How to maintain Brass Products

Brilliant Household ways to Clean Brass and revive shine of Brass products

You would be able to get back the shine of your favourite brass items with these tested cleaning ways. We'll show you how to use common household ingredients to remove grime and build-up.

With time, your treasured brass pieces can lose its shine as oxygen, water, and other elements cause the metal to rust or oxidized. Fortunately, there are many ways to bring back life to your favourite brass product. With our editor-tested methods for how to clean brass, you'll only need necessary household supplies and a few minutes of your time to restore shine to hardware, doorknobs, decorative objects, and more. However, before you begin cleaning brass, make sure that what you're polishing is made with the material.

Many things are brass-plated, and these cleaning methods could damage them. If you're not sure, try this easy test: Check the metal with a magnet; if it sticks, iron content is more and you should not try these cleaning methods.

It is also important to know if the brass has been lacquered. Lacquer is a clear varnish, thin, shiny layer that helps to prevent tarnish. Unfortunately, most cleaning ways will damage lacquered brass, so it is better to take the piece to a professional.

It is also very important to know what kind of stain, grime, or build-up you're working with. Always try the cleaning method first in a small, inconspicuous area. You can try many ways for cleaning on the same spot to complete the entire process before moving on to the next method. If you are apprehensive or the item is high in value, get your treasured brass piece for a professional cleaning.

How to Clean Brass Naturally?

Brass is a combination of zinc and copper, brass is a popular in cookware, jewelry, musical instruments (brass band, anyone?), and home decorative objects. You will get many brass things in your home, for example many of your doorknobs may be brass.

Cleaning Brass-Plated Items and Lacquered Brass

Like the metals from which it is made, brass also tarnishes quickly. What is the best way to clean brass? First, you need to determine if your item is made of brass. Hold a magnet to your item. If it sticks, the thing is not brass, but most likely brass-plated. You should use only water and mild detergent to clean brass-plated items, Ezee can be one of them as anything more abrasive could damage the plating.

If you have a tarnished or dirty brass piece that needs cleaning, how you do so depends on whether it is lacquered – i.e., coated with a protective glossy finish – or non-lacquered brass. Lacquered brass can be cleaned by wiping with a moist cloth.

Cleaning Non-Lacquered Brass

1. How to Clean Brass with Ketchup

Can you guess that your favorite topping could double as a brass cleanser? Ketchup is a  mix of tomatoes, spices, and vinegar, straightforward way to restore old brass. This simple cleaning trick requires just the seasoning and a few clean cloths. Start by spray a small amount of ketchup onto the brass in an unnoticeable spot, such as the bottom. Let it be there for a couple of seconds, then wipe it with a moist cloth. Repeat on the remainder of the brass piece. Rinse thoroughly, and then dry with a clean cloth.

2. How to Clean Brass with Vinegar

Let’s use three of our everyday household items together for this Brass cleaning method. To remove tough stains, combine salt's power, vinegar's tough acid, and all-purpose flour as a thickener. In a medium-size bowl, add 1 tsp. Salt to 1/2 cup vinegar. Stir the mixture until the salt is dissolved. Then add flour to make a paste (about 2 tablespoon). Rub the paste on a small place or inconspicuous spot on your brass object and let it dry for 10 minutes. Rinse, wipe and dry the brass with a clean cloth.

3. Brass Cleaning with Lemon and Baking Soda

Lemon juice and baking soda are natural cleaners and easily found household item, but this dual power removes clean up Brass with ease when applied together. Extract  the juice from half of a lemon into a bowl. Add 1 tsp. Baking soda and mix. With a clean piece of cloth, rub the mixture onto brass. Polish and buff away grime, reapplying the mix as needed. Wipe away any leftover residue with a wet rag, and then dry with a clean cloth.

Tip: Try this method on brass items such as doorknobs and knockers. You'll restore the shine without having to displace any hardware.

4. Cleaning of Brass with Soap and Water

Most of the time the simplest of the brass cleaning methods are most effective. If you are not able to understand which method will be effective, try soap and water to clean oxidized brass. Make a warm bath for your brass in a clean container, and then mix in a few tablespoons of soap. Soak the brass for a few seconds, and then use a microfiber cloth or clean toothbrush to work out any stains. The warm water and soap will do some of the work, but this method may still require a bit of elbow grease! Once all of the rust is gone, take out the brass piece from the soap water. Rinse and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

5. How to Clean Brass with Toothpaste

Toothpaste helps whiten and make your teeth shine, and yes we can use this cleaning magic on brass as well. To clean brass with toothpaste, first pick plain, toothpaste (you don't need any gels or fancy flavors). Then, apply a fine layer of this paste on your brass product. Let rest for a few minutes, and then polish with a clean cloth. For tough stains, you'll likely need to use a little extra force. Feel free to apply extra spread of toothpaste to stubborn spots. Once the brass is polished, rinse it with cool water and wipe dry with a cloth.

More Tips for Cleaning and Polishing Brass

If you prefer to use a commercial brass cleaner, be sure to choose one that's specifically designed for brass, such as Dara, Brasso metal polish, Bar Keepers Friend cleanser, or Mr. Metal liquid polish. Always clean the item with mild soap and water to clean dust before polishing.

Brass polishes applies a protective coating on the surface, which helps prevent future oxidization and discoloration. To keep your brass looking shiny, avoid touching it too often (the oils on your skin can cause oxidization and stains) and use a gentle cloth when cleaning or polishing to prevent scratches on brass. With regular maintenance, your brass will remain beautiful and shiny for years to come.

How to Keep Polished Brass from Tarnishing

Brass will automatically start to oxidize if exposed to oxygen. The only way to prevent polished brass from oxidization is to apply a layer of clear sealer that will prevent air from reaching the brass itself. Many brass surfaces come with this finish initially, but it need to be repeated after sometime. Keep refreshing the coating every few years to keep the brass shiny new without frequent polishing. A clear polyurethane sealer can easily protect brass from exposure without causing discoloration.

Step 1

Apply a small amount of thinner(used in painting) to a gentle cloth. Apply it over the body of the brass to remove any existing coatings. Wipe the brass surface with a clean, moist cloth to remove any residue. Allow the brass to dry overnight.

Step 2

A mixture of lemon juice and salt may be used to polish the brass. Add salt so that it does not dissolve in the lemon juice. Rinse the brass with soap and water when it is shiny.

Step 3

Paint a layer of polyurethane onto the brass with a paint brush. Allow the coating to dry for two hours. Apply a total of 4 coats of sealer over the brass. Allow the brass to dry for 24 hours before touching or moving.

Simple Tips and Tricks to Clean brass and Polish brass, Cleaning, and Polishing Gold and Brass Lamps Made Easy.

Why clean brass or polish brass?

Brass and gold bring a burnished and warm glow to your household items. From door knockers and switch plates to bathroom fixates, furniture, utensils to lamps, brass, and gold are used extensively. Gold and brass are corrosion resistant and strong alloys, and because of their bright gold colors, they are one of the most popular decorative and home furnishing materials in the world.

Just like any other metal, brass and gold also tend to become tarnished and dull over time. However, you can easily clean brass items and polish brass to let them shine as bright as they can and make them look as good as new using the right brass cleaner and brass polish. Cleaning and polishing gold and brass lamps or other items are not complicated, and you can do it with things that are commonly found in homes.

Before you begin with to clean brass items, you should find out whether the things are pure gold and brass or there is a mixture of other metals in it as well. An easy way to find it out is using a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the surface, there are other metals in it as magnets do not attract solid brass and gold. If the items are plated, you can clean them with hot soapy water. However, polishing or rubbing them too vigorously with the brass cleaner will remove their plating and can make them appear dull. Therefore, proceed with caution.

Cleaning solid brass & gold lamps

There are many ways to clean these lamps. The approach you take should depend on the level of dirt, tarnish, or dust built upon the surface. Here are some simple techniques and tips.

1. Take a bowl and put some hot water in it. Now add liquid soap to the water, mix it well. Take a cleaning cloth and rub all the surfaces with this solution. You can also use an old toothbrush to clean the crevices of the lamp. Once you are done with the cleaning, wash the lamp using warm water and dry it up. It is excellent to clean brass.
2. If there are some tough stains, dirt, or tarnish on the gold and brass lamps, you can use tomato ketchup, paste, or sauce, which is excellent to clean brass and polish brass. Rub a thin layer of one of these on the surface of the lamp and leave it for at least an hour. Once done, clean with warm soap water.
3. You can also use simple kitchen ingredients to clean gold and brass lamps. Make a mixture of equal portions of white vinegar, flour, and salt. Mix it well and apply it to the surface of the tarnished lamps. Let it sit for at least an hour. Now rinse it with warm water and let it dry. All the tarnish will disappear, and the lamps will look as good as new.
4. Another excellent method to clean and polish brass and gold lamps is to wash it up with a combination of salt and lemon. Take a lemon, cut it in half, and remove the seeds. Take on half of the lemon and coat it with salt. Now rub it on the surface of the tarnished brass and gold lamps. You can recoat the lemon and salt as needed. Cover the lamp's entire body with this, take a clean and dry cloth, and buff the lamp to a shine. You can also make a mixture of one part lemon juice and two parts cream of tartar. Make a paste and coat the lamp with it. Let the mixture sit on the gold and brass lamp for about 30 minutes. Wash with warm water and dry until it shines.
5. Commercial polishes and metal cleaners are also very useful in cleaning and polishing gold and brass lamps. We like to use DARA. It is not only effortless to use but is also quick and very effective. All you need to do is coat the gold and brass lamp with a DARA layer, which is excellent to clean brass, and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes. Take a clean cloth and massage the lamp in circular motion drying and buffing it up. It will clean and polish brass and gold lamp and shine bright as good as new.

Some precautions to take

Here is the list of some precautions you should consider when cleaning and polishing gold and brass lamps using brass cleaner and brass polish.

• Do not use scrubbing highly abrasive cloths. Similarly, avoid using steel wool or metal bristled brushes as they will leave scratches on the lamp's surface.
• A thin coating of mineral oil or linseed oil can be useful in preventing tarnishing. Coat the oil after cleaning the brass and gold lamp using a soft towel.
• Most of the gold and brass lamps come with a lacquer finish. Therefore, it should not be cleaned using hot soapy water. If such gold and brass lamps are heavily tarnished, you need to use a varnish or paint remover first to remove the lacquer and then use one of the techniques mentioned above to clean and polish your gold brass lamp. You were once done, relacquer the lamp to keep it shining and protected.
• Try avoiding touching gold and brass items too much. Oil from your hands can hasten the tarnishing process and reduce your gold and brass objects' life.

Your gold and brass lamps will keep shining for a long if you're clean and polish them regularly. It is vital to avoid accumulating dust, dirt and tarnish on objects made from gold and brass to keep them lustrous, bright, and shiny. With the tips mentioned above and tricks, you can clean and polish all your gold and brass objects and not just lamps and make them look as good and shining as new.