How to Clean Bronze

Bronze has been prized throughout history for its beauty and durability. An alloy of copper and tin, zinc or aluminum, bronze is used to manufacture decorative and functional items alike. Because of its high resistance to corrosion, bronze has been used to make armor, sculptures and building materials, as well as a variety of decorative items, such as handles and accents.Bronze that has been exposed to oxygen develops a greenish protective layer called a patina. Many individuals are fond of the look of patina and will not want to remove it from their bronze pieces. If you prefer to keep the patina on your bronze, do not follow the cleaning instructions in this article; rather, simply dust the piece occasionally. Additionally, decorative bronze may be covered with a high-gloss glaze. If your bronze is covered with a glaze, simply wipe it with a wet cloth as needed. However, if you want the shiny look of polished bronze, take the following steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soft cloth
• Lemon juice
• Baking soda
• Bronze polish (if desired)

1. Dust the bronze piece gently with a soft cloth. Use a soft brush to clean lightly in any crevices.

2. Mix 4 tbsp. of baking soda with enough lemon juice to form a paste. The lemon juice may be fresh or from a concentrate.

3. Apply paste to the piece you are cleaning with a soft cloth.

4. Rub the paste in circles onto the item you are cleaning. Cover the entire piece in paste, including any crevices.

5. Allow the paste to sit on the bronze piece for 20 minutes.

6. Wipe the paste from the bronze piece with a wet cloth. If patina or debris remains, repeat all steps until the desired look is achieved.

7. Dry the piece completely with a soft cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Finish the piece with a commercial bronze polish, if desired, to help maintain the patina-free look.
• If the patina does not appear to be coming off, spend some time scrubbing the bronze piece with the paste prior to letting it sit.
• Always test a small area prior to cleaning the entire piece, to ensure that the item will withstand the cleaning process.

Resources

• Worldbronze.com guide to bronze-cleaning kits