Tap
A micron-thick finish on a metal body. Which finish it is decides whether a limescale remover is routine or ruinous.
Precautions
- Check the manufacturer's instructions
- Test on an inconspicuous area first
- Rinse thoroughly afterwards
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
Hacks and claims involving this
- Toothpaste as a metal polish Does not work
Sources for this page
Sources
KALLISTA (Kohler Co.) · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That PVD finishes must not meet cleaners containing ammonia, bleach or acid, that toothpaste, nail polish remover and caustic drain cleaners must not remain on brushed and matte finishes, that matte black and powder coats may take mild dish soap or a fifty-fifty water and vinegar solution, and that water evaporating on metal forms deposits. (states this directly)
Verification: a person has read the passage relied on.
Read on — The sections on nickel silver and chrome; brushed nickel, gunmetal and matte black; PVD finishes; acrylic, cast mineral and cast stone; acrylic baths with airjets; and cast-iron baths. Supports the claim as stated.
Last reviewed by a person on .