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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Would you dish-wash your chrome bits?

The title says it all.

Are the salts/cleaners in dish washer tabs too aggressive for chrome?

Has anyone tried it?

Any thoughts?

P.S. I have not yet asked the wife!

Regards Tony
Tony G

I suppose there's one way to find out...try a test piece.

Works wonders for light lenses, apparently!
Dave O'Neill2

Id think it depends on the condition of the chrome... If its in good shape, and not peeling then id try a test piece as dave suggested and go from there...if its bad shape... I wouldnt risk it
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Tony,
don't do it - the cleaners and salt are too aggressive for old chrome - wash in bowl using degreaser and car shampoo (lots of salt in household washing up liquid).
Cylinder heads come out nice but make sure SWMBO is away and give the dishwasher a high temp wash afterwards (been there done that got shouted at).
d brenchley

Hi thanks for advice,

I have four two year old 13" chrome wire wheels which are covered (on the inside) with what looks like a combination of underseal/grease/hard black gunge.
Good from the front - horrible from the back.
I am going to put the original painted wires back on and sell the chrome ones (too flashy for me!)
Thought a quick dishwash would make them more saleable.

Maybe a powerwash first.

Regards Tony
Tony G

Perhaps you could try dishwashing them on a hot setting, but without the salt-laden tablet? Or there are "eco-friendly" citrus based dishwasher tablets that are low phosphate, low salt.
Guy W

Best way to clean them is to use wheel cleaner (the horrible stuff - never leave it on too long or it will eat the chrome!) and a combination of brushes. You need the Autoglym Hi-tech Wheel Brush and a standard cone shaped wire wheel brush. Starting with the back, use plenty of wheel cleaner and leave for a minute to soak in. All that grunge will come off by making firm stabbing actions with the Autoglym brush. Hard as you like, those brushes take anything without ever deforming! The wire wheel brush will get the stuff off that the stabbing won't reach by systematically running between the spokes in both directions around the rim and hub. .After getting the back clean the front will seem like a breeze! Just rinse off with the hose (power wash if you like) and leave to dry. It takes me 15-30 minutes per wheel if they are really bad, but you will be amazed how well they come up. After they are completely dry a quick wipe on the front with a microfibre cloth will remove any water marks and they will bling!

I put a cylinder head in the dishwasher, which I decided afterwards was probably a bit pointless. It did get all the grease and grime off, but so would petrol! And yes the dishwasher did need washing afterwards.... Sounds like a good solution for plastic lenses and bits of trim though. I usually do those in the kitchen sink.

I wonder if my wife is ever going to come back.....?
N McGurk

Most dishwashers have a salt compartment to soften the water, that would have to be empty first. The dishwaher tablets are quite agressive - look at a glass that has been through a dishwasher all its life.
d brenchley

I used to use a toothbrush to clean small items, but the Mrs found out and wanted it back.
Graeme W

I'm not brave enough to put chrome or any other parts in the dishwasher. I know that if the Lady Ottewell caught me I would be in deep dodos for weeks, so I won't even go there.
P Ottewell

I bought an old dishwasher off Ebay just for the workshop. $10 for one with a dead control board, $15 for switches to power the wash motor, heater, drain motor, and fill valve. It works a treat!
Growler

Hi all,

I chickened out of using the dishwasher and glad I did.

Took the chrome wires to our local Polish/Lithuanian car wash and asked them to power wash them off.

The dry black mess on the back of the wheels, turned into a slimey, sticky, gooey black mess. It took four of the lads 30 minutes each to clean the wheels up.

They had to use some kind of industrial thinners in the end, their cleaning bay floor was a right mess afterwards.

The result, after a bit of polishing was superb and worth every penny of the total £15 cleaning cost.

I can't even imagine the state the dishwasher would have been in afterwards!

Regards Tony


Tony G

Result!
Dave O'Neill2

Never use a dishwasher to clean chrome-plated parts. Dishwashing detergents contain acids that will etch chrome, ruining their finish and making them susceptible to rusting.
Stephen Strange

BTW salt takes no part in washing in a dish washer. It is used purely for cleaning the water softener, if it gets into the wash water there is something very wrong!
Graham.
Graham P

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2012 and 08/12/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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