How to Clean Antique Brass

Exercise care when cleaning antique brass pieces.

Perhaps you have just purchased an antique brass piece in need of cleaning or maybe you own a brass item that needs your attention to rid it of dust, dirt or grime. Many antique brass pieces, such as vases, have delicate etchings. Cleaning can allow you to realize the true beauty of the piece by exposing these details and bringing a gleam to the item's finish. In addition, proper cleaning techniques can help preserve the antique's finish so that you can enjoy the piece for many years.

Things You'll Need

• 1 or 2 thick towels
• 2 small dishes
• 1 cup of hot water
• 2 drops of mild liquid soap
• Spoon
• Rubber gloves
• 5 soft cloths
• Boiled linseed oil

Instructions

1. Place the antique brass item on a flat surface covered with one or two thick towels.

2. Measure and pour one cup of hot water into a small dish. Pour one to two drops of mild liquid soap into the bowl and stir with a spoon to create bubbles. Fill another small dish with one cup of plain hot water.

3. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and saturate one of the soft cloths with the soapy water. Squeeze lightly to remove excess water. Wash the brass item thoroughly with the soapy cloth to remove surface dirt and grime. If the cloth becomes extremely soiled, rinse it out under running water before dipping it back into the soapy water to prevent contamination.

4. Dip a different soft cloth in the plain hot water, squeeze lightly to remove excess water and wipe the brass to rinse. Pat dry with a dry, soft cloth.

5. Pour a dime-sized amount of boiled linseed oil onto a dry, soft cloth and gently rub the oil into the brass item. Add more oil to the cloth if needed to cover the entire surface.

6. Polish the brass with another soft cloth to remove excess linseed oil.

Tips & Warnings

• A child's soft toothbrush can be used to clean hard-to-reach areas.

• If your item is small enough, you can put it directly into a basin filled with hot, soapy water to wash and rinse it in the same manner.

• Cleaning antique brass is different from cleaning other brass items. While there are a variety of different cleaning methods available, the majority of them are not appropriate for an aged item. They may be too harsh and may etch the item's finish.

• If your antique brass item is in poor condition or it is extremely soiled, you may want to consult with a person who is knowledgeable about cleaning fragile antiques.

References

• About Antiques: Cleaning Antique Brass
• Start Cleaning Business: Brass Cleaning Tips
• Free UK: How to Care for Brassware