If you have items around the house made out of brass, you’ve likely run into the problem of trying to figure out how to clean it—especially if it’s old. If you’ve run into this issue and wondered what the best methods to clean brass are, then you’ve come to the right place because we have some strategies you’ll want to try out.
Buy Brass Cleaning Solutions
By far, the easiest way to tackle stubborn brass is to buy a cleaning solution that’s made specifically for tackling brass objects. However, you shouldn’t simply buy the first brass cleaner you find. There are way more options than you might think, so read some reviews to ensure you get your money’s worth out of whichever one you decide to buy.
Make Your Own Brass Cleaner
Just like any other cleaning solution, there are DIY alternatives you can try. The most common one is mixing lemon juice and baking soda to make a paste. Put the paste on the brass object you want to clean and leave it on for 30 minutes. Or, you can put some salt on a lemon slice and rub it on the dirty part of the brass. Once you’ve completed either method, rinse the object with warm water and leave it out to dry.
If the lemon and baking soda paste doesn’t work, you can try a paste made of flour, salt, and white vinegar. This time, leave it on the brass object for an hour before removing it with warm water.
If things get desperate, try any tomato-based products. This includes ketchup, tomato sauce, or tomato paste. Using tomato products to clean brass may sound weird, but these fruits contain an acid that helps clean tarnished metals. Leave the product on for an hour before cleaning it with water.
Find a Giant Finishing Machine
If you know of a place nearby that uses finishing machines for polishing metal, you can take your hard-to-clean brass there. There are a few different styles that these machines can use for cleaning, but all of them are quite effective in ways that you never could do at home. However, this option might not be doable for everyone. There might not be any finishing machines in your area. If you manage to find one, know that they can be costly to use.
Polish It Regularly
No matter what best method to clean brass you decide to try, the key to keeping them clean in the long run is regular polishing. Just be sure to use a soft cloth and a polish made specifically for brass. If you keep up with polishing, you’ll be able to easily remove any dirt and discoloration. If done successfully, you’ll probably never need to use any of the above methods again.
No matter what best method to clean brass you decide to try, the key to keeping them clean in the long run is regular polishing.
