How to Clean Brass
Brass tarnishes over time and there isn’t much to do about it. Fortunately, it also doesn’t take much to restore its shine. If you are wondering how to clean brass quickly and easily than you are on the right spot. Here is a very effective method to make brass looking as good as new using baking soda and lemon juice only.
What You Need
- baking soda
- ½ a lemon
- a small bowl
- cleaning cloths
- a dry towel
To Clean or Not to Clean?
If you want your brass to have a more weathered look then cleaning it may not be required at all unless you are looking at really dirty brass. Also, regular cleaning and using abrasive cleaners can do more harm than good, especially if the item you are cleaning is antique. Remember always to consult an expert when dealing with antiques, so you can be sure you will use the right cleaning materials and methods.
Is It Actually Brass?
Before you start cleaning your brass make sure it is actually brass. You don’t have to be an expert on brass to tell whether an object is brass or simply brass plated. Just press a magnet to the item and if it sticks, it is only brass plated. When cleaning such object be careful not to wear through the brass to the base metal.
How to Clean Brass
Cut a lemon into half and squeeze one of its halves into your bowl. If you are not sure what to do with the other half, simply throw it into your trash can (it will remove any unpleasant odours).- Pour 1 teaspoon of baking soda and stir well to mix with the lemon juice. The final result should be a nice smelling paste.
- Dip one of the edges of a soft cloth into the paste and gently smear the paste over the brass. For best results, rub in one direction only as advised by Fantastic Cleaners.
- Using a damp cloth rinse off the paste then dry the brass with a clean dry towel. Repeat the entire process if needed.
- When you are done give the brass shine by buffing it with a clean dry cloth.
An alternative solution is provided in this short video on how to clean brass. The video provides an eight-step approach to improving the look of your brass.
Video source: www.videojug.com/
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Tags: baking soda, brass, cleaning, homemade cleaners, lemon juice, tips
Hello, could you tell me whether this cleaning procedure could be applied for the cleaning of brass earrings or not? Thanks in advance
Sienna, the lemon and baking soda paste should work perfectly on your earrings since it is a general brass cleaner. Alternatively, you could use ketchup. Simply, apply a little bit of ketchup to a soft cloth and clean the earrings. Then rinse with water and dry thoroughly .
Hi Roland. Your tips are very useful so I decided to ask you for advice. There were building services in my house recently and unfortunately every single item made of brass needs cleaning. Are baking soda and lemons good enough to remove plastering and paint from my brass items? Thanks in advance.
Hi Sarah. To be honest, I’ve never tried the solution to remove paint from brass, but you could try it and share your experience with us. You could also try cleaning your brass items with white vinegar. I’ve heard that it does pretty good job removing paint!
To remove plastering, mix 1 part of white vinegar with 3 parts of warm water and wipe with a damp cloth. Once the plastering is gone, you can go with the baking soda and lemon solution to add a final touch of shine to the brass.