So the chrome running boards are looking rough after the winter road chemicals. I know they aren't chrome plated, they appear to be polished aluminum with a clearcoat and they look "hazy". I've seen some older posts on brillo pads with metal polish and some say wet them, spray with CLR and rub with a magic eraser. Any tips to get these back to looking good?

 

Mine look rough too. I was kicking around cleaning up and bed lining but maybe it won't be too hard to get looking nice again so posting to follow

 

For reference, these are the boards I have. My truck is a 19, not sure what years these boards are from. Got them as new pull offs a couple years ago and then added the embossed back Superduty pieces shortly after that. It's literally like a haze under a clearcoat. May mess with them today, otherwise it'll be about a week before I can get to them.



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Mine are starting to flake but I find a diluted solution of CLR and water does a pretty good job for me.

 

Here's a video I saved on YouTube in case mine ever need work:

 

I took off all of the black rubber skid plates, sanded down the whole running board, put two coats of bedliner on it, re-installed the skid plates. It looks great. Needs occasional touch-up.

 

Thats great if you want them black but I dont

 

Tried 3 methods with stuff on hand. 1st was 0000 stainless steel wool and glass cleaner, no change. 2nd was 0000 stainless steel wool and Turtle Wax metal polish, slight change, removed surface oxidation. 3rd was 0000 stainless steel wool and Collinite 631 Marine fleetcut polishing compound. This got rid of about 75% of the part I am most concerned with, the hazy layer that appears to be between the aluminum and.clearcoat (if there even is a clearcoat, which I am doubting now). Knowing the Collinite 631 polishing compound leaves behind no white residue on the black plastics of the running board, I will get out the DA and wool pad and give it a good buff one day next week. Side note, I have used many Collinite products in the past and none have left residue on black plastics. I use the Collinite 631 on my boat gelcoat and it lasts all summer.

 

These running boards are a PITA to keep looking good.

The running boards on my 2017 still look decent, if I ignore the doggie paw scratches, and other places where shoes touch the “chrome”.

I might try the video method if the running boards get too bad for my liking.

When detailing my truck, I use Protect-All to get a quick shine. Protect-All does not leave a white residue on the foot pads like other products.

 

Yeah I don't know what it is with these newer running boards, not sure if that's a clear coat over this aluminum or what it is.

 

Yeah mine are a PITA cause they don't have step pads but have small little plastic pieces with chrome in between each one. Makes it real difficult.

Edit: i watched the video and I have those same running boards

 

Thats more the earlier version ^^^ This newer version has a different finish/coating. More aluminum like and less chrome like.

 

WHITE VINEGAR!

Spray it on, wait a few minutes, wipe it with a soapy rag or soft soapy brush, and rinse. The haze/white stuff will be gone.

I found this out after a couple years of using 0000 steel wool and soap scrubbing it.

 

Sounds plausible, thanks!

 

You won't believe how easy it is, and how much time you wasted before scrubbing on them!

I spray white vinegar on my chrome xlt bumpers and the chrome tailpipe to get that winter film off, just make sure you wash it off with soap and water.

Good luck!