The Best Methods and Tips for Cleaning Brass and Keeping the Brass Items in Your Home Pristine
Have you ever tried to clean your brass fixtures and accent pieces and feel like they still look dull and dingy? Do you want to restore the beautiful shine and luster that made you choose them in the first place?
We totally understand, and with a few simple products and a little elbow grease, it’s possible to have all your brass looking as good as new.
We will break down all you need to know about the different types of brass, the best cleaning tips specifically for brass, how often to clean it, and how to maintain your brass fixtures in between cleanings.
Table of Contents
To Clean Your Brass Correctly, You Need To Know What Type of Brass You’re Working With
Before embarking on your Saturday morning brass cleaning project, you should know if you’re dealing with solid brass or something that is brass-plated.
Solid brass is a soft metal, and can easily dent or scratch as a result. Plated brass is another type of metal, most often steel or zinc, with a thin layer of brass coating. Both give the same beautiful aesthetic, but knowing which your fixtures and accent pieces are lets you know how to best clean them.
Luckily there is a really simple test that will let you know what you’ve got if you aren’t sure. Get a magnet (a small fridge magnet will do) and touch it to your brass pieces and fixtures. Does it stick? If so, you are dealing with brass-plating. If not, you more than likely have solid brass.
This helpful fact sheet offers tips for maintaining and preserving antique, solid brass pieces.
How To Clean Brass: 5 Popular Methods
There are several ways to achieve the results you are after. The methods described below include ways to clean your brass using green and natural and chemical-based products.
Here’s a list of equipment and materials you’ll need to clean using the following methods:
Non-abrasive sponge
Microfiber cloth
Toothbrush
Damp cloth
Dish soap
Water
Salt
Vinegar
Baking soda
Flour
Lemon
Ketchup or Tomato paste
Brasso
Bar Keepers Friend.
Methods 1-4 include things you probably already have in your kitchen. You likely can achieve the results you desire with these methods. For more extreme tarnishing, you may need to do an initial deep cleaning using chemical-based products.
If you aren’t sure, we can help determine the best methods and do the initial deep clean for you. Tidy Up Portland! has the experience to clean even the toughest jobs, and we are committed to helping the planet as we work, without sacrificing results. Our easy online portal makes scheduling your cleanings a breeze. For house cleaning in Portland, look no further than Tidy Up Portland!
#1: Soap and Water
This is the best place to start. Get a small bowl of warm water and mix in a few drops of dish soap. Using a damp microfiber towel or non-abrasive sponge, apply the sudsy mixture to your brass and gently scrub. Then dry them with a clean microfiber towel.
We also recommend this simple method for monthly maintenance of your brass in between deeper cleanings.
Choosing phosphorus and phosphate-free soap for dishes and household cleaning is the best choice for the environment. Here at Tidy Up Portland!, we are committed to the environment and using eco-friendly soaps, detergents, and other cleaning products, as well as minimizing single-use disposable products.
#2: Vinegar Paste
Ready to clean your brass a bit deeper? This method is also simple, straight-forward, and uses ingredients you already have in the kitchen. You’ll need salt, vinegar, and either baking soda or flour.
Here’s what to do:
Mix equal parts of table salt, vinegar, and either baking soda or flour in a small bowl. Stir until your ingredients are fully combined and a paste forms. Baking soda helps clean more deeply, while flour is more gentle and can be a good choice for more delicate solid brass antique pieces.
Use a microfiber cleaning cloth to apply the past to the brass items and fixtures you are cleaning. Allow the mixture to sit for one hour.
Rinse the vinegar mixture off thoroughly with warm water.
Use a clean microfiber cloth to buff the brass and restore shine.
#3: Lemon and Salt
This cleaning method may come as a surprise because it’s so simple and easy.
Here’s how it works:
Cut a lemon in half and remove the seeds.
Sprinkle some salt on the half you will use for cleaning your brass. Use the other lemon half to hydrate with some cold water or garnish tonight’s dinner.
Gently rub the lemon on the brass pieces you are cleaning.
Allow the lemon juice to sit for 20 minutes.
Finish by rinsing with warm water on a microfiber towel and buffing with a different dry microfiber towel.
#4: Ketchup or Tomato Paste
If the vinegar and baking soda or lemon methods did not give your desired result, another natural option to try is tomato paste (or even ketchup). Because tomatoes are acidic and slightly abrasive, the paste can work into metal without damaging your brass.
Try this:
Apply a thin layer of tomato paste to the brass you are cleaning.
Allow it to sit for 30-60 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Fully dry and buff your brass with a clean microfiber towel.
#5: Chemical-Based Products
Sometimes brass has become badly tarnished. In these cases, you may need a chemical-based cleaner for an initial deep clean. Metal cleaners, such as Brasso, are specifically designed for your fine brass goods. They can offer more cleaning power and help remove aged tarnish.
Bar Keepers Friend is a product many swear by for many types of materials, from glass to ceramic to brass. Before using all over, test in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t damage the item you are cleaning.
To use it, gently sprinkle the Bar Keepers Friend on the brass piece or fixture, and use a wet non-abrasive sponge to scrub it in. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. As with all methods, make sure you fully dry your brass pieces to prevent tarnishing.
If you prefer not to use chemicals in your home and are having trouble achieving the level of clean you want, we are here to help at Tidy Up Portland! Allow our talented cleaners to take out the back-breaking work and get your home in top shape.
Brass Cleaning Tips
Here are some tips that can help make cleaning brass easier and more effective:
Consider using special cloths made for brass cleaning.
Elbow grease might be required, especially for brass that is heavily tarnished.
Remove rings and jewelry that might scratch the brass before you start cleaning.
Always test an inconspicuous section first to ensure that there are no negative reactions to the cleaning product you are using.
Check the brass first to see if it’s solid or plated.
Check to see if the brass is lacquered. Lacquer is a coat on top of the brass which offers protection. If you are dealing with lacquered brass, you are not actually cleaning the brass itself. Clean lacquered items only with a damp cloth and soapy water to protect this coating. Damage to the coating can allow oxygen to reach the metal and tarnish to appear.
How Often Should You Clean Your Brass?
When brass is handled more often, it will need to be cleaned more frequently. Pieces that are purely decorative and not touched or handled need less frequent cleaning.
Hardware and fixtures like cabinet handles, door knobs, and faucets need to be cleaned and polished monthly.
Decorative pieces should be cleaned at least once a year or more frequently if they develop tarnish.
Brass items that have a lacquer or protective seal should only be cleaned with dusting and gentle wiping as needed.
How To Maintain Brass Fixtures Between Cleanings
Now that you have deep-cleaned your brass, how can you maintain its beauty and cleanliness?
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Don’t handle brass any more than is necessary.
Always ensure that your brass pieces are fully dry after cleaning.
Store brass in cool and low-humidity areas.
Dust decorative brass pieces regularly to prevent tarnish.
Consider using lacquer or polyurethane coating to keep decorative brass finishes free from tarnish after deep cleaning and polishing.
Conduct a monthly ipe-down of any pieces that get touched or handled regularly with soapy water mixture, and dry thoroughly.
To maintain cleanliness and peace in your home, consider routine cleanings with Tidy Up Portland! We pride ourselves on making your life easier and offer cleaning schedules that work best for your needs and budget. Anywhere from twice weekly to quarterly, our flexible scheduling and custom services are designed to meet your needs.
Whether It’s Basic Cleaning or Cleaning Brass Fixtures in Your Home, TidyUp Portland! Provides Custom Cleaning Services To Meet Your Needs
Deep cleaning can be overwhelming for anyone, especially when you have a busy schedule. Maintaining a clean home that allows you to thrive can be difficult as well.
At Tidy Up Portland!, we offer custom cleaning solutions for whatever it is that you need. We specialize in both deep cleanings and weekly maintenance cleanings. Our competitive pricing and easy scheduling portal make it a breeze to try us out. Our results and reviews speak for themselves. Don’t let pride or overwhelm keep you from having the clean home you deserve.
We understand and are here, ready, and eager to help you. Contact us today to get started.
