How to Clean Antique Brass Drawer Pulls

Clean brass pulls with a paste of salt, vinegar and flour.

Antique brass drawer pulls are found on many older furniture pieces. While brass is durable, its appearance can diminish as body oils, dirt and grime accumulate on the pulls. It is important to clean the pulls with products that will remove this buildup while not damaging the surrounding surface of the furniture. Spray-on cleaning products tend to mist over a large surface, but you can mix a cleaning solution to clean the pulls in a controlled way.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Vinegar
• Flour
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Cleaning rags

Instructions

1. Mix 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup vinegar in a bowl. Stir in flour until a thick paste forms.

2. Scoop up a small amount of the paste with a cleaning rag, and rub it onto the brass pulls. Cover the entire brass surface with a thin, even layer of the paste.

3. Let the paste sit on the brass drawer pulls for 10 minutes.

4. Rinse the cleaning rag with warm water, wring it out, and wipe the paste off of the brass.

5. Dry the brass pulls with a clean cloth.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Brass Cleaning