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This was on an episode of Mythbusters. They found that aluminum foil & Coca-Cola will take rust off better than other commercial products.

It's true that aluminum foil works on chrome. I use a little bit of water, and the shiny side of the aluminum foil to polish (it doesn't matter too much which side of the foil you use, but the shiny side is smoother so there's more surface area touching the chrome).

I found this tip as a child from a 70s-looking book called "Betty's Useful Household Hints" or something like that, and thought it was pretty cool.

Anyways, based on what I've learned in college chemistry, I think this method works since Chromium is more electronegative than Aluminum and will 'steal' electrons from Aluminum, thus partly reversing the rusting/oxidation process. Coke helps too, since it's a reducing agent (opposite of oxidation/rust).

Correct me if I'm wrong, scientists.

Probably more info than you wanted, huh?

Thought I was going to be unique in the water and aluminum answer! I learned it from Lynette Jennings years ago.

I once used Easy Off to get the rust off a really rusted 50's cart I got at a garage sale. It's pretty nasty stuff, but it worked.

wow, i never knew about the aluminum foil trick! how cool...

im a collector of 70's mopeds and they always have rusty chrome! i usually get this pink gel goop from an auto parts store (Kragen) and use that with a plastic scrubber. that or SOS pads with the cleaner contained in the pads works really well.

I read a tutorial on digsmagazine.com, she didn't want to use sticky coke, so used aluminum foil and vinegar with great success.