Cleaning brass does not have to be a daunting task – it can be completed easily, no matter the size of the item you are dealing with. However, before starting your cleaning process, make sure that you know exactly what type of metal you are working with. Cleaning the wrong metal could cause unnecessary damage. Once you’ve determined that it is indeed a brass item, plenty of methods get the job done quickly and efficiently – from homemade cleaners to store-bought sprays and pastes. By taking only a few minutes to look up the correct instructions for cleaning brass, you will soon have your precious items looking good as new!
Determining What Type of Metal You Have
The first step in cleaning brass is determining what type of metal you are dealing with. The most common types of metal used for brass items are lacquered brass, solid brass, and brass-plated metals.
Try using a magnet to figure out which type you have on hand. If the magnet sticks to your item, then it is not solid brass or lacquered. If the magnet does not stick, then it is likely one of these two materials.
Once you have identified the material, you can move on to the appropriate method for cleaning it.
Use an ultrasonic cleaner with citric acid and lemon oil for stubborn tarnish
Having stubborn tarnish on brass can be frustrating – it can take hours of scrubbing and polishing only to leave your brass items looking dull. Fortunately, cleaning brass and removing tacky tarnish can be easier with an ultrasonic cleaner.
Adding citric acid and lemon oil to the water will help permanently remove the discoloration from the surface of your brass item, leaving it sparkling just as it did when it was first made. Work smarter by pairing ultrasonic cleaning with these simple ingredients and you’ll have great results in no time.
Quick Cleaning Tips & Tricks
If your item is lacquered or solid brass and needs a bit of maintenance cleaning, you can use warm water and soap combined with a microfiber cloth to get rid of dirt and grime without damaging the surface.
For more neglected pieces, store-bought cleaners designed specifically for brass cleaning can do wonders in minutes without any hard work or scrubbing required! Homemade cleaners such as lemon juice mixed with baking soda and salt, flour mixed with salt and white vinegar, or ketchup applied directly onto the surface can also be used safely on tarnished items.
For bigger items requiring a deep clean in short time frames, several options are available such as soaking in white vinegar/warm water solution or an overnight tomato sauce soak! Just remember that polishing badly tarnished pieces may reduce their value, so it’s often better to leave them as is if possible.
Consider leaving badly tarnished brass alone, as polishing may reduce its value.
When it comes to brass, a certain amount of tarnish — caused by reactive compounds in the air interacting with the metal — can add to its charm.
So if the piece in question is from an antique shop or a vintage heirloom, consider leaving it as-is rather than attempting to clean it. This is particularly important for older items, as overpolishing may reduce their value.
There are DIY cleaning solutions available for especially pesky patches of tacky tarnish. However, these should be used carefully, as aggressive polishing can cause permanent damage.
Check if the object is lacquered, brass, or brass-plated and whether a magnet sticks to it
Inspecting a brass object before cleaning is an important step that may be easily overlooked. It’s critical to determine if the item is lacquered, plain brass, or copper-plated brass so that you can choose the correct cleaning method.
In addition, checking if a magnet sticks can help identify if the piece has a Brass or Brass-plated coating and alert of any repairs needed on the reverse side of an item. Knowing this information will help you prevent ruining your treasured brass items while removing tarnish, so they shine like new.
Take Your Time
Having stubborn tarnish on brass can be frustrating – it can take hours of scrubbing and polishing only to leave your brass items looking dull.
Fortunately, cleaning brass and removing tacky tarnish can be easier with an ultrasonic cleaner. Adding citric acid and lemon oil to the water will help permanently remove the discoloration from the surface of your brass item, leaving it sparkling just as it did when it was first made.
Work smarter by pairing ultrasonic cleaning with these simple ingredients, and you’ll have great results in no time.
Your Options After Its Sparkling Again
Refurbishing antique items can be an exciting and rewarding process! Once you’ve given an old item a new life, you can do several things with it. You can keep the item to display and enjoy proudly; the antique could even become a beautiful, useful part of your everyday life.
If you decide not to keep the item, plenty of outlets are more than happy to take it off your hands. Online marketplaces such as eBay offer many ways for prospective buyers to find and purchase antiques, so all it takes is some patience and a great listing, and someone else could soon be enjoying your newly refurbished artifact.
Whether you choose to keep or sell your antique item, it’s important to consider its worth before making a decision – that way, you can get the most out of each piece!
Conclusion
Cleaning brass does not have to be a daunting task! Start by determining whether you’re dealing with lacquered or solid brass (or even if it’s just plated!) and choose from any number of simple solutions—from warm water/soap combos to homemade concoctions like lemon juice paste—to quickly remove dirt and grime from your beloved metallic items without damaging them! And if all else fails, store-bought options are always available for those tougher jobs! With a few easy steps and some patience, you will soon be able to enjoy shining surfaces once again!
