How to Polish Army Brass Belt Buckles

A nicely polished Army brass belt buckle is part of having a uniform that meets all of the uniform standards. Wearing a proper uniform, especially during an inspection, is vital to succeeding in the Army. The Army has set forth specific guidelines as to the proper way to polish the belt buckle. Following all of these guidelines ensures that your belt buckle will pass any inspection.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• #0000 steel wool
• Polishing cream
• Clean, soft, white cloth
• Toothbrush
• Soap
• Gloves

1. Place the belt buckle in boiling water for 30 minutes to soften the clear plastic coating that protects the buckle while it is being stored.

2. Use #0000 steel wool to remove the plastic coating. When doing this, you should only rub from top to bottom. Rubbing from side to side will make markings on the buckle that are against uniform regulations. This may remove light scratches from the belt buckle.

3. Apply a light polishing cream to the belt buckle. Use a clean, soft, white cloth, such as a strip cut off of an old under shirt. Wait one minute before you begin to polish it off.

4. Using a clean piece of the soft cloth, begin rubbing the polish off. This has to be done from top to bottom on all visible areas of the buckle. The more you rub, the more polished the buckle will look.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4. You need at least two coats of polish on the buckle for it to be polished properly.

6. Remove any excess polish from the buckle. To do this, dip a toothbrush into warm soapy water then gently scrub the areas with the polish buildup.

7. Dry the buckle with a soft towel. Once this is done, you may need to rub the buckle with another piece of the clean soft cloth to remove any water marks.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber or latex gloves when you polish your Army brass belt buckle to protect your hands from the polish.
• If your belt buckle is severely scratched, you will need to purchase a new one in order to meet uniform standards.