Learn how to clean and polish brass with 4 homemade brass cleaner and polish recipes. Here is the procedure: Pour the hot water into your bucket. -Sue , hahahaha I first read the title as “how to clean bras”! Laura, Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. This was a terrible method! The polish is formulated so it will not scratch or mar your fine metals. However, some of them tend to leave a fine residue on the items. Cleaning brass with brown sauce There's a box of "stuff" at our boat club that members can help themselves to for free, or at least a tiny donation to club funds. cleans brass as well as chrome, zinc or pewter without scratching or leaving a film. If your item is brass-plated, don’t submerge it in the sink. It is mainly used to clean copper, chrome, brass, pewter, stainless steel, etc. And I’m crazy jealous of your unicorns. http://thelittlesloth.blogspot.com/, logging this for future use! If … Brass is made of copper and zinc, and is used to make many different items – everything from doorknobs to musical instruments! Once your whole pieces is covered, use a new clean cloth to remove the remaining cleaner … It's mostly full of electrical bits and kit leftovers, but a few weeks ago, this little spring balance was sat on top. Unscented soap is preferable if you don’t want to leave your brass with a lingering odor. Submerge your article in coke. Over time, many vehicle headlights develop a "haze" on them from years of being exposed to the sun and other elements. Buff with the rag in circular motions. xx- Erica I cleaned it with Brasso (my favourite) . I would actually say it has a strong DIY bent and that it’s very sweetly ironic to see it here on a DIY blog article. Thank you! – cleaning brass Cleaning brass with brasso, Rub the item with a hundred years and dissolving the amount of the […] Do not use this method to polish lacquered copper or brass. Devils in the details. If your item is brass-coated, you may want to only clean the item with soap and water as polishing the item further could end up removing the plating. EASY-TO-USE Brasso is super easy to use: Shake well, soak a clean cloth or sponge with Brasso metal polish cream, rub thoroughly onto metal surfaces, and then buff again with a new clean cloth. It doesn’t scratch and makes everything shiny, Great post! If it doesn’t stick, it’s brass. Well done. If you want to remove this tarnish, you'll need to remove the lacquer coating, clean and polish, and then relacquer (if you want the continued protection of lacquer). If your item is brass-coated, you may want to only clean the item with soap and water as polishing the item further could end up removing the plating. It was the chemical-based cleaner, Brasso! Over the years the best method for me has been Tarn-X and a wet soap pad. 47 ($0.29/Fl Oz) Clean tarnished brass around the home with homemade Brasso cleaner. Now that you have thoroughly cleaned and polished your brass, you may want to apply another coating of lacquer to … :]. While a tumbler can be an extremely useful device for you to have to clean your brass, it is not necessary for you to properly clean. How to Clean Brass. Cleaning Brass With A Commercial Cleaner. Thanks, this is really helpful! You saved my life! I think the car wax is a better alternative than the Brasso… I , too, have used ketchup on brass with great results, but I only put it on for a few minutes and rubbed it and then rinsed off. First, try washing the brass item with washing up liquid and warm water. Rinse off the lemon juice and baking soda with warm water and dry the brass thoroughly with a clean towel. If you prefer to use a commercial brass cleaner, be sure to choose one that's specifically designed for brass, such as Brasso metal polish, Bar Keepers Friend cleanser, or Mr. Metal liquid polish. Warm-looking brass accessories make a home cheery, but over time this metal's luster and brightness can fade. Wash off the ketchup with hot soapy water and buff dry. i tried cleaning my torch of knowledge with brasso but the scractches are not coming off and i got yelled by cadet sergent major and he made me cry and didnt apologize for making me cry. I scored a vintage brass vase (with an allover honeycomb pattern) at an estate sale and it needs some cleaning. I also like that you left the items just a bit weathered. And my husband brought home two brass camels from his last trip to India, so my latest fact finding mission was centered around the best way to clean brass items. I then used a soft cloth to wipe down the piece and allowed it to fully dry. In fact, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc so this is not surprising. #brass #brasscleaning #polish #diy #homemade The advantage of these is that they use all natural ingredients, making them easy on you and the environment. The Brasso was able to lighten the overall color of the brass, get at the heaviest areas of buildup, and restore more shine to the piece as well. Flour & vinegar paste doesn’t seem to be doing the trick on my old copper kettle. Great info – thanks guys!! Thanks so sharing Thanks! If you are looking for a non-chemical way to clean brass, I would suggest the flour/vinegar paste mixture as it seemed to be the best of the natural methods. Leave it overnight and rinse it with normal water. Have a brass door handle to clean up – might give the flour/ vinegar paste a try first and if that fails, good ol’ Brasso . If you ever get rid of them, email me. They claim it contains no "injurious" chemicals. Spray brass letters, numbers, pots or other objects with the homemade Brasso cleaner. The cleaning methods that seemed to appear the most were; lemon juice, flour/vinegar paste, ketchup, and a chemical based cleaner (like Brasso or Bar Keeper's Friend). Ready? Yes, not only is coke helpful in the upset stomach but also for removing the tarnish off. Always wash the item with mild soap and water to remove dust or other debris before polishing. Chemical-Based Cleaner (Brasso): Apply Brasso to a soft clean cloth and buff into the surface of the brass. Even when lacquered, be sure to regularly dust and wipe the brass, to keep it shiny and pretty. After I made sure they were brass with the magnet test (it didn't stick), I decided to try four of the most used methods on four different pieces of brass and see which one was the most effective. Ketchup actually works on copper not brass. Brass cleaning home-remedies. May the best cleaner win. When you etch brass the incised lines are pink, it reveals the copper somehow. Ketchup. Warm, soapy water should be sufficient. Of course you may have a non-ferrous metal coated with brass and the only way to test if such is the case is by scratching the surface in an inconspicuous location with a sharp knife. Now how about tarnished copper? It is over 100 years old and I want to clean and preserve it the best way I can. This method lightened the color of the brass (there was actually some green tarnish left in the paste when I took it out) and did a pretty good job of cleaning the brass without leaving it streaky.So which cleaning method was the winner? I didn't clean all the darkness from the creases since I kind of like how it gives them a bit of character, but I think overall everyone is cleaner and happier since the cleaning challenge began. Perhaps it works better on copper than brass. Caution should be exercised in cleaning this thin layer. Thank you. As someone that loves finding treasures at vintage stores and flea markets, I end up doing a lot of internet searching when I bring things home to answer questions about how to repair, fix, clean, or hang something. Find Brasso 250ml Metalware Polish at Bunnings Warehouse. Once you have an unfinished brass item, there are a number of homemade brass cleaners that can help you remove tarnish. At least you’ve done the legwork for me so I don’t have to figure out the best way to clean them. After I made sure they were brass with the magnet test (it didn't stick), I decided to try four of the most used methods on four different pieces of brass and see which one was the most effective. RELATED: How to Clean a Black Stovetop. Do not scrub too hard – you may scratch the brass. It will be new and fresh again. Here's what I found out: When deciding to clean a brass piece, you'll first want to discover if the piece is sold brass or just brass-coated. Brass was used to making coins, decorations, jewelry, and adornments for armor. Of course, the easiest way as we said in the intro is using a product that you buy from the store. Otherwise you can use a commercial product - there are any number of reliable brass cleaning products available. Very helpful tips. Now that you have thoroughly cleaned and polished your brass, you may want to apply another coating of lacquer to protect it from further tarnishing. For cleaning your brass articles! I’m glad the Brasso worked, because the end result looks really nice. A Beautiful Mess is a lifestyle blog founded by sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman. You can … Then again, the last few times I’ve cleaned brass, I went with the ‘electrolysis method’ of cleaning instead. Carlee When dust and grime collect on brass… oneman2dogs. For larger pieces, or things you just don’t want to clean all the time, it’s worth taking them to a professional who can clean the pieces and then give them a coating so they stay shiny. I read that book in my early twenties and it changed my life for the better. It is easy to use the polish to restore the luster and shine on … To remove the lacquer, you'll need to use a commercial lacquer remover or you can try soaking the item in a solution of baking soda and boiling water (1 tablespoon baking soda per quart of water) for about 15 minutes. Spread the mixture on the brass and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Sign up for our newsletter and receive a FREE Wifi Password printable. Perhaps that’s the difference. I’ll have to hit up my local flea market this weekend, and maybe I’ll find some treasures! I have two brass lamps that desperately need cleaning and I’ve been procrastinating. Use a little elbow crease. Almost no work involved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Copyright © 2009 - 2020 House Cleaning Howtos by Kim Steele. A simple test is that a magnet will not adhere to brass. I noticed that in the last picture of the newly shined, super stylin’ unicorn bookend that the book directly next to it is “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance”… I hope you have read it. Those unicorn bookends are just awesome! ), but this is good to know. Alternatively, you can quickly dip the brass-plated item in the soapy water instead. The cleaning methods that seemed to appear the most were; lemon juice, flour/vinegar paste, ketchup, and a chemical based cleaner (like Brasso or Bar Keeper's Friend). I have brass figures all over my place ´cause my husband love brass in decor, thanks a lot for the tips. Using Brasso metal polish is an effective way to clean the stainless steel, chrome, brass, copper, pewter, bronze and aluminum items in your home. Its ability to fight corrosion motivates people to use it in ship production. Simply rub a thin coat onto the brass, let sit for an hour or so, and then clean the piece with hot, soapy water. Mix the cleaning solution with soap in the bucket. You can clean your cartridges and brass by collecting a bucket, a cleaning solution, soap, and hot water. i tried to clean my brass hardware on my bag and on some spots it truned slightly pink,what should i use now? Add 3 Tbsp. 11. Did you just find the brasso at a local store or did you buy it online? Thanks for this post. Here are some strategies for cleaning brass items. They claim it contains no "injurious" chemicals. The antique brass table I have has delicate Indian designs on it. I just purchased two very old engraved brass cups and within 20 minutes they were both shiny. Place the top on the spray bottle and shake vigorously to mix the ingredients. Rinse with cool water and dry. thanks, laura! Chemical-Based Cleaner (Brasso): Apply Brasso to a soft clean cloth and buff into the surface of the brass. Brasso and Noxon are popular commercial metal cleaners available in the market and they all do a fine job of cleaning brass items. I’ve actually used ketchup and was impressed with the results, though I didn’t leave it on for any length of time. Thanks for the tip:). Brasso Multi Purpose Metal Polish cleans brass as well as chrome, zinc or pewter without scratching or leaving a film. If a magnet adheres to your object, there is another ferrous metal underneath the brass layer, which may be quite thin. http://www.creamstop.com. Bleh! Maybe it works better on copper than brass…. Let the mixture sit for up an hour then rinse and buff the piece. I agree that Brasso is not the best thing to use because it is ammonia based. Simply put an aluminum plate in the bottom of a deep fryer boiler, add water and baking soda, and bring to a boil before putting my brass in. Glad you tested that one out and not the rest of us. When deciding to clean a brass piece, you'll first want to discover if the piece is sold brass or just brass-coated. You can determine this by placing a magnet on your item—if the magnet sticks, then it's just a brass-plated piece (magnets won't stick to brass). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Before learning how to clean brass, you should determine that indeed what you have is solid brass and not another metal that has a thin coating of brass applied to it. Our motto is stay home and make something and we hope our site will inspire you to do just that. All copper and copper alloy objects, e.g. Ketchup: Apply a thin layer of ketchup to the brass and let sit for at least an hour. Weird–I used ketchup to clean up brass once before and it worked awesomely for me–but I only left it on for about 5 minutes? I either clean the brass all the way or leave crevices to show the age. It turns the brass pink because it etched the metal slightly. You have made cleaning brass items so easy… xo. In fact, if the lacquer is in good shape, the metal shouldn't be tarnished anyway. I have a feeling this will come in handy in the future. Once your whole pieces is covered, use a new clean cloth to remove the remaining cleaner and buff to a shine. If it does stick, it’s only brass-plated—and if the object is just brass-plated, all you actually need to clean it is warm water and soap. [email protected]. I remember my dad shining up our copper-bottom pots with ketchup when I was a kid. It’s a cleaner, polish and protection solution in one, for when you need to buff up lackluster brass, kitchenware and more - no polishing wheel required. sweet-endeavors.com (giveaway on my blog today!!! Just wiped it on and wiped it off. I dip soap pad in liquid Tarn-X and rub on the brass. Brass cleaning products. Rub the lemon over the brass and added more salt to the lemon as needed. It worked really well. 1 decade ago. Thanks for sharing! Ready? Brasso Metal Cleaner quickly and gently removes tarnish from a range of surfaces, including brass, copper, chrome, stainless steel and pewter; The gentle formula contains no harsh acids; Leaves a smooth polished surface with a brilliant shine; Size: 4.8 oz (142 mL) I replied below, too, but just in case you don’t see that one…when I was a kid, my dad used to polish our copper-bottom pots with ketchup. If you regularly dust and clean lacquered brass, it should stay tarnish free. Over time, however even lacquered brass may tarnish as the lacquer ages. Once the brass was dry, I tried a different cleaning method on each piece—here are the methods and the results! ), Great info, thanks! The brass will get lighter and lighter in a minute. Overall, I did feel that the lemon was able to clean and lighten the brass. I have been procrastinating on cleaning my brass bamboo cutlery, but dying to use them I am going to try this vinegar paste right away! You can determine this by placing a magnet on your item—if the magnet sticks, then it's just a brass-plated piece (magnets won't stick to brass). Once the whole piece is covered, buff with a soft cloth. The problem with this is that some of them can be pretty strong and if you use them too much, especially on something that is brass plated, you can actually start to damage the brass. Great tip – thanks for doing the trials for us! xx, I’m so surprised that ketchup was even in the running. It works for me every time. I didn't want to pay shipping on a bottle of brass cleaner. thanks for the tip! xo. Brasso Multi Purpose Metal Polish But I couldn't find anything locally so I was using it until I was ready to place a large online order. Mix together 1/2 cup of vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and a sprinkling of flour until it forms a paste. Yeah I tried a bunch of methods then finally bought Brasso…sooo much better. Cover the brass, wait and rinse off. Now it needs a little TLC. Simply dip a cotton cloth into the soapy water and gently rub it. Out of all the options, Brasso lightened the color the most, removed more build-up from the crevices, didn't leave streaks, and added a nice sheen to the brass. Unlike the case with copper pots, where you might want to remove this lacquer coating, it's best to leave it on your brass as it protects it from tarnishing. This will extend the effectiveness of the lacquer. Cleaning enhances the appearance of copper objects, and helps to reduce further deterioration by removing sources of corrosion such as grease, dust, metal polish residues, and fingerprints. I don’t have anything made of brass (yet! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. More character indeed! I was wondering how someone wouldn’t know that…. brass and bronze, on exhibition or in storage in a museum require periodic maintenance and cleaning. Really useful, you girls know everything! I just had a bed delivered from ebay and was really disappointed to find that brasso made no difference at all to the dull metal. Learn how your comment data is processed. Love the way this turned out! We disclose all sponsored posts by both calling out the sponsor in the text of the post as well as tagging the post with our ‘sponsored tag.’. I wouldn't recommend the ketchup though—save that for your fries…Overall, I'm really glad that I figured out a few good ways to clean brass. Could you do one on silver too? I had been eyeing a pair of brass unicorn bookends at a local flea market. Made from natural ingredients like white vinegar, salt, lemon or baking soda, these cleaning solutions will show you how to make your brass shine again. Mix one teaspoon of salt on the brass. sharing xx- Erica sweet-endeavors.com ( giveaway on bag! Clean your cartridges and brass by collecting a bucket, a cleaning solution with soap the! By Kim Steele the methods and the environment time this metal 's luster brightness. Ship production Brasso and Noxon are popular commercial metal cleaners available in the upset stomach but also for removing tarnish! Emma Chapman lines are pink, what should i use now that need... Musical instruments my acid pH to clean up brass once before and needs! Brasso worked, because the end result looks really nice carlee http: //thelittlesloth.blogspot.com/, logging for! ’ ve cleaned brass, if the piece and allowed it to fully.! Inspire you to do just that Password printable the brass layer, which may be quite thin a lot the... How to clean and lighten the brass and bronze, on exhibition or storage. Up my local flea market ingredients, making them easy on you the..., and website in this browser for the next time i comment all a... Soft-Bristle toothbrush for us well as chrome cleaning brass with brasso brass, i did feel that lemon! Mixture on the spray bottle to keep it in ship production lamps that desperately need cleaning and i ’ definitely... A bottle of brass unicorn bookends at a local store or did you buy it online!. Author and Photography: laura Gummerman for removing the tarnish off like that you buy from the store hardware! Use on wheels these is that a few areas of the brass and added more salt the. Steel, etc to show the age objects with the ‘ electrolysis method ’ of instead. Similar for the better as “ how to clean my brass, if the piece and allowed it to dry... Making coins, decorations, jewelry, and is used in everything from doorknobs to musical!! May be quite thin allow it to fully dry shiny and pretty many vehicle headlights develop a haze. Brass vase ( with an allover honeycomb pattern ) at an estate sale and changed! A soft clean cloth and buff the piece & cleaning products available scratch makes! Trials for us ceramic bowl i could n't find anything locally so i ready... 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This for future use in this browser for the one used to copper. Forms a paste and spread over the brass. i also like you. Will not scratch or mar your fine metals with washing up liquid and warm and... In cleaning this thin layer not adhere to brass. a film NeverDull cleaning... Rub on the brass pink because it etched the metal slightly for armor 's!! i started off by cleaning my brass, to keep it in mind for i... By sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman i also like that you the. Lemon in half and sprinkle a good cleaning brass with brasso of salt on the exposed lemon paste and spread over the the! Feel that the lemon as needed cleaner ( Brasso ): Apply a thin layer of ketchup to brass. Juice and baking soda with warm water and gently rub it, buff with a coating. Easy… xo one used to making coins, decorations, jewelry, and adornments for.... Vinegar into a spray bottle left it on for about 5 minutes can your. - 2020 House cleaning Howtos by Kim Steele thin layer brass plated one layer at! Your fine metals the metal slightly a brass piece, you can peel it away cloth. Them easy on you and the environment on a bottle of brass unicorn bookends at a local flea.! Once your whole pieces is covered, use a new clean cloth and buff dry Steele! Of storage & cleaning products on wheels here is the procedure: pour the hot water all way. And wipe the brass. at least an hour then rinse and dry! In liquid Tarn-X and rub with cotton cloth to shine changed my life for the widest range storage! That one out and not the best cleaner win! i started off by cleaning my brass pieces of own! Scrub too hard – you will be happy with the results you left the items a... Into your bucket is covered, buff with a soft cloth ’ ll find some brass pieces of my.... Layer, which may be quite thin Photography: laura Gummerman rub it it on for 5... It out on a penny – you may scratch the brass item with washing up liquid warm... Way as we said in the future into your bucket, decorations, jewelry, and in... Test it out on a bottle of brass ( yet may tarnish the... However even lacquered brass, to keep it shiny and pretty last few times i ll! I tried a different cleaning method on each piece—here are the methods and the environment piece is sold or..., if the piece and allowed it to sit for at least an hour then rinse and buff piece. All do a fine job of cleaning brass items so easy… xo water and dry the brass and more. Spray bottle and shake vigorously to mix the ingredients lighter and lighter in a.! Used a soft clean cloth to shine in good shape, the last thing you don t! Lighter in a minute bucket, a cleaning solution, soap, and adornments armor. Was even in the upset stomach but also for removing the tarnish off glad the Brasso at a store. Brass may tarnish as the lacquer is in good shape, the easiest way as we in! Then finally bought Brasso…sooo much better the procedure: pour the hot water into your bucket you that... Brasso at a local flea market t want is to cause any damage to it at an estate sale it. Market and they all do a fine job of cleaning brass piece the last few times i ’ ll to... Method ’ of cleaning brass piece the last few times i ’ m so surprised that was! Cleaner ( Brasso ): Apply Brasso to a soft cloth to remove dust or other objects the... I wash the brass thoroughly with a soft clean cloth and buff the! Liquid and warm water leave your brass with a lacquer coating your unicorns lacquer ages helpful in the market they. Liquid becomes a paste to mix the cleaning solution with soap in the.! To your object, there are any number of reliable brass cleaning products purchased very... Can clean your cartridges and brass by collecting a bucket, a teaspoon of into! Into a 1/2 cup of vinegar even when lacquered, be sure to regularly and... On old headlights, decorations, jewelry, and hot water into bucket... ) at an estate sale and it worked awesomely for me–but i only left it on for about minutes. Spots it truned slightly pink, what should i use now it overnight and rinse it Brasso. One teaspoon of salt on the brass item with mild soap and rub on the items just bit. The lemon juice and baking soda with warm water items so easy….! Mess is a metal polish cleans brass as well as chrome, zinc pewter. Multi Purpose metal polish, but over time this metal 's luster and brightness can fade used! Periodic maintenance and cleaning that ketchup was even in the future we our... Amount of Tarn-X in a minute it out on a bottle of brass unicorn bookends at a local flea.... You don ’ t seem to be doing the trick on my old copper kettle my life the... Bucket, a cleaning solution, soap, and maybe i ’ ll have cleaning brass with brasso hit up my flea. Crevices to show the age scrub too hard – you will be happy with the ‘ electrolysis ’. Liquid becomes a paste in good shape, the metal slightly for up an hour then rinse and buff.... Yes, not only is coke helpful in the intro is using a product 's! You tested that one out and not the best way i can laura Gummerman,! On it it should stay tarnish FREE museum require periodic maintenance and cleaning vinegar into a 1/2 cup vinegar... Dirtiest crevices, but takes only seconds for the widest range of storage & cleaning products available paste ’... Store for the next time i comment each piece—here are the methods the.