How to Polish Titanium

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Co-authored by Erik Bakirov

Last Updated: July 16, 2024 References

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Titanium is a durable and low maintenance metal. However, just like any other metal, titanium can get scratched or lose its luster. Especially if the titanium is a piece of jewelry, it can be exposed to a lot of wear and tear. You should polish titanium pieces every now and then in order to restore the original metallic shine. Luckily, cleaning and polishing titanium is a fairly straight-forward process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Soaking Titanium

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Make a cleaning solution. You need to clean your titanium item before you can start polishing it. Fill a bowl with warm water that's large enough to fit your titanium item. Make sure that there is enough water to completely cover the item. Pour a small amount of mild dishwashing soap into the water. ^{[1]
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- You can also use an ammonia cleaner, such as Windex, to clean titanium.
- You also may use a commercial jewelry cleaning solution on titanium.
- Avoid using any harsh cleaners like chlorine or bleach. These can damage the material.
Make sure that your item is fully submerged in the water. Allow the titanium to soak for about five minutes.

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After soaking, take the titanium item out of the water. Rinse the item to get off any soap or cleaner residue. If you skip this step, the titanium could get sticky or develop a film from the residue. ^{[2]
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Dry the titanium. Take a dry soft cloth and gently rub the titanium. If there is visible dirtiness on the item, you should see it being rubbed away. Do not use a scratchy or rough cloth, as this can create scratches on the titanium.
- If your titanium item is colored, do not rub the titanium. This could damage or remove its color. ^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Spraying Titanium

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You can either buy a spray meant exclusively to clean titanium, or buy a spray containing ammonia like Windex. Many other glass cleaners will also do the job. Do not use a cleaner that contains bleach or chlorine.^{[4]
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Hold the spray bottle about a foot away from the item, and give it a good spraying. How much you spray depends on the size of the item, but you want to make sure that the entire surface of the object has been sprayed. ^{[5]
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Just like after the soak, you want to make sure that you remove all traces of the cleaner. Rinse your item to make sure that it is completely clean. Make sure the water gets in all the crevices if it is an intricate piece.
Use a clean smooth cloth to dry the item. Again, if you are cleaning a piece of colored titanium, skip wiping down the object because this can harm the color. In any case, be gentle with the titanium as you are drying it. You should notice that the spray has cleaned off the surface of the titanium, making it more shiny and vibrant. ^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Removing Scratches With a Cream Polish

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Purchase a cream metal polish. These polishes work by removing tarnishes and oxidation, and they also work to polish titanium. There are several on the market, and they can be purchased at Walmart or Ace Hardware. ^{[7]
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- Cream polishes should not be used on colored titanium, as this may harm the color layer of the titanium.
Rub this cream onto the titanium item, making sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. If you notice oil or dirt coming off of your item, make sure not to rub it back into the titanium.
After you have rubbed the titanium with the cream polish, run the item under water. Using a gentle soap, clean the titanium so that all of the cream polish comes off.
Using a smooth cloth, gently rub the titanium. Your titanium item should look more vibrant, and you should notice that the scratches are gone or are far less visible than before.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Wax on Titanium

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You can use the same kind of wax and polishes on titanium as you can for steel. Purchase one of these waxes or polishes at the hardware store.^{[8]
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Take a clean cloth and follow the instructions on the bottle to apply an appropriate amount of polish onto the cloth. The amount of polish you need will also depend on the size of the titanium item that you are polishing.
You do not need to press hard. Instead, make sure that you are covering all the areas of the titanium item with the wax or polish.
Take a different clean cloth and wipe away the wax or polish. Don’t scrub at the surface; this could scratch the material. Instead, wipe away gently. You should notice that the titanium is bright and gleaming.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Preserving the Shine

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Don’t expose titanium to chlorine. If your titanium item is a ring or other piece of jewelry, take it off when you are showering or swimming. Take special care not to wear it in a chlorinated pool, as chlorine can significantly damage the material. ^{[9]
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- Also make sure that your titanium is not exposed to bleach, such as when you are doing the laundry or cleaning.
If you wear your titanium item regularly, make sure to take it off when you are playing sports or doing anything physical. This will help you avoid scratching the material.
This may seem obvious, but you don't want to expose your titanium item to messy activities. This is especially true for titanium rings, because you way not remember to take off your ring. If you doing things like gardening, making pottery or even doing the dishes, gunk can get stuck in and around your titanium item. Make sure not to expose your titanium to these kinds of activities.
You can purchase polishing cloths at most jewelry stores and hardware stores. These cloths are a quick solution to polishing titanium. Simply take the cloth and gently rub it over the surface of the titanium. This should remove any residue and leave your titanium looking shiny.

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Can I clean titanium with vinegar?

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Pour a small amount of mild dish washing soap into the water. You can also use an ammonia cleaner, such as Windex, to clean titanium. You also may use a commercial jewelry cleaning solution on titanium. Avoid using any harsh cleaners like chlorine or bleach.

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Tips

With regular cleaning and polishing, the titanium will eventually develop a clean and smooth patina over the metal's entire surface.

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If you do not have any luck with cleaning your titanium item, take it to a jewelry store (if it is a small item). Many jewelers have access to electro-polishing equipment that will clean your titanium and give it a smooth luster.

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Warnings

Do not rub colored titanium, because this can damage the color layer.

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Do not use any product on your ring if you aren't sure that it's safe for titanium.

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Remember to be gentle to your ring during the cleaning process. If not, you could scratch or damage it further.

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