How to Clean Bronze Shoes

Bronzing your baby's shoes is a long honored tradition that allows you to keep your baby's shoes safe for years to come. Whether you choose to display your bronzed baby shoes or lock them away for safekeeping, keeping the shoes clean is a vital part of taking care of your bronze shoes. Cleaning bronze shoes is different from cleaning other types of objects due to oxidization, a process that results in patina, a green film. Because of this, cleaning your bronze shoes requires a bit more forethought and preparation than cleaning other objects that are not prone to oxidization.

Things You'll Need

• Warm water
• Washcloth
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
• Dry cloth

Instructions

1. Wipe down your bronze shoes with a washcloth dampened with warm water. This will remove any debris so it doesn't mix with your cleansing paste.

2. Create your cleansing paste by combining two tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice. Add just enough lemon juice to allow the paste to form.

3. Brush the paste onto your bronze shoes using a dry cloth. Use a circular motion when applying the paste to ensure it reaches all crevices of the shoes.

4. Leave the paste on the shoes for 20 minutes.

5. Remove the paste from the shoes with a wet towel. Clean the shoes until all remnants of the paste are removed.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until your bronze shoes are free of all smudges or patina.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using abrasive, store-bought polishes as these polishes can break down the protective seal placed on the bronze shoes and slowly eat away at the bronze coating.

• Since many bronzed baby shoes are mounted on wooden displays, avoid submerging your bronze shoes in water as this can warp the wood or cause other damage to the shoes' display mount.

References

• HowtoCleanStuff.net: How to Clean Bronze
• Finesgallery.com: Bronze Care and Cleaning