How to Seal and Polish Brass
Brass candles and lamps are popular home décor across America. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they tend to bring an air of elegance into a room. However, you do face a challenge in owning any brass piece. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper. When exposed to air, it tends to oxidize and tarnish. As a result, you must polish and seal it on a regular basis. It is the only way to keep brass in beautiful condition. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Clean your brass with rubbing alcohol. Use a two-sided sponge that includes a soft side and scouring pad. Apply gentle pressure and rub the tarnish away. Afterward, wipe off any residue with a clean, dry rag.
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Polish your brass with a yellow treated dust cloth. Black spots on brass are a direct result of too much oil. Yellow treated dust cloths have the proper amount of oil on them, so you won't overtreat your pieces.
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Buff your brass with a clean, soft cloth. Do it with circular motions. Be sure to cover every inch of your brass piece until it shines. Also, no oil should be dripping or running off of it.
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Rub your brass with olive oil. Do it with cloth moistened with it. Olive oil gives brass a brighter appearance and staves away any tarnish. Go over the brass with a dry, soft towel afterward.
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Seal your brass piece with lacquer. Several products are on the market. An easy one to use is Staybrite. All you do is spray it over your pieces in a well-ventilated area and let it dry. Sealant will further keep your brass from tarnishing.
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Tips & Warnings
For heavier soiled pieces of brass, clean with with water and an abrasion cream.
Don't rub your brass too hard with a scouring pad because it will damage it.
Resources
- Photo Credit Marcus Buckner
