ok, 2 things. first, i should add that some thrip damage (they live inside the sheathe/unfurled leaf) CAN cause dried up edges on the new leaf and then it'll have problems opening and will become distorted. however, that did not seem to be the case with OP judging by pics. but the xanadu example was different: it does not get stuck ever, may be because there is no sharp tip? the leaf is round. but they do pock the leaf up while it's still totally inside. 2nd - what helps with dried up top layer (and i mean just a little dried up, still feeling slightly moist) - is mulch. you can use anything for mulch: gravel, bark, even shredded paper. i like to put a thin layer of long fiber sphagnum moss - since aerial roots love it on philos/anthuriums/syngoniums and also it's very easy to see when it starts drying, so you can rewet in time. that anthurium that kinks for me did not have mulch, it was new and very wet and so i needed to dry it up somewhat. but now i put sphag on it too. and will watch if this finally will solve the problem. i've had a 'greenhouse thrips' year - and been collecting pics of damage on various plants. if only smbody diagnosed it for me last summer !...would've saved me a lot of work. neem won't kill them, they just fester and then explode if you stop spraying for a week or 2. the only thing that works is systemic. and then you need sev applications and then using different systemic ...it's a total pain. but otherwise you can't really get rid of them. i've been spraying with neem twice a week - and also drenching soil ...for months...since last summer. but now after a good dosage of systemic i finally have a new crop of leaves coming clean. here's a leaf with dried up margin damaged by thrips(center one). those lighter stringy areas leading to the ripped edge are also thrip damage. also a few pock-marks here and there. This post was edited by petrushka on Tue, Jun 24, 14 at 11:24

My Jado brushed nickel faucet hides water spots VERY well. I posted a picture in another thread. It's amazing. Monica Here is a link that might be useful: Brushed Nickel Thread

We remodeled our bathroom, completing it in April. We bought brushed nickel faucets, and already, they are covered in spots that I cannot seem to remove. We do have hard water, but use a water softener so I can't be sure if its due to hard water or softened water. In any case, these fixtures are basically new and they look terrible. My chrome fixtures in our other bathroom look pretty bad from spotting too. I did read an old thread about things to use, (Flitz cleaner and polisher for one) If and when I manage to clean the spots off, I'd like to coat the faucet with something that will repel the water so it doesn't just get spotted all over again. Can I use a product like rainex to accomplish this? I worry about damaging the finish, I don't want to make it even worse. It just frustrates me to no end that in such a short time, these fixtures look so crappy. Would rainex work? Or is there something better? How about a simple paste wax that you use to wax cars?

Well believe or not the fixtures are so $$$ in the brushed Nickle I was shocked. I have oil rub bronze in my perm home With no problems of spots. And I honestly was going for the brushed nickle and somehow this chrome has got my eye since it will have a coastal setting. So I guess I thought I will try the chrome . While I'm crossing my fingers and toes :) faucets / showers have really gone up in price. Those remodeling shows are killing us ! well I picked Kohler Bancroft K-T10577-4-CP. faucet. And K-T10581-4-CP shower head/ tub faucet for one bathroom anyway. I went to take a look at it in person and I really loved it for this bathroom. Master bath. Used Subway tiles in there 4x12. Staggered In between I put a decorative band of 4 x12 black white gray and some white sparkle glass tiles , Thrown in around the tub/ shower area. And around the mirror so I'm hope these chrome figures give some bling. We are on the water. But not ocean. I wish !!!!!!!! Thank you for all the imput truly appreciate it