How to keep bright grilles bright?

[Grinning]

Help: anybody got a top tip for keeping bright finish grilles free of persistent waterspots? Cheers

[toohuge]

Try drying them/polishing them with a glasses cleaner (the ones from an optician) this usually works as they are very soft and should not scratch the finish.

[MogulBoy]

Water spots can be removed with Viakal or any similar household bathroom cleaner that has an anti-lime scale additive. If you are worried that this type of product could be too strong, try a diluted solution first.

[mrobin33]

What about Solvol Autosol - old fashioned chrome polish really works.

[Grinning]

Thanks for the suggestions - think I'll dilute any applications down and apply them to underside first in an abundance of caution!

[Soul Reaver]

Hiya

Because I am sick to death of mine milking up each time it gets water on it and then spending an hour cleaning the dammned thing I did this.

1. Took it off the car
2. Cleaned it and polished it with Solvol AutoSol to a high sheen
3. Washed it and dried it thoroughly with a hair dryer
4. Cleaned it with paint thinners
5. laquered it with paint laquer from halfords

Et Voila nice and shiney and no more milking


Mark.

[Grinning]

Mark - it initially sounds like a totally OTT solution but after washing the car again this weekend, I can see exactly the level of exasperation one reaches. It's the most rewarding car to clean and then ... when you've done all the elbow grease you look at the milky ponds that are so obviously at the front and it takes away from the otherwise pristine and easily achieved finish.

I'm gonna take the grille off next opportunity and go for the lacquer option.

Any bits left over when you reassembled the grille or was it quite a painless removal/re-assembly?

[Soul Reaver]

Hiya

You can go three routes here.

1. Take it to a paint shop and get a pro job done for a few quid (easiest by far)
2. Dissasemble the whole thing and do it yourself. (this can be done because each platic arm is clipped in place with the smallest amount of glue so you can pop each one out just remember up from down as you lay the arms out etc.)
3. Spray the whole thing platic arms and all as I did.


Mark.

PS

I might get mine re-done at some point at a paint shop now I know how to dissasemble it as mine is a little duller because it was cold and they will get a better finish. Been quoted 50 quid and ive spent three times that much on trying to find a stainless cleaner that gets rid of milking