Matte black looks awesome at first, but yeah, those fingerprints are relentless. I’ve installed a bunch of them and honestly, some brands hold up way better than others. The cheap ones? They’ll start looking like a Dalmatian after a year—spots everywhere, especially if your water’s hard. Higher-end finishes seem to resist the chipping and weird spots, but nothing’s totally bulletproof. If you’re in a hard water area, I always tell folks to keep a towel handy or just embrace the “lived-in” look... adds character, right?
Matte black is a love-hate thing for me. I’ve put them in a few rentals because, yeah, they look sharp in listing photos and help the place stand out. But man, after a couple turnovers, you start to see every little fingerprint and water spot. I had one tenant who must’ve had a thing for coconut oil or something—those handles were always streaked up.
I’ve noticed the pricier brands do hold up better, but even then, if you’ve got hard water, it’s just a matter of time before you get those weird white marks. I tried the “just wipe it down” advice, but honestly, most tenants aren’t going to baby their faucet. At this point, I lean toward brushed nickel or stainless for most units—less drama, easier to keep looking decent between tenants. Matte black’s great if you’re living there yourself and don’t mind a little upkeep... otherwise, it’s kind of a gamble.
Matte black looks killer in photos, but yeah, it’s a pain to keep clean. I tried it in my own kitchen once—looked amazing for about a week, then the smudges and water spots started showing up. Even with the “wipe it down every day” routine, it never stayed perfect. I’ve had way better luck with brushed nickel too. Ever tried oil-rubbed bronze? Curious if it holds up any better or just as much hassle.
Ever tried oil-rubbed bronze? Curious if it holds up any better or just as much hassle.
Oil-rubbed bronze is a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. It hides fingerprints better than matte black, but water spots still show up—especially if you’ve got hard water. I’ve put it in a few flips and it looks great at first, but after a year or two, the finish can start to wear where you touch it most. Brushed nickel’s still my go-to for kitchens that actually get used. Less drama, more durability.
I hear you on the brushed nickel—definitely less maintenance. I actually tried oil-rubbed bronze in my own bathroom a few years back, and while it looked awesome at first, the spots and wear showed up faster than I expected. Maybe it’s just my water, but it felt like I was always wiping it down. Has anyone had better luck with those newer “spot-resistant” finishes? I’m tempted to try one next time, but not sure if it’s just marketing hype...
