The Best Chrome Cleaners (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

Looking for the ultimate, all-around chrome cleaning solution? Mom has you covered with Mothers California Gold All-Chrome. All joking aside, this chrome care product cleans, polishes, and protects chrome of all kinds. Got chrome-plated bumpers? What about PVD chrome wheels? This chrome cleaner cares for them both. It even cleans, polishes, and protects chromed plastics. To apply, simply spray the chrome surface with the spray bottle dispenser, and then wipe down the surface in question. At this point, all dirt, grease, and bugs will disappear as well as light water spots. Then, buff it for a brilliant shine sure to catch every eye on the road. Once applied, Mothers California Gold All-Chrome provides all chromed surfaces with a protective barrier designed to preserve that newly found shine.

As impressive as this product is, it does lack at least one feature of note. All-Chrome will not remove rust from chrome surfaces. Still, many chrome-happy car owners are unlikely to need such a feature.

Many car owners lack time and money to properly care for their chrome, but Turtle Wax Chrome Polish & Rust Remover is sure to cut money out of that equation. This cleaning solution pulls triple duty as a cleaner, rust remover, and polish all in a single package. With a clean microfiber cloth, car owners can virtually replace the wheels on their ride with just a few dollars and a little bit of elbow grease. To clean and polish, simply apply the product to a clean cloth or applicator, and then rub it on and allow it to dry. Once it develops a haze, wipe it off of the chrome surface with a soft cloth before lightly buffing it for a beautiful shine. Turtle Wax Chrome Polish & Rust Remover is quick and easy to use.

While this chrome cleaner is incredibly inexpensive, this is partially due to the small size of the 12-ounce bottle. Still, most users will achieve a decent amount of cleaning and polishing from a single bottle, and when it comes time to buy another, the cost of both bottles is still very good.

Top-end chrome cleaners may cost a pretty penny, but products like Flitz Multi-Purpose Polish and Cleaner easily pay for themselves, thanks to its combination of performance and versatility. This multi-purpose cleaner also serves as a polish and rust remover among other things. Simply use a dry cloth to apply the product to those custom chrome wheels and buff with a dry towel or microfiber cloth. Not only does this product clean and polish chrome, but it also works well on metal, plastic, fiberglass, and other surfaces with several different finishes, such as anodizing and paint. It easily removes rust, corrosion, water stains, and even oxidation, making it a great option for restoring headlights. Flitz Multi-Purpose Polish and Cleaner is also eco-friendly, non-toxic, non-abrasive, and non-flammable.

Unfortunately, this wonder cleaner is not cheap, but while it is expensive, a single bottle won’t completely break the bank. Also, this product is not chrome specific, although many will find that they appreciate this fact, particularly when it comes to headlight restoration.

Meguiar’s Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner is one of the best deep cleaners for chrome wheels and accessories on today’s market. Chrome wheels serve as a focal point on a great-looking vehicle, and this spray-on cleaner removes brake dust, grime, and other road dirt from chrome wheels and bumpers with ease. After rinsing the wheel at hand, simply spray the acid-based solution onto the wheel. After a short 15-second wait, thoroughly rinse the wheel and wash away grit and grime. Of course, for particularly filthy wheels, a bit of agitation before the final rinse is the standard operating procedure. Meguiar’s Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner features Xtreme Cling technology, allowing it to cling to vertical surfaces better and longer for a more thorough clean.

Easily the biggest complaint about this cleaner is the strong smell, thanks to its strong acid content. Unfortunately, this also means that it cannot be used on other wheels, whether they be bare metal, painted, dipped, PVD-coated, or powder-coated. While this product does not remove rust, this will not deter car owners who already dote on their rides.

Time to create a mirror-like finish on all the chrome in sight? Chemical Guys Heavy Metal Polish Restorer and Protectant allows car owners to create the shine of a lifetime. This specially formulated polish and cleaner will do that and more, thanks to its broad metal-specific formula. After applying this cleaner and polish to a dry, clean rag, users can shine up to chrome, aluminum, steel, and other metal parts anywhere on their vehicle. The cleaner also removes light rust and oxidation, thanks to its slightly abrasive nature, and using advanced protective polymers, it creates a surface better prepared to resist rust stains, oxidation, tarnishing, and corrosion. Chemical Guys Heavy Metal Polish Restorer and Protectant is an amazing all-around metal cleaner and polish.

Sadly, this product is not the most inexpensive on the market, although rust-removing cleaners are often guilty of this pitfall. Additionally, this chrome cleaner is slightly abrasive, although unlike most abrasive cleaners, scratched chrome is not a real concern.

For some, their car’s chrome is like a diamond, and White Diamond Metal Polish with Long Lasting Sealant provides users with the ability to keep their chrome shining. This metal polish and cleaner is ideal for restoring chrome and a variety of other metal surfaces to their original luster by removing oxidation and discoloration. To use, simply apply it to the chrome surface with a dry cloth. Once finished, feel free to lightly buff the newly-polished surface. The product can be applied to chrome wheels, stainless steel roll bars, diamond plate tool boxes, or even aluminum airplane fuselages and wings. White Diamond Metal Polish with Long Lasting Sealant also works well for headlight restoration projects, although the manufacturer recommends finishing the job with its paint protectant.

Oftentimes, a multi-metal cleaner and polish combination can be a little pricey, and this product is no exception. While it is not a chrome-specific product, this product’s versatility does help smooth over the added cost.

For that chrome wheel-loving buddy at the office, consider letting him in on the secret of Griot’s Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner. This tough wheel cleaner is specially formulated to remove brake dust, dirt, and debris that sticks to wheels of all kinds. This pH-balanced product is engineered to achieve a viscous quality, allowing it to the law of gravity for a longer period than regular liquid cleaners. Simply spray the cleaner onto a wheel, then let the product sit for three to five minutes. The solution will turn reddish-purple, signaling when to begin gently agitating it. Thoroughly rinse the wheel to achieve that final shine. Griot’s Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner is non-abrasive and non-caustic, making it ideal for use on a wide variety of metals and finishes.

Unfortunately, this wheel cleaner is a bit on the expensive side. Still, it is much more affordable than some of its well-known alternatives.

Owners of European cars know the frustration of trying to keep chrome wheels clean. Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus is an industrial-grade solution that sends brake dust, dirt, and grim packing, recreating that new import shine. This non-abrasive German cleaner uses a viscous, pH-balanced formula to maximize cleaning time and effectiveness and virtually any wheel surface, including chrome, raw aluminum, stainless steel, magnesium, clear coated, PVD, plastic, and painted. Once sprayed onto the wheel, it loosens and emulsifies road grime and brake dust, changing from a clear liquid to a dark red or purple color in just a few minutes. With a thorough rinsing, those intricate chrome wheels will be shining like new. Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus is 30 percent stronger than the original Sonax Wheel Cleaner Full Effect.

As with German cars, chrome wheel cleaners from Deutschland can also be quite expensive, and this one features a rather strong odor as well. Also, car owners with anodized aluminum components, such as wheels and brake parts, should test this cleaner in an inconspicuous location to ensure it does not damage their finish.

Quick-Glo Chrome Cleaner & Rust Remover is an American-made chrome cleaner that works wonders on wheels, bumpers, and the environment. This environmentally friendly product serves as a chrome cleaner, rust remover, polish, and wax that can be used on chrome, stainless steel, glass, and other tough, hard surfaces. This cleaner is non-toxic, thanks to a water-based formula, and uses pumice particles and wax to create an all-around chrome care product. Quick-Glo is also easy to use. Simply rub the cleaner onto the chrome surface with a soft, clean rag or microfiber towel, then use another clean rag to remove the excess solution. Quick-Glo Chrome Cleaner & Rust Remover’s non-toxic nature allows it to be used with bare hands when needed, and its pumice particulates are perfect for eliminating stubborn rust patches.

Quick-Glo’s toughest challenger is heat and humidity. When stored in environments with high humidity or temperatures over 90 degrees, it has a tendency to liquify. It also does not do well with aluminum or softer materials, like its fine-grained little brother.

Drivers looking for good-looking, eco-friendly chrome wheels will be thrilled to discover CarGuys Premium Wheel Cleaner. This concentrated cleaning gel features a non-toxic cleaning formula designed to tackle dirt, grime, and brake dust on both wheels and tires. A little of this ph-balanced gel goes a long way and is easy to apply. Shake the bottle, then spray it evenly on a cool wheel and tire. After three to five minutes, lightly agitate it with a brush or sponge, then rinse it thoroughly with a high-pressure water source. Once rinsed, completely dry the surface as soon as possible. CarGuys Premium Wheel Cleaner is perfect for use on all wheels, wheel finishes, and tires, including whitewalls, although users should be careful not to confuse it with a true tire shine product.

While not a particularly expensive product, users should be careful not to start spraying on autopilot; a little bit goes a long way. This cleaner is also different from its competitors in that it requires users to rinse with a high-pressure water jet, such as a pressure washer, and to dry the finished product quickly and completely in order to avoid streaks and water spots. Of course, an extra step to preserve the planet will not hurt anyone.