Things You'll Need:
- Olive or lemon oil
- Clean soft cloths or rags
- Ammonia or vinegar and water
- Sponge
- Commercial brass tarnish remover (optional)
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Step 1
Remove the drawer pull, if possible, to gain access to all the crevices and surface area of the pull. A screwdriver is usually all that is needed. If you're interested in just a basic cleaning that will remove the tarnish and grime you can readily see, skip this step and go directly to Step 2.
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Step 2
Mix a solution of 80% water and 20% ammonia or 80% water and 20% vinegar. Ammonia and vinegar are very inexpensive and are commonly found in the home. A cup-sized batch should be enough to clean a small group of brass pulls. Apply either solution with a sponge to the entire brass pull, taking care to avoid wiping the solution on the surrounding drawer surface. Use the saturated sponge to clean the pull.
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Step 3
Wipe any residue off the brass pull with a clean cloth.
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Step 4
Clean very tarnished drawer pulls with commercial brass tarnish remover if the solution you used in Step 2 doesn't remove all the tarnish. If brass isn't protected or cleaned for a long period of time, it may be very tarnished or oxidized. Commercial brass tarnish remover such as Brasso™ will quickly and easily remove severe tarnish. Follow manufacturer's directions, and be aware that steel wool will most likely be needed to remove heavy tarnish buildup. One benefit of using a commercial product: You won't need to rub the brass pull with oil after you clean it because oil is already an ingredient in the tarnish remover.
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Step 5
Polish the clean brass drawer pull with olive or lemon oil -- no fancy oils are needed. Apply the oil to the brass pull or knob with a clean soft cloth. Buff the knob until it's shiny and dry. If you get a little oil on the surrounding drawer, don't worry. This type of oil won't hurt finished wood surfaces. Oil helps prevent tarnish or oxidation of brass.
