Homemade Lacquer for Cleaning Brass

Making homemade lacquer to clean brass is easy.

You decide to clean all the brass items in your house in one day and purchase a brass cleaner from your local hardware store. As you use the last of the brass cleaner, you realize that you still have more brass to clean ... and the store is closed. You're in luck! You can make your own brass cleaning lacquer using common household ingredients and avoid the harsh effects of some store-bought brass cleaners on your skin and respiratory system.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup powdered laundry detergent
• 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/3 cup bottled lemon juice
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 large plastic bowls
• Wooden spoon
• Clean cloth

Instructions

1. Pour 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup laundry detergent into a large plastic bowl and stir with a wooden spoon.

2. Pour 3/4 cup white vinegar, 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup warm water into another plastic bowl and mix.

3. Incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients--adding bit by bit while stirring slowly and constantly--to form a paste.

4. Rub the paste onto the brass with a clean cloth. Rub in a tight circular motion.

5. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Brass
• Architectual Classics: How to Clean Brass--Ultimate Guide