Candle holder Thomson

How to care for metallic finishes

Metal finishes are popular in the design world as they add glamour and style to living spaces. By carefully cleaning and maintaining metal surfaces, you'll be able to enjoy your furniture for many years to come.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Learn how to clean and maintain items with a nickel, gold-colored, zinc, bronze (gunmetal), or brass finish, as well as objects that are silver-plated or made from polished stainless steel.

Silver-plated objects

Wipe the silver-plated object with a feather duster or a soft cloth to remove any dirt or oil. Dip a clean cloth into silver polish and apply to the surface until a thin film forms. Gently rub the polish into the silver-plated surface with a special polishing cloth made for silver. If you rub too hard, you may remove the thin layer of polish. Remove any excess silver polish with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid.

Polished Stainless Steel

Wipe the steel down with a soft, dry cloth. We recommend using a foam cleaner to remove fingerprints and other grease or dirt.

Objects With A Metal Finish

Periodically dust polished stainless steel and metal finishes with a feather duster, a synthetic electrostatic duster, or a soft clean cloth or microfiber towel. Remove stubborn stains with clean water or a mild household cleaner such as Pledge Multisurface Everyday Cleaner. Never use hot water or caustic chemicals containing ammonium, chlorine, solvents, or adhesive removers. Avoid paper towels, squeegees, steel wool, scouring pads, razor blades, scrapers, and the like.
Using a soft clean cloth, apply a small amount of the diluted cleaner directly to the cloth then gently wipe the surface. Remove any cleaner residue with a clean damp cloth, then wipe dry. If the finish is not altered and has not been transferred to the cloth, then you can continue cleaning the rest of the product. Complete the process by removing any cleaner residue with a clean cloth dampened with tepid water, then dry with a clean cloth. Do not let air dry.
Regularly polish metal-finished parts with products made especially for the care of polished metals, or with vinegar. For items with heavy staining, polish with undiluted vinegar. Spray a thin layer of vinegar on the item or rub the item with a soft cloth moistened with vinegar. For light polishing, dilute the vinegar with water (1/2 cup of vinegar for every quart of lukewarm water).