How to Repair Tarnished Brass
Clean brass is highly reflective and used to make all sorts of items. Whether you have brass door knobs or a shelf full of decorative brass trinkets, proper care is needed to maintain the brass item's shine. Over time or with improper cleaning, brass molecules can oxidize. This creates the discolored, tarnished appearance you wish to eliminate. Fortunately, tarnished brass can be cleaned fairly easily with the aid of acidic substances and a bit of polishing. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Steel wool pad
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda or salt
- Soft cloth
- Water
- Baby oil
Instructions
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Vinegar Method
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1
Saturate a clean cloth in vinegar and apply it liberally to your brass item. If your item is small, you can also pour vinegar into a small container and allow the item to soak for several minutes.
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2
Remove the item from the vinegar bath (if applicable) and use a fine grade steel wool pad to polish your item. Move in small circles, and concentrate on areas that are heavily tarnished. If your item is brass plated rather then solid brass, use a soft cloth to polish instead of the steel wool.
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3
Rinse the brass item with water to remove all remaining traces of vinegar. Extended contact with vinegar can sometimes discolor brass items. Dry thoroughly with a towel.
Lemon Juice Method
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4
Mix together 2 tbsp. of lemon juice and enough baking soda to create a thick paste.
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5
Apply the paste to a clean cloth and rub it liberally over the surface of the tarnished brass.
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6
Rinse the item with water. Dry completely with a towel.
Lemon Method
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7
Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle the surface of the exposed lemon with salt.
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8
Rub the salted lemon over the brass item, scrubbing the discolored areas. The salt acts as an abrasive, so use care when scrubbing brass-plated items.
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9
Rinse the item with water, then dry the surface completely with a towel.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Apply a small amount of baby oil to a cloth and polish your brass item once it has dried.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit brass duck image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
