by acids and some other chemicals.

I use the Viakal bathroom spray quite often. It is foamy and has a distinctive scent.

I have an idea there is also a Viakal descaling liquid, might be for kettles, I can't remember.

OP is there a chance there is still some limescale left but just discoloured by the vinegar?

I work for a tap supplier and we only recommend very diluted cider vinegar or lemon juice on crome plated brass taps as the chrome is only a thin layer, undiluted is fine for polished pure stainless taps though.

@PigletJohn

are you are sure they were chrome and not stainless? Stainless can be marked by acids and some other chemicals.

I use the Viakal bathroom spray quite often. It is foamy and has a distinctive scent.

I have an idea there is also a Viakal descaling liquid, might be for kettles, I can't remember.

I am honestly not sure now. The bathroom was fitted as part of an extension 4 years ago. I chose the fittings from a catalogue the plumber showed me and I am now doubting myself. I thought they were chrome at the time. I don't have the catalogue and I have had a really rough time with other stuff since then, so I can't remember much. In the grand scheme of things, it is only taps, but hopefully, others will be very careful to check before using anything. I do appreciate your advice though. I chucked out the viakal spray.

Sorry for hijacking your thread OP.