Real talk: polishing metal doesn’t mean “kind of shiny.” It’s taking dull, dead metal and resuscitating it back to life. Flitz Paste Metal Polish is the life support you need for oxidized aluminum, cloudy chrome, rust-spotted stainless, and dull brass.

If you’ve got a metal surface that’s seen better days, here’s how to get it vibrant and shiny by using Flitz Paste Metal Polish also for Fiberglass, Plastic & Paint--the right way.

Key Takeaways:

• Flitz Paste Metal Polish restores shine by removing oxidation, not grinding away metal.
• A little Flitz Paste goes a long way.
• Flitz Paste doesn’t just polish; it protects.

What Polishing Metal is Actually Doing

Metal doesn’t just become dull; rather, it oxidizes. That means, moisture, oxygen, salt, heat, and everyday grime are working together to break down the shiny surface. Oxidation is why aluminum gets chalky, chrome pits, brass tarnishes, and stainless looks tired.

Flitz Paste Metal Polish is the perfect solution for cutting through oxidation. The paste lifts contamination off the surface and leaves behind a protective coating that slows the environmental ravages in the future. Yes, you’re polishing, but you’re also fixing damage and making the metal surface even better.

Because Flitz Paste is non-abrasive, you’re not grinding away good material to get that shine back, either. Some other metal polishes require time and elbow grease. Flitz Paste gives you the strong-arm results fast, without breaking a sweat.

At Flitz International, we’ve been making metal look its best for over 30 years. In fact, the Flitz Paste Metal Polish is the product that launched the company and helped us build our reputation. After all this time, it’s still our go-to for one simple reason: It works.

If you want to clean, de-oxidize, polish, and protect in one easy step, without harsh abrasives, Flitz Paste Metal Polish is the answer. Read on to learn how to use Flitz the right way so you can get that stellar shine with minimal effort!

Size Up the Metal Damage Before You Polish

Before you even reach for the polish, take a few minutes to examine the piece you’re working on.

If the metal is heavily oxidized, corroded, or chalky, that’s what you want to address first. It’s especially important if you’re working with aluminum, brass, or copper. Start with a dedicated pre-cleaner (like Flitz Metal PreClean) to make the rest of your job easy.

If you’re just dealing with lighter grime, fingerprints, oil, road film, and other wear and tear, a wipe-down is often enough. Use a Flitz Microfiber Polishing Cloth to get the surface ready for the polish.

Have a surface that’s really bruised up with rust or pitting on stainless or chrome? Hit it with #0000 steel wool along with the Flitz Paste Metal Polish. Go easy and let Flitz do the work to pull out rust and pits without scratching or marring the surface.

The bottom line is that clean metal polishes easier and better. Take time to give it a little spruce before you grab the polish paste.

Pick the Right Flitz Metal Polish for the Job

Flitz keeps it simple, but there are a few polish options depending on what you’re working on. Here’s the difference between Flitz paste and liquid metal polishes:

• Flitz Paste Metal Polish: This is the OG polish. It’s thick, concentrated, and ridiculously versatile. Paste polish works on aluminum, chrome, brass, copper, stainless…you name it. The polish removes oxidation, tarnish, rust, water spots, heat discoloration, and more, leaving a protective coating behind.
• Flitz Liquid Metal Polish: Same muscle, just a looser consistency. Flitz Liquid Metal Polish is great for larger surfaces or when you want something that spreads fast and wipes off easily. Use a Flitz BuffBall to really get that show-stopping finish.

Once you’ve chosen your fighter, go easy. Here is where people sometimes get tripped up. You don’t need much Flitz Paste Metal Polish or Flitz Liquid Metal Polish to do a big job.

Flitz Polish is concentrated. A little bit goes a very long way. Using too much polish won’t make the job faster; it just makes a mess. Start small and then go up from there.

Put a little dab on a Flitz Microfiber Polishing Cloth and work a small area at a time. Keep polishing while the surface is moist. Don’t let it dry out.

If you see black residue on your cloth, congratulations! That’s oxidation coming off the metal, and that’s exactly what you want. Keep polishing until the black residue doesn’t come up anymore.

Here’s the rub: for most metals, a back-and-forth or circular motion with light-to-medium pressure is the best approach for polishing. Let the Flitz Paste Metal Polish do the work, instead of trying to muscle it on there. Save your strength for other activities.

One thing to keep in mind—polishing direction matters, especially for some surfaces. If you’re polishing brushed stainless steel, follow the grain. If you go against it, you’ll see swirl marks you didn’t bargain for.

Once your polished surface looks clean and even, give it a final buff with a clean Flitz Microfiber Polishing Cloth. That’s when the shine truly pops.

A Few Metal-Specific Polishing Tips that Actually Help:

• Aluminum & Chrome: Start with Flitz Paste Metal Polish, finish with Flitz Ceramic Sealant.
• Brass & Copper: Heavy tarnish? Pre-clean first. Flitz brings back color and shine fast.
• Stainless Steel: Always polish with the grain. Protect afterward to keep fingerprints from showing up.

Need to shine up larger surfaces? Flitz Paste Metal Polish works great for those big jobs! You can hit up your large aluminum panels on boats, RVs, and industrial surfaces. Use a Flitz BuffBall and get to work. Flitz will chew through the oxidation but gently protect the metal. Start at a low speed and let the polish do the magic. You’ll see lots of black residue—that’s normal, don’t worry.

Once you’ve finished applying Flitz Paste Metal Polish to a section of your vehicle, try this pro move: take plain white kitchen flour, put about ¼ cup on a towel or microfiber, and wipe it over the black residue. The flour acts as a dry absorbent, pulling the oily polish residue off the surface without smearing or scratching, leaving a cleaner, brighter finish. Sounds weird but works great!

Tools Needed for Polishing Metal

What sort of tools and toys do you need to polish metal surfaces? If you’re an “accessory person,” go for it, but the truth is, polishing by hand is the go-to underrated way to get a shine.

Hand polishing isn’t just for small stuff either—it works great on any-sized surface.

The secret is what you put IN your hand while you work. Soft paper towels or shop towels work surprisingly well with Flitz. But what works the best is microfiber. It’s especially important to switch to a clean Flitz Microfiber Polishing Cloth at the end to clean up residue and dial in that finish.

Hand polishing gives you control over detailed parts, fixtures, and trim. When in doubt, go ahead and polish metal by hand.

Need faster results? Doing bigger jobs? If you’ve got surface to cover or serious oxidation, then reaching for tools can help.

Wheels, headlights, trim, and painted surfaces all get a perfect shine with the Flitz BuffBall. Start by putting the polish on a pad or cloth and spreading it out. Break that oxidation loose. Then bump up the speed on your drill to refine the finish. Our BuffBall grabs oxidation and leftover polish fast, without spreading or smearing it around. Finish off with a microfiber wipe, and you’re done!

Protect the Shine of Metal Surfaces with Flitz

Flitz doesn’t just clean—it protects too. After polishing, Flitz Paste Metal Polish leaves a durable protective coating that helps the shine stick around. That means fewer weekends spent detailing and a show-me-off shine that lasts and lasts.

Of course, some surfaces, like outdoor and high-touch surfaces, need extra protection. Top these off with Flitz Ceramic Sealant. The sealant adds water repellency, prevents fingerprints, and slows oxidation even further.

Polishing once is great. Keeping it that way is better. Clean your metal surfaces regularly and reapply polish when needed. Outdoor gear, boats, and RVs need more frequent protection because of the exposure to moisture, salt, and sun.

No matter the surface, you can rely on Flitz Paste Metal Polish. It removes oxidation, tarnish, rust, water spots, heat discoloration, chalking, lime deposits, and all that other junk that makes metals look tired and dull.

Flitz is fast, effective, and leaves protection behind—so you don’t have to repeat the same job next weekend. Let Flitz polishing products do what they are built to do. For more info on getting a shine that lasts, explore our full Flitz product lineup.