How to Refinish Bronze Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Bronze, like many decorative metals, is not hard to clean, but it can easily become dull and dingy, looking dirty when it's simply reacting to the elements. To get your cabinet hardware looking fresh and bright, try these simple methods.

Instructions

1. Like copper, bronze can interact with the elements, even inside your home, and turn color. Once this happens, you cannot bring the old bronze finish back. But, congratulations, you have one of the most sought after finishes around. So, clean your hardware with warm water and gentle soap (wood soap, baby laundry soap, even shampoo) and a cloth. Rub the dirt and grime off and you are left with gorgeous color and style.

2. If you have no discoloration, it's possible your bronze hardware has been lacquer coated. Again, start by cleaning with warm water and a gentle soap. Let dry completely. Once clean, you might see two colors of finishes; one the darker bronze and one a lighter aluminum showing through.

3. If this is the case, you have only a bronze coating on your hardware and will need to paint on a coating of bronze finishing lacquer. This type of lacquer can come in colors or clear. Choose your color finish and spray it on with a fine mist. Let it dry overnight. The next morning, put on a clear lacquer coat to seal and protect and for the glossy shine.

4. If your bronze hardware is intact but just lost its sheen and finish, you can wash it in warm water and finish it with the clear lacquer only. Be sure to let this dry a solid day and night before replacing your cabinets. Remember, lacquer can be damaged by cleaning, even with the least abrasive products, so stick with warm water and gentle soap.

5. You can also try a spray wax on your bronze after cleaning with soap and water. This will give the shine and finish as well as working to fill in tiny scratches and scuffs. Polish it like you would sterling silver. It's hard work and elbow grease, but if you have good bronze and it's solid and not yet turned, you can have the color, shine and finish you want for your kitchen cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to remove the hardware from the cabinets so that no lacquer products will overspray onto the cabinets themselves. Take one of your fixtures into a home improvement store and make sure it is bronze. Many metals look the same when dirty. Use a Sharpie permanent marker to fill in tiny scratches of aluminum showing through.

• Lacquer fumes are hard on the body. Try to work outside when you can or make sure windows are open to fresh air when working inside.