Don't hate me for being over 30, I know that most cars on the showroom floors of today have little to no chrome, but if your car does sport some of that super-shiny metal, you'll want to keep it bright.

Steel wool can turn what appears to be a corroded, rusty chrome bumper or trim piece and make it gleam again. All you need is some elbow grease and some fine (as in not coarse) steel wool. Check out the tired old wheel in the photo, it's like magic.

Chrome will keep it's shine indefinitely if it's kept clean and dry, but what if the guy before you didn't do such a good job on the upkeep? There's a wonder-solution out there, and it isn't a space-aged polymer. It's not a polish and it's not an electrolysis machine. It's been around forever, and it's plain old steel wool.

• Take some fine grade steel wool and rub the chrome firmly.
• BLING!
• Clean the chrome with soap and water.
• Dry it completely.

*It's important to use only fine grade steel wool on your chrome.

The rougher grades can scratch the chrome permanently.

*Test a small, inconspicuous area first. Some forms of "plastic chrome" can't take even one firm rubbing.