Tap

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What this is, what tends to go wrong with it, and what to do about it.

The science behind this: Coating thickness

Part of Bath.

In detail

The metal of a tap is almost never what you are cleaning. What you touch is a plated, physical-vapour-deposited or powder-coated finish a few microns thick, and the manufacturer's care sheet is organised by finish because they genuinely disagree. All of them exclude abrasive cleaners and solvents. Beyond that: PVD finishes must not meet cleaners containing ammonia, bleach or acid, which rules out most limescale removers and a good share of bathroom sprays; brushed and matte finishes must not be left in contact with toothpaste, nail polish remover or caustic drain cleaner; and matte black and other powder coats are permitted mild dish soap or a fifty-fifty water and vinegar solution — so the finish that looks most delicate is the one that tolerates vinegar. Since almost nobody knows which finish they have, the safe default is the one the manufacturer also gives as the mechanism for the problem: water evaporating on metal forms deposits, so the tap is blotted dry with a dabbing action rather than rubbed. The white marks on a tap are usually the last drops of water, not dirt, and drying prevents what descaling then has to remove.

Related

• Tap is made from Plated and coated tap finishes
• Tap is made from Plated and coated tap finishes
• Tap is commonly affected by Limescale

Hacks and claims involving this

• Toothpaste as a metal polish Does not work