Preserving Chrome Bumpers

[Lefty]

"use a good quality NON-ABRASIVE cleaner" Never clean chrome with anything that is abrasive... it is durable, but actually a very soft material that is applied in a thin coating.
Be sure to always dry the bumper completely with compressed air or a clean microfiber towel after washing.

Tips:
Clean with liquid dish soap and warm water. Use a clean microfiber towel... check often for any debris imbedded in the towel that might scratch it.
White or cider vinegar is an excellent chrome cleaner. For mild rust you can dip crinkled aluminum foil in it and scrub lightly to remove the rust safely. For moderate rust, use 0000 steel wool dipped in vinegar and sprinkle a little baking soda on it.

Wax: I only use Mother's Pure Carnauba Wax... period. It contains only wax, and no abrasives or other additives.

Road Salt vs. Chrome:
Road Salt will destroy a chrome bumper in no time. If you live in an area where they use salt on the roads, or are passing thru an area, Be sure to apply a thick coat of wax to the bumper and leave it there prior to your trip. Don't buff it off. After the trip, wash the bumper thoroughly, and be sure to rinse the backside off too. (it's a good practice to wash the entire rig after a trip thru road salt.. especially the underside and wheel wells.). Then rewax the bumper.
Any liquid dish soap is effectively a degreaser, so they can clean greasy dishes. However, since wax is a grease, that also means that dish soap automatically strips wax off anything you wash with it. So anytime you wash a vehicle with dish soap, you must re wax it afterwards.