Any ideas? I very quickly used "Mother's Chrome Polish" and it didn't do squat.

You can TRY vinegar and water mixture. Mix it about 50/50 and spray it on. I got that idea from a high end detail guy. He said though if it's been baked on for awhile or repetadley applied, you could be screwed.

You can also try this stuff. YOU CAN NOT USE IT ON PAINT THOUGH!! Only the chrome trim if it is in fact chrome plated. Good luck.

http://www.spot-x.net/html/automotive.html

http://www.spot-x.net/html/marine-boat.html

I don't think it's hard water, I think that crap just oxidizes. My rear bumper strip looks horrible and the truck is only a year old.

I had water spots/etching in my paint, buffing the paint was the only thing that helped.

I don't think it's hard water, I think that crap just oxidizes. My rear bumper strip looks horrible and the truck is only a year old.

There's a difference between where we live though. You're up north where it snows right? The OP and I are down in Florida. Florida has some of the hardest water in the country. Usually the guys up north get the oxidation of the trim. I know exactly what the OP's got as I have detailed a few black cars down here. It's brutal. You guys up there get hammered from the salt that they put down on the roads for winter. Different issues. They both suck though any way you look at it.:fu:

Thanks everyone.

Harrison - I'll give that a try and report back. Thanks for the tips :)

interesting...my rear strip is spotless and its been through 3, maybe 4, winters

when im doing vinyl installs on cars to make sure the surface is clean and contaminate free i clay bar it, and use a 50/50 rubbing alcohol...thats what i would do so basically what harrison said. thats about all you can do to chrome short of whipping out a compounder which could be fatal for a plastic chrome piece. after a while it just becomes oxidized and is almost pointless to try and fix...paint it or use chrome vinyl to cover it up if its that bad.

ive also heard about some detailers using lemon juice concentrate in the alc/water mix...the acid will break down the tough spots but not be strong enough to eat the chrome if mixed properly.

good luck. i may be willing to sell you my strip because i want to get a limited one, smooth it and paint it...