How to Clean Brass? 4 Perfect Ways to Polish Tarnished Brass
As time goes by, brass might lose its original look. Apart from regular dirt, its surface might get covered by green tarnish, which doesn't look aesthetic. If you want to remove all stains, you might hire a specialist to clean brass objects – furniture parts and other decorations – for you. But you can save your money and use some well-known, and more importantly, effective brass cleaning remedies. Take a look at the best methods.
How to correctly care for brass?
Objects made of brass are popular elements in many households. The material is used for various common items:
- jewelry,
- handles,
- picture frames,
- dishes,
- coins,
- decorations.
As time goes by, and also because of daily use, brass elements might gradually change their color and get dirty. It’s a natural consequence of the composition of brass, which contains various metals. A lack of proper, regular maintenance causes a slow degradation. The material becomes unattractive. For this reason, it’s crucial to clean brass regularly. Fortunately, it’s easy and everyone can do it.
How to clean brass and keep it in a perfect shape – homemade brass cleaners
The market is full of professional products, thanks to which cleaning brass and restoring its shine is effortless. But they often mean a rather big expense – a lot depends on the volume of the packaging and the particular brand. What’s worth keeping in mind is that brass can be cleaned at home using effective homemade brass cleaners.
Here are some products you can use to polish tarnished brass and restore its old shine:
- vinegar,
- toothpaste,
- Coca-Cola,
- tinfoil.
Cleaning brass with vinegar
Cleaning brass with vinegar is one of the proven homemade methods for dealing with dirty elements made of this material. The product is also known as an effective dishwasher and oven cleaner.
To clean brass with vinegar, prepare a homemade cleaner using one teaspoon of salt, 250 ml of vinegar and 50 g of flour. Mix the ingredients thoroughly to combine. Put the mixture on your brass elements and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse the paste with warm water and dry the surface using a paper towel. As the last step, polish the surface. Use a soft cloth – microfiber is the best option.
Cleaning brass with toothpaste – is it effective?
Toothpaste is another proven DIY brass cleaner. This method is exceptionally easy, as toothpaste is the basic hygienic product you can find in every household.
Cover the brass accessories thoroughly with the paste. This method is perfect if you want to remove green tarnish from brass surfaces. It takes time, but gives great results. After cleaning, rinse the paste from the elements using warm water. To strengthen the effect, polish the surface.
Does cleaning brass with Coke work?
Coca-Cola is not only a popular beverage, but also a great way to clean silver and brass. It works thanks to phosphoric acid being one of the ingredients. Simply pour the beverage into a bowl and dip the element in it. If the dirt is extensive, you can safely soak the object in the beverage for 15-20 minutes without worrying about any damage. Make sure to clean the element thoroughly after such a bath, then dry it, and polish its surface. Thanks to this, it will look beautiful again.
How to clean brass – tinfoil as an alternative method
Tinfoil is an effective way to remove any dirt from brass. We recommend combining it with the previously mentioned mixture of vinegar, salt, and flour. Just form a piece of tinfoil into a ball – this way, you created an effective tool for removing dirt. After placing the vinegar paste on brass elements, you can additionally wipe them with the aluminum ball. Thanks to this, you can remove all dirty stains from the surface – even if they’re old. But use this method carefully, to avoid damaging the surface.
Can you use something else apart from brass cleaners?
If you aren’t convinced about the quality and safety of the mentioned methods, you can use various brass cleaning products. By carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions, you can professionally clean brass elements at home. It’s still a more cost-effective option than taking your brass accessories to an expert.
📍 Is cleaning brass a difficult task?
Cleaning brass with a homemade cleaner is not difficult. Thanks to this, you can easily restore the material's old shine. There are many DIY brass cleaners, and some of them might positively surprise you. But if you don't like experimenting, you can also use store-bought, professional products designed specifically for cleaning brass.
📍 What is the best homemade brass cleaner?
Cleaning brass with Coca-Cola is one of the most popular DIY brass cleaning method – many consider it the best one. As an option, you can also use toothpaste or a baking soda based solution. Thanks to homemade brass cleaners, you can quickly restore brass elements.
📍 How to clean brass at home?
Cleaning brass at home is one of the easiest household chores. By using proven home remedies, you can save not only time, but also money. Just make sure to carefully follow the instructions after picking a method.
📍 Why should you clean brass elements?
Brass elements might get dirty due to daily use. Cleaning them with homemade cleaners or store-bought products might restore their old look. Make sure to clean them regularly – thanks to this, the dirt won't get difficult to remove, and the element won't tarnish.
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