A Guide to Cleaning Black Taps in the Bathroom

A Guide to Cleaning Black Taps in the Bathroom

Look at some of the most popular Instagram home interior accounts, and you likely notice black bathroom taps and brassware.

Black taps have quickly risen to the top of the list of stylish bathroom ‘must haves’ in the last year or two; people can’t get enough of its striking matte black beauty!

But what’s the point of having a trend-setting bathroom with thousands of social media followers if you can’t keep your new stunning matte black taps and fixtures clean?

You may of course continue as usual, but unlike ‘regular’ bath and basin taps with metallic surfaces, matte black requires a more delicate and careful cleaning technique, ideally with a microfibre cloth and gentle, non-abrasive cleaners.

One wrong move with a harsh chemical cleaning agent, abrasive scourers, or the wrong polish could result in the tarnishing of that flawless matte black finish, and with it, the end of your gorgeous bathroom space!

So, to avoid disaster, continue reading to learn how to clean black bathroom taps and maintain the fashionable dark noir style you’ve been dreaming of!

Why Should Matte Black Taps and Fixtures Be Cleaned in a Different Way?

As you can certainly tell by looking at them, matte black taps have a different finish than normal bathroom tap designs – and we don’t just mean the colour!

Unlike its chrome counterparts, matte black taps are designed to offer that ‘complete’ black impression, absorbing light rather than reflecting it, resulting in the matte black surface.

The techniques used to give your black taps their sleek matte finish make them slightly more sensitive than basic brassware, so simply choosing the first cleaning you see is not necessarily the best option.

There are several methods used to achieve that gorgeous matte black finish, with most manufacturers using either an electroplating process or something called PVD.

Electroplating

Electroplating is a fairly scientific method of transferring black to the surface of your taps and brassware.

The procedure involves controlling a water-based paint solution at the atomic level with an electric current to create a very thin black covering.

This results in a long-lasting finish that can withstand normal wear and tear, although cleaning must be done with care.

PVD or Physical Vapour Deposition

PVD is similar to using one of those vacuum forming machines from school in that it requires applying a coating of thin film to the metal’s surface using a vacuum.

This vacuuming procedure is supposed to be more effective than electroplating and produce a more durable matte black surface, therefore it is gaining popularity.

Beating back black tap wear and tear

Although both finishes improve the quality of your new black taps, vigorous disinfectants and chemical cleaners can still damage any black finish, so opt for a soft cloth and gentle cleaning method to protect the matt black taps.

That is why it is so important that you take the time to learn how to care for your black taps – no matter how they are finished – in order to extend their life and maintain the appearance you desire.

Other types use painted coatings that are just as durable, and certain techniques can be combined to achieve that dark, elegant look.

What is the best way to clean matte black taps?

After all of that, you may be concerned about causing damage if you clean black taps and brassware improperly, but it is actually very easy; it just requires a little additional care and attention.

There are a few things you should keep in mind before getting started.

The following should NOT be used to clean black bathroom taps:

• Scourers and anything rough or scratchy
• Harmful Chemical Cleaners
• Bleach
• Wax
• Any acidic substance, such as homemade lemon spray

Remember that these dark taps are your pride and happiness!

They are sensitive and elegant; they are not stainless steel saucepans!

Cleaning Your Black Tap

To clean your black taps, use warm water and a gentle microfiber cloth. Nothing more and nothing less.

Clean the tap from top to bottom with minimal scrubbing, use a circular motion and focus on being gentle and not using too much elbow grease.

And there you have it, spotless black taps!

Are black taps scratchable?

The quick answer is that they can be.

However, just like the car in the driveway, you should not run sharp things down the side and across the top of your new designer taps to see if they scratch!

Of course, you wouldn’t do that, but rings may be tricky with matte black taps, and we’re all guilty of forgetting about them from time to time.

If you don’t want to completely eliminate your rings when using black taps, just be careful of them and try not to touch the tap’s surface.

What Exactly are O-Ring Stains?

After having your new black tap installed for a while, you may notice that the grease applied to the O-ring has stained them slightly.

This grease lies between the bottom of the tap and the top of your basin or bathtub.

You can try to remove it with a little warm soapy water and nothing else, but if you struggle and it won’t come off, it’s safe to use an alcohol cleaner to remove the oil from the tap’s base.

Be careful when installing bathroom fixtures

The majority of damage to brassware and taps occurs during the building and renovation phases, or when they are installed.

Inspect your new black taps as soon as they come out of the box; they should be perfect, with no cosmetic flaws, ensuring their matte black finish is impeccable.

Ensure that you or the contractor you’ve hired to install the tap takes extra precautions when handling and installing it; after all, these are expensive bathware features that you want to keep clean!

Does hard water stain have any effect on black taps?

Actually, it can because hard water forms more limescale.

Limescale is a chalky white colour that will definitely stand out on black brassware, so you need to regularly clean up with it to keep the finish looking good for longer.

Don’t be lazy; regular cleaning will keep limescale away.

Take extra precautions with makeup

If you use makeup in the bathroom, it’s very likely that some will end up on your black taps.

These dusty particles can cause black taps to appear foggy when wiped away, so have a microfiber cloth ready to remove any annoying powder.

How do you clean other black brassware?

Obviously, if you have black taps in your bathroom or en suite, you will likely have a black shower, a black shower head and additional black accessories.

Do you have to use the same methods to clean these?

Yes, if you want them to keep their lovely appearance.

Handle every part of your luxury black bathroom with the same attention as your taps, whether it’s a wall-hung tap, freestanding bath tap or hand-held shower.

How to Maintain Black Bathroom Taps Properly?

Black taps and brassware may require more maintenance than other finishes, but we don’t want that to discourage you.

Your matte black taps will look great for years to come as long as you keep cleaning them regularly.