Do you ever see a wonderfully shiny chrome faucet and wonder “who has the time to constantly shine that up?” If you have -or even if you haven’t but still appreciate a good shine- you need to try this handy little trick that will keep your faucets shiny for longer. It’s so easy you won’t believe it!
I’ve been watching way too much Downton Abbey on Netflix lately. I’ll admit that when I was trying this trick out, I felt just a little bit like some kind of clever old-fashioned butler who had all the best tricks up my sleeve for keeping things in tip-top shape. I also felt a little ridiculous, because, well you’ll see.
So here’s how things started out:
It’s a little hard to tell, but trust me when I say that my bathroom is less than spotless these days.
On a side note, here’s how the faucet is actually supposed to look:
Chris recently thought there may have been a leak in the sink somewhere (which, it turned out, there wasn’t), so he took everything apart and when he put the faucet back on, the handles were backwards. I told him just to leave it, as we definitely have bigger fish to fry. Stay tuned for that!
So anyway, if the handles look weird and backwards to you, it’s because they are!
Back to the trick.
Keep Your Faucets Shiny
I started out by cleaning the faucet up nicely, and by nicely I mean I cleaned it at all. Because that’s just not something that happens too regularly around here lately. I mostly do the toilets and leave the other fixtures to fend for themselves. But I cleaned them for you and for the good of all of blogkind and now I’m most definitely glad that I did.
When I was done I took a sheet of wax paper and rubbed it over all the chrome. This is where I felt ridiculous, because paper just doesn’t seem like something that you should be polishing with. Rubbing wax paper on things is just the kind of weird thing that gets me made fun of around here. I almost… almost felt embarrassed about trying this one out, even though no one was there to see me. You know what though? It really did make the clean-ness stick! A few days later I checked back and despite all the handwashing and toothbrushing that goes on here, it was still in tip top shape!
If you’ve got some grout that needs cleaning, now that you’re in full-on bathroom cleaning mode, this trick for how to clean grout is a really great one!
So there you go! This is one of those old wives tales that really works! And now I can spend even less time cleaning the bathroom… if that’s possible! 🙂
P.S. This method is best on chrome finishes as other finishes may have coatings on them that can be worn off if you rub them with the wax paper. Luckily, chrome fixtures are probably the only ones you really need to worry about water spots on anyway. I just wanted you to know, just in case!
*UPDATE* I made a little video showing you how this method works!
If you like clever cleaning tips, tricks, and hacks like this, check out my book The Cleaning Ninja! It’s full of all-new cleaning and organizing tips from front to back and it’s available now wherever you like to buy your books!
- How to Properly Clean Upholstered Furniture
- How to Install Your Own Heated Tile Flooring
- The Best Way to Clean Window Blinds
- How to Get Rid of Paint Spills and Messes Even After They’ve Dried
- Believe it or Not, There’s a Right Way to Mop!
- The Super Simple Household Binder System That Actually Works
- The 10 Minute DIY Pillow Cover
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- DIY Mercury Glass Mason Jar Air Freshener
- The Creek Line House Homekeeping Tips and Tricks Archive
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Great advice, thanks! I’ll definitely try it! 🙂
Do you think that wax paper could remove water spots from a car windshield?
Wahoo! I’m all about less {no} cleaning so I will definitely put this trick to the test.
Thanks for going all Downton Abbey for us all! I love that show. 😉
~ Ashley
Wax paper also works great on shower curtain rods (metal ones)and on wire hangers-it takes off dirt and makes everything slide much easier.
First of all,LOVE the Downton Abbey reference! Just the mention of that how makes me smile. Second, great tip! I make stick a roll of wax paper in my cleaning caddy!
This sounds like a great tip! I’m going to try it right now. Funny thing, I found your tip when I took a little break from cleaning bathrooms to take a peek at Pinterest! Definitely pinning this! 🙂
Great tip! I’m a HUGE Downton Abbey fan…
Blessings,
Cindy
I really enjoy reading your blog! You have an enjoyable writing style that is so entertaining. Keep up the good work!
Just to let you know that, through the glory of Facebook, this blog has reached Barbados. Thanks so much for this tip…has come in very handy. Have now bookmarked this website for future info.
WAHOO!! I am SO trying this!! Thanks for the great idea!! 🙂
Oooooo I’m going to have to try that trick. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this useful tips . It is a regular problem that we have to face . Water spots makes our faucet dirty .
We use wax paper on the racks in our store to make them shine and the hangers slide better
Cool! It completely makes sense, too, it’s just putting a tiny little layer of wax coating on them. This is absolutely going to happen in my guest bathroom shower!!
Hmmm …. this is much more practical than my idea. Which is turning the water off so no one can use the sink. I may need to rethink that strategy and finally get the plumber here to fix that sink. We messed up our faucet install too. Only thing, our mess up resulted in a few leaks … under the sink!
Pinning for sure!
🙂 Linda
Ha! It took us quite awhile to actually hook this faucet up too! It sure was shiny then! I think I like it better now that we can actually wash our hands in the bathroom though. 🙂
Great tip! Wish wax paper would be for sale here in the Netherlands as well.
I know how you feel! I often see tips using freezer paper, but that’s not sold here in Canada either!
Great idea! I wonder how this wold work on other things like a stainless steel frig…..? I’m almost sorry I got stainless steel appliances. They are always spotty and blotchy. I anyone has tip for this please let me know 🙂
Hi Jackie! This is what I do for my stainless steel! 🙂 https://www.creeklinehouse.com/2013/08/the-secret-to-polishing-stainless-steel.html
Thank you so much for the link Courtenay! I didn’t have any furniture polish on had and was anxious to try this so for now I tried the oil I had on hand, Peanut oil…. lol WOW! What a difference! I can not believe how well this worked. I was going around polishing every piece of stainless steel in the kitchen! 😀 I will be sure to pick up some of the polish next time I’m at the store. even though it is pretty much polished off, I’m worried about the oil getting sticky… after some time. Thanks Again! 😀
I clean off my stainless steel appliances then I rub them with turtle wax. Let it dry then wipe it off. Keeps them nice & shiny for 3 or 4 months. I also use turtle wax on the walls of my showers & bathtub. Just make sure it does get on the shower floors or bottom of tub as it will make it slippery. I love this as We are farmers & have lots of dirt in the shower & this makes it so much easier to keep clean
I had read about waxing showers years ago but they recommended marine wax for boats.
It was expensive but from what you say, turtle wax will work well.
I really like your sense of humor, thanks for the tip, I will definitely try it!
OH my goodness, this is superb!! I have quite a few hard water stains around my sink and in the bathtubs. I am absolutely going to be trying this. Thanks for sharing !
Funny to read about this since it brings me back to my retail years. In the store we always rubbed waxed paper onto the clothing racks so the hangers would glide along them smoothly. I would guess that using a little bit of car wax would work just as well. It’s great idea to wax your chrome to help the water to run off & keep things spot-free.
Smart! I never would have thought of that.
Side note-wax paper is used in clothing store on those long metal racks. It cleans them up and makes the hangers slide freely 🙂
I never knew! It totally makes sense though! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and saying hello, Chance!
Thanks great information
Does this work on brushed nickel? Thanks
Hi Nancy! You should be OK with this one on a brushed nickel faucet, so long as you’re gentle. Brushed nickel is kind of a finicky finish and you need to treat it delicately or it can become damaged easily. Make sure you don’t use harsh cleaners or anything acidic on them and avoid anything abrasive too. So make sure you rub gently!
Holy Moly! I am so trying this next time I clean my faucets!! Thanks for the tip! Pinnin and sharing on Facebook 🙂
I love this trick! I work in retail and we wax the sales racks at our store with wax paper. I feel silly doing it so I always make sure I do it before we open, but it really does work and makes the clothes glide nicely long the rack. It’s amazing what wax paper can do!
You shouldn’t feel silly, you should feel super clever! Retail people know all the good tricks!
Thank you, Ma’am! And how do I kill those extra hard chalk areas at the bottom of my faucets? Feedback highly appreciated. Cheers, Nico
Glad you liked this one, Nico! I’ll work on a post for you about your other question! 🙂
Thank you! Please give me a hint when it’s online. Cheers, Nico
Great tip! Definitely trying this! When I worked in a clothing store, we used wax paper on the fixtures so the hangers would slide easier. Never thought about using it thus way. Thanks!
Great idea. Used to use gel glass wax until they stopped making. Gel gloss not the same. Glass wax was a liquid in a can that you rubbed in let dry then buffed off. Used it on mirrors, shower tile, china cabinet glass, etc Will have to try the wax paper on my mirrors too
rain x glass cleaner also works for a long time
Funny little trick 🙂 Definitely I’m going to test this on my next cleaning ritual.
Oh! My! Goodness! I did this yesterday, this is THE BEST hint I’ve ever come across!! I also rubbed my bathroom mirror, guess what? NO fog this morning! Thank you!!!!
Yay!! Thanks so much for sharing the mirror tip, I can’t believe I never thought of that one! 🙂
Will have to try this! At first I thought you were going to suggest car wax ???? wh7ch I plan to try on walls onky of my fiberglass shower. Heard it works super!
Wow that sounds like it could really work on my problem just redid my bathroom and got a vessel sink and faucet and now does being used I’m getting water spots oh wow can’t handle that so I’m going to give this a try hope it works thanks for the tip I been looking for something bye for now. Tamara
I’m always looking for new ways to get the tuff stuff clean.
Me too! 🙂 Hope this one was helpful to you!
I love your site! Thank you for your insight.
Quick question regarding the wax paper and chrome. I tried this technique earlier and am not having much luck. I’m using I bleached wax paper from whole foods.
Do I need a special type of wax paper?
How long did you have to scrub a spot to remove it?
Thank you.
Hi Blair! Any wax paper should work just fine, however you apply the wax paper AFTER you remove the water spots through regular cleaning methods, like with a damp cloth with a bit of soap. Once your faucet looks perfectly shiny, you rub the wax paper over it to prevent any new water spots from showing up for longer. Hope that helps!
Here is another way to keep things shiny, keep a spray bottle of half water / white vinegar under the sink. Spray and wipe and all water spots are gone. Also, use vinegar and water to clean with. Simple!!
Awesome
WOW! I will have to tell my clients about this one! 🙂
I do the same with my glasses haha! Joke aside I will try this next Saturday! 🙂
I like that you said that you cleaned it. My sister always forgets to clean her bathtub faucets. Her tub is also kind of old. Maybe she would need a professional to inspect the fixtures for her.
Great and informative articles. I’ve added this page on my website already. Best of luck
~ Kitbibb
I definitely need this trick! My faucets are messily overused daily, and it shows. About your embarrassment while alone, I get embarrassed doing things when I’m alone also. I even excuse myself if I burp while alone! Haha, old habits die hard.
Great advice that I will definitely try. One of the most annoying things for me is water drops on the faucets.
That’s great advice, it’s nice that you put pictures of how the faucets look after the wax paper trick. Will surely be trying it.
The trick works well, Thank you
Thank you for this useful tips . It is a regular problem that we have to face . Water spots makes our faucet dirty .