I have polished nickel faucets from Rohl, Restoration Hardware and a cheap knockoff company I found on ebay that I put in our guest bath. They all show water spots, fingerprints and sometimes a little darkness that may be tarnishing. I just wipe them with a soft towel and it goes right away. The faucet that tarnishes the most is the knock off in my guest bath. I don't know if it's the cheap finish or that the vanity gets full sun in the morning which my other sinks do not.

No tarnishing yet on the brushed nickel finishes on my Kohler Vinnata & Kohler Fairfax faucets, my Kohler SDs, or my air switch (InSinkErator?). It's been a year since we started using the kitchen full time and they're all used frequently.

I have alot of polished nickel. Love it. One of the faucets is a Franke. Yes it has gotten a spot of tarnish here or there over the past two and a half years. Wenol takes care of it. Got it at William Sonoma.

My Rohl polished nickel faucets have no tarnishing and show very little spotting. Much better than the brushed nickel finish on my Kohler bathroom faucets, which constantly look like crap.

I have Kohler polished nickel faucets in my Kit. and two years in they still look perfect. The knobs and pulls, conversely, are beginning to show a tiny amount of tarnish; on nickel this appears as a cloudy or hazy look.
Casey

Thanks everyone. I've heard stories and seen pictures of really tarnished polished nickel fixtures (mostly Rohl, I think), and I don't want that. I'll stick with my Franke and Kohler orders and hope for the best!

I have Restoration Hardware and Strom Plumbing PN fixtures in the bath, and agree with pirula -- get a tube of the blue Wenol (extra-soft) and it polishes 'em right up. Alternately, you can use beeswax, of all things.

Just don't use BKF on satin nickel; I have read here that it does a number on satin nickel (which is why were very happy our Julien sink came with it's own SS strainer!).

I do not have PN in my kitchen, but I do have PN fixtures in my bathrooms. I wonder whether tarnishing has to do with regional water (like mineral levels?) and with how the PN is cleaned. I have Rohl polished nickel faucets and towel bars in my master bath. After 3 years, they still look great. I have Newport Brass polished nickel faucets and towel bars in my guest bath. After 2 years, they still look great. I clean them just by wiping them down with a damp cloth and drying with a microfiber towel. Nothing abrasive. Also, I have a polished nickel showerhead from Kohler in my guest bath. The Kohler polished nickel finish is a little "muddy" in color, and although it has held up well, it hasn't gotten a lot of use in my guest bath, but still looks a bit dingy just cause the Kohler PN has a more brown tone to it. Kohler PN kitchen fixtures may be finished differently than their showerhead, but I wanted to let you know my experience.

Gek Gloss works great too. PN doesn't tarnish like brass, it's more subtle.

I purchased RD Modern kitchen pulls and they have all tarnished very disappointed.

After just two days in our new home our Polished Nickel disposal flange has become discolored and tarnished. Called Newport Brass and was informed that this is NORMAL if the fixture is not dried off with a towel after using. Sorry but how can you dry off your kitchen drain every time its used. We have Newport Brass faucets and fixtures throughout our new home. They said their polished nickel finish needs to be cleaned off every time its touched with water, toothpaste etc. . What a nightmare. Wish I'd never heard of Newport Brass.

Ali sorry to hear that you are having that issue. If you decide to replace it in the future, look for a PVD polished nickel finish. I have a lot of polished nickel throughout my home and will only purchase if it is a PVD finish. California Faucet makes a flange in PVD polished nickel.

power-of-pvd

My Kallista polished nickel faucets have tarnishing, which comes off with Simichrome paste. My Rejuvenation (made by Watermark), Rohl and Restoration Hardware polished nickel do not have any tarnishing.

Update- the Rohl polished nickel
Faucet is showing signs of tarnish but Simichrome takes it off.

Just brought this pfister polish nickel faucet and here seem be a tarnish or some sort of discoloration in the finish. Can anyone advise me on how this can be removed if possible. I have added a photo if that helps.

Thanks so much Marilee, that IS helpful!

I am about to order polished nickle cabinet pulls and am wondering if I should apply a sealer prior to installation. Unfortunately, the styles available from Baldwin (who guarantee the finish for life) and we love the looks available from Tradition Hardware. They are solid brass but I have not been able to find much in the way of reviews.

I know they can be cleaned periodically but am worried the cleaner/process will stain my cream colored cabinets.

Would it make sense to apply a coat of sealer before my cabinet installer puts them in and does anyone recommend any specific sealer?

My Newport Brass polished nickle faucets all have dark tarnish marks. The company says that it is normal??? My Delta faucets look great after five years - no tarnish.