The Cleaning InstituteSimilar to any type of material or surface, metal is prone to becoming dirty and scuffed over time. To maintain the quality of a metal item, you’ll need to polish it with cream used to improve its appearance and increase its longevity. We tested multiple polishing creams from within the industry to determine which ones provided the best polish.
During our testing, we considered the following:
Application – Our team reviewed how easy it was to apply and use each metal polishing cream.
Quality – We checked out the overall quality of each cream and if it had a good texture.
Efficiency – Our tests included reviewing the final results that the polishing cream delivered and if it worked well.
Blue Magic Metal Polish Cream is non-abrasive and can be used on all metal surfaces. It works well at removing tarnish and oxidation while delivering a lasting protective coating.
Most notable upside: We thought Blue Magic was a premium formulated cream that keeps metal surfaces bright and clean. We discovered it works well on brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminum, and gold. It can even be used with other types of polishers and buffers. Not only does it remove any tarnish present, but it also polishes and waxes to completely restore a metal surface’s appearance.
Biggest downsides: Blue Magic Metal Polish requires a bit of elbow grease to work well, but this is to be expected with most creams on the market.
With a concentrated formula, Maas International Metal Polish only requires a dab to restore large surface areas and proves to handle the toughest jobs with long-lasting protection.
Most notable upside: Our Cleanway team was impressed with the Maas because it removes tarnish quickly and easily without a lot of rubbing involved. It proves to rinse well and doesn’t harm or scratch metal surfaces. It restores the original shine of the metal without buffing away its finish. It gets more dirt and grime out of the matrix of the metal than most polishes we tested.
Biggest downsides: The scent of the polish can be overbearing at times, but it wears off after a few minutes and isn’t a dealbreaker.
All tarnish, film, and hairline scratches can be removed with Midas Polishing Cream, which proves to be safe to use on most metals. It’s also free from harsh chemicals and toxins.
Most notable upside: We found the Midas safe to use on antiques, jewelry, flatware, pewter, aluminum screen doors, and brass door fittings. A little goes a long way, which allows the polish to last longer. The cream turns black while you’re buffing the material out, which makes it easy to see where it needs to be applied.
Biggest downsides: Just be careful. If too much of the polish is used, it can be difficult to rub out and won’t create a beautiful shine on the metal.
Human beings are a lot like magpies: we love shiny surfaces, especially shiny metal surfaces. There’s just something so satisfying about being able to polish a metal surface until it’s bright, shiny, and you can see your reflection gazing back at you. Metal polish creams are one of the most common compounds used to polish metals.
There are a couple common misconceptions about polishing. The first is that polishing is the same as buffing. These two processes are actually quite different. Polishing refers to a process that uses a work wheel with an abrasive glued to it, while buffing refers to a process that uses a loose abrasive. Polishing is a more aggressive process compared to buffing, but it leads to a smoother and brighter finish. The second common misconception is that polishing leaves a smooth coat of the polishing compound on the top of the work surface which results in the mirror finish. If done right, however, the opposite effect is achieved; a micro-layer of the metal surface is actually removed by the polishing cream.
You can use metal polishing creams for several reasons. You can use them to enhance an item’s appearance, remove rust and oxidation, prevent contamination of metal surfaces, avoid corrosion, or create a metal surface. Metal polish creams are commonly used to prevent oxidation of copper alloy products such as bronze and brass.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about using metal polish creams:
Generally, most metal polish creams can be used for a wide range of different metals such as brass, copper, silver, steel, aluminum, chrome, and even gold. However, you should always check the product label to make sure that a certain metal polish cream is rated safe for use on a certain metal surface. There are some metal polish creams that might be too harsh for soft metal surfaces.
Sometimes you might notice that even if you’re using a metal polish cream, the rust is not getting polished off a certain work surface such as copper or brass. If this is the case, the metal is probably lacquered. You need to remove the old coat of lacquer before the metal polish cream can work on the metal surface.
Many plated materials are not recommended to be used with metal polish creams because the cream can remove the plate coating. If you are unsure if a product is plated, you can use a magnet on the surface; should the magnet hold, the surface is plated. However, if you are unsure about the surface, you should use other gentler methods such as buffing to achieve a mirror shine so that you don’t damage the plating.
There are pros and cons to using metal polish creams.
Pros:
o Using a metal polish cream achieves a natural-looking sheen and gloss
o You will add a strong and durable finish to the surface to prevent oxidation and rusting
o You will never need to strip a surface that’s been polished with metal creams
o If the metal polish cream contains oxalic acid, it can remove fine scratches
o You will only need to maintain the metal surface periodically in the future after using a high-quality metal polish cream
Cons:
o Using a metal polish cream is a messy process that requires cleanup afterwards
o You need equipment such as a floor machine, a work wheel, wet vacuum, etc. to properly and safely apply metal polish cream
Here are some of the top-rated metal polish creams on the market that you can choose from:
This brand is popular because it can be used for a wide range of different metals and the results last for a long time. It does not require a lot of equipment to apply, and the product also provides excellent protection against oxidation. However, users have reported that their new lavender-scented formula does not work as well as their old formula.
If you want to protect your treasured metal antiques, this brand is one of the most popular types of metal polish cream for that job. It can work on jewelry pieces made of gold or silver, as well as on metal fixtures around the home such as aluminum faucets. However, you need to wear protective gloves to use this product because it can get a little messy.
Simichrome will help you polish your items to make them look like new again! It’s especially effective in removing rust and grime, producing gorgeous mirror-finish surfaces. It can be used on a wide variety of surfaces, from your car, metal instruments, or even your jewelry. The tube container allows you to easily apply the compound. However, its formula will not remove scratches from the metal surface.
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