How to Clean Brass: a Practical Guide to Making Your Brass Objects Shine at Home.
Contents
Brass is an elegant and sturdy material, often used to make decorative objects, handles, candlesticks, musical instruments, as well as kitchen or outdoor faucets. However, it tends to oxidize and lose its original shine over time.
Let’s discover together how to bring your brass objects back to their initial splendor
How to Clean and Polish Brass
Here’s how to effectively clean it using both natural and commercial products to make your objects shine.
How to Recognize the Type of Brass
First, before starting the cleaning process, it’s important to identify the type of brass you’re working with. It can be solid or coated with a protective finish.
To identify the type of brass, take a small magnet and approach it to the object. If the magnet sticks, it’s coated, otherwise it’s solid brass.
Note: If the object is coated, avoid using abrasive or corrosive products that could damage the finish.
How to Clean Brass with Natural Products
To clean brass with natural products, here are a few natural methods using ingredients easily available at home.
Water and Soap
The simplest way is to use water and soap. To do this, just put some soap in a bowl of warm water, wait for it to cool slightly, then use a soft cloth to gently rub the brass object.
This will give it its original shine. Make sure to rinse the object well to remove all soap residues and dry it properly.
Vinegar, Flour, and Salt
- In a bowl, mix 1 part salt, 1 part flour, and 1 part white vinegar until you get a paste.
- Apply the paste to the brass object using a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge.
- Leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse the object with warm water and dry it with a soft cloth.
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
- In a bowl, mix the juice of half a lemon with enough baking soda to form a paste.
- Apply the paste to the brass object using a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge.
- Leave it on for a few minutes, then gently rub the object.
- Rinse the object with warm water and dry it with a soft cloth.
How to Clean Brass with Commercial Products
If you prefer to use a specific commercial product for cleaning brass, follow these simple instructions:
- Always wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
- Apply the brass cleaning product to the object following the instructions on the label.
- Gently rub the object with a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge following the direction of the metal grain.
- Rinse the object with warm water and dry it with a soft cloth.
How to Clean Oxidized Brass with Coca-Cola
Did you know that Coca-Cola can be an unexpected ally in cleaning brass? Surprisingly, it’s capable of removing the oxidation layer from brass materials.
- Simply soak the objects in a bowl of Coca-Cola and gently rub with a soft cloth or brush.
- Don’t forget to rinse the object well to remove any cola traces and dry it thoroughly.
How to polish Brass
To protect and maintain the shine of brass after cleaning, you can apply metal polish or colorless wax following the instructions on the label.
To keep brass looking like new, you can also use a microfiber or suede cloth slightly dampened with a few drops of lemon juice or white vinegar.
This natural solution will help remove the oxidation layer and renew the shine of brass without damaging the surface. It’s recommended to treat this process with caution, avoiding pressing too hard on the surface to prevent scratches or permanent damage.
Finishing is particularly important if the object is exposed to outdoor air or humid conditions.
With a little care and attention, brass will regain its original shine!
Our Conclusion
Cleaning brass is a simple operation that can be done with natural or commercial products and, if done regularly, will help you maintain your brass objects in excellent condition and preserve their beauty over time.