Properly cleaning and polishing the metal parts of your vehicle can help improve its overall look and is a great way to finish it off after paying attention to the other areas.

Parts of your vehicle that could be polished may include the wheels (or certain areas of the wheels), exhaust tips, trim accents and badging, chrome bumpers, grilles, and underhood components such as the tailgate. valve, reservoir fill caps, piping, and manifolds.

Before polishing, metal parts should be thoroughly cleaned just like the rest of the vehicle. For dirtier areas, a diluted all-purpose cleaner and a stiff-bristled brush can be used; otherwise, a normal car shampoo product should suffice. Metal parts can also be plastered if necessary after cleaning to remove any bonded surface contaminants such as road tar and tree sap.

For non-chrome parts, a fine wire wool can be used in conjunction with a designated metal polish to remove any surface oxidation or blemishes. Wire wool should not be used on areas that are already highly polished, as it can cause hairline scratches or haze and dull the finish.

Any parts that have been rubbed with wire wool should be wiped down with an older used microfiber towel to remove metal fibers and product residue and then buffed again, this time working the product with a suitable sponge or microfiber. fiber applicator pad and buffing to a gloss with a clean microfiber towel.

Chrome or highly polished parts should be polished with a designated non-abrasive chrome or fine metal polish, worked in with a microfiber applicator pad or sponge and buffed with a clean, soft microfiber towel. The buffing and polishing process can be repeated multiple times to further refine the finish.

Once the metal parts have been thoroughly cleaned and polished, they must be sealed with a suitable product in the same way that you would wax the paint on a vehicle. This can help add a bit more shine to the finish, but the main reason to do it is to protect it. Once sealed, the metal will repel dirt, contaminants will not be able to adhere to the surface, and water will bead up and run off the surface, helping to prevent staining. Sealing after polishing also means metal parts can easily be restored to a high level of shine and finish with just a light cleaning if regularly maintained.