Cleaning Chrome.

[Slooow_Jo]

I have a set of chrome shelves in my bathroom, the kind on wheels with little holes rather than a solid shelf. There's spots of rust on it now, the solid frame part I've rubbed with kitchen foil & it's worked brilliantly, I've tried the same with the actual shelves but the rust still shows in the holes, I could wrap kitchen foil around a matchstick & do each hole that way, but I do have a life that would keep distracting me so it would take forever! So is there another way? Is there something I could soak it in? I'm happy to dismantle if it means an easier job than the matchstick idea lol

[1ozzy]

It's most likely the metal under the chrome plating that is corroding. Even if you do find a product that makes it look better I think it wont be long before the rust appears again.
I'd be inclined to put some sort of porous mat on the shelves so I couldn't see the rust, then later in life replace the unit.
Good luck.

[Slooow_Jo]

Apparently it's part of the 'life' cycle of chrome to become rusty, something to do with 'something the eye can't see' & lots of scientific stuff that's over my head! But it can be cleaned & treated! Big things are chrome too a bike for example, & without extra care will get rust, I want a way to clean it not patch up then replace.

[treetops68]

A good chrome cleaner from a motor spares shop will do the trick for you.

[bhg481]

Going back 50+ years to school chemistry, we were taught that it was electrolytic action between the chromium and the steel which caused the steel to rust. You can clean it off but it will come back. In the days of cars having chromium-plated bumpers the likes of Rolls Royce copper plated the steel and then chromium plated the copper; separating the steel and chromium with copper caused the copper to degrade instead of the chromium (I think).
The bottom line is that once the rust has started to appear you can't stop it, just keep cleaning it off. Chrome cleaner, you can still probably buy it from car-accessory shops, will clean the chrome nicely but not cure the problem.

[EDDIE51]

Chrome ( Chromium) does not rust or tarnish which is why it is used to give a bright finish to steel items. But it is only a very thin plating of chrome over the base metal. Eventually the steel underneath will start to rust and the rust will show through the chrome. As said you can use metal polish for cars to make it look better but the rust will come back again after a few months or so. The only permanent solution is to dump it and buy another one. Once it has started to show rust it will only get worse especially in a damp place like a bathroom.

[soapnumpty]

Could you try cleaning it with some cream cleaner and an old toothbrush? That should get in the holes. I use Shiny Sinks which is good at cleaning all sorts of chrome.