How to Polish Brass & Silver

Brass and silver items can add elegance to your home in many areas. You may even have jewelry pieces that are made of these materials. Unfortunately, brass and silver tarnish over time, which creates a dingy, dirty appearance. If you want to restore the luster to these types of metallic surfaces, you can do so cheaply and easily. Polishing brass and silver doesn't require harsh, expensive cleaning products. You can make your own polish for brass or silver with household products.

Things You'll Need

• Ammonia
• Ketchup
• Cloths
• Baking pan
• Aluminum foil
• Baking soda
• Toothpaste

Instructions

Brass

1. Mix one part ammonia to eight parts water.

2. Immerse brass items in the mixture and let them sit for 10 to 20 minutes.

3. Remove the items from the cleaning solution and wipe them dry.

4. Dampen a cloth and dip it in ketchup. Use the cloth to polish pieces of brass that are too large to immerse in a cleaning solution.

5. Wipe the brass clean.

Silver

1. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and lay silver items in a single layer on top of the foil.

2. Cover the silver items with a dusting of baking soda.

3. Boil enough water to fill the pan. Once the water comes to a boil, pour it into the foil-lined pan.

4. Allow the items to soak for about 15 minutes. Rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth.

5. Polish silver items that are too large to be immersed with toothpaste or a paste made from baking soda and water. Rinse and wipe dry.

References

• "How the Queen Cleans Everything"; Linda Cobb; 2002
• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Brass