Polished Nickel - Dark Water Spots

last year

Hi - I put polished nickel in my shower and the water spots look dark and my fixtures look terrible. I can't do a water softener. Also, the fixtures are kholer and 2 pieces arrived tarnished which makes me think they will tarnish quickly. Does anyone have advice on the following options: 1) Cleaning products that prevents dark water spots; 2) Replacing all fixtures with polished chrome; 3) Replacing the inside shower fixtures with brushed nickel and leaving the rest of the fixtures polished nickel. I really don't like the look of brushed nickel if that helps :). Photos of brand new (and already tarnished) shower valve, bathroom (x2) and example of spotting (in my other bathroom if you're wondering why tile looks different).TIA

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Comments (7)

millworkman
last year
That unfortunately is polished nickel being polished nickel, just what it does.
Valerie Gerard
Original Author
last year
Thank you! Is polished chrome better?
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kandrewspa
last year
Polished nickel is not identical to chrome, but they can co-exist if not right next to each other. If I were you I would order some chrome fixtures, place them in the shower uninstalled and see whether you think you could live with them being different than your faucets. If not, I guess you'll have to get new faucets too. Sink faucets will be cheaper than a shower set anyway. I have one bathroom with brushed nickel (DH's preference) and one with chrome (my preference). I think chrome is easier to manage as far as spotting. All you need to do is dry it and the spots are gone. The spots on brushed nickel seem to be more tenacious at times. You don't say if this is your bathroom or a hall bath. If it's yours, maybe you and whomever else uses it could dry the handles after showering? Do you squeegee your shower glass? These are things you can do to keep it looking nicer between cleanings.
coastal_vibe
last year
This gives me pause... I had planned for Kohler PN finish for the plumbing fittings in my next bathroom remodel. Kohler describes the material on their fittings as "metal." In contrast, the higher-end (more expensive) Kallista fittings are described as "solid brass." Is it possible that the tarnish is caused by a mix of metals in the Kohler fittings?

Kohler advertises their Vibrant finishes as "tarnish-resistant." It is a PVD finish. The high shine on polished finishes make them more susceptible to water spots than a brushed finish. There is also a Kohler Vibrant Stainless Steel finish -- maybe less shiny than the PN?

FWIW, I have polished chrome Kallista control valves in a bathroom that I had remodeled 9 years ago. There are water spots on the control trims in the shower, but no tarnish. Same for the Hansgrohe PC showerheads in that bathroom. I clean and polish the trims with Flitz products, but probably not often enough.

I have a whole-house water softener system.
PRO
Minardi
last year
Acid water will discolor nickel permanently. In addition to spotting it.
Valerie Gerard
Original Author
last year
Thank you! Does the spotting mean I have acid water?
Shasta
last year
Flitz Polish and a microfiber cloth will make polished nickel look like new. I do it once a week and before we have guests over.