Outside Chrome Mirrors a Mess? Here is the Answer

[rv rick]

Our Velvac chrome-plated outside mirrors had become covered with what looked like water spots or something similar. I tried everything I could think of to remove them, including wax, WD-40, several cleaners, etc., but nothing worked.

After looking at the mirrors for a while, I noticed that it almost looked like the surface had tarnished, so I tried a Blitz silver cleaning cloth my wife bought to clear her silver jewelry (available from Amazon, and many other locations for a few dollars). First, I wet the chrome cover with a wet paper towel and then rubbed (vigorously) with the cleaning cloth and WOW - the chrome cleaned up like new!

I was really surprised how well this worked -- if you have discoloration of chrome finishes, you might give it a try.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Interesting and a bit surprising, since the Velvac surface isn't chrome or silver. It's a plastic coating of some sort.

[docj]

This doesn't surprise me since I found that my Ramco "metalized plastic" chrome mirrors cleaned exceptionally well with metal cleaner even though they aren't really metal! We had been camping near the ocean and the salt spray had completely corroded them and a professional-grade metal cleaner bought at a truck stop removed all of it without requiring much rubbing.

[powerboatr]

have to give that a try
i use vinegar and water, and a little bon ami or bkf

[rv rick]

I have to admit that I was also surprised since I knew the mirror housing was plastic with a chrome finish -- so I tested the cleaning cloth on the bottom! Anyway, the results were fantastic and the mirrors look like new. There were no scratches or any sort of problem on the chrome covered plastic.

[sdennislee]

Thanks for the tip. I am going to try it.

Does the DW know you used her sliver cleaning cloth? I remember how much trouble I got in for using a dish rag in the garage.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I've always just used regular car/RV polish on mine Velvacs. Seems to work fine.