Wipe down the nickel-plated item with a dry, soft cloth. Gently rub off any dirt. Make note of any chips or scratches in the item.
Apply polish to a soft cloth. Polish may be any brand of polish recommended for nickel plating. Read the instructions for the amount of polish recommended by the polish manufacturer.
Gently apply polish to the item avoiding scratches and chips in the item. Nickel plating is usually over a copper base, which may corrode with abrasive polish.
Carefully remove the polish using a clean, dry cloth. Remove as much polish as possible without applying too much pressure. Intense pressure may scratch or chip the nickel plating finish.
Buff the item to a shine using the last clean cloth. More pressure may be applied as the polish has been removed. Now, you have a shiny nickel-plated item.