How to Clean a Bronze Finish

Remove the green oxidation from bronze with some things you might already have in your home.

Bronze is a common alloy metal composed of copper and tin. Bronze has a brilliant shine while clean, but because of oxidation it can turn a slightly unappealing green. If your bronze pieces have a thick layer of green oxidation, however, you can still clean them and return them to the brilliant bronze shine you covet. Thankfully, the cleaning process is simple and involves a few basic household items.

Things You'll Need

• Kitchen pot
• 1 gallon white vinegar
• 1 cup salt
• Wooden spoon
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Position the kitchen pot on a stove burner and pour in the white vinegar.

2. Turn the burner to a medium-low heat and allow the vinegar to warm for 10 minutes.

3. Pour in the cup of salt and immediately stir the solution to dissolve all of the salt.

4. Take the pot off the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes.

5. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and vigorously scrub the bronze. Once the oxidation is removed, buff the surface with a dry cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use a brush to scrub the bronze, as it can scratch the metal.

References

• "The Lost Art of House Cleaning: A Clean House Is a Happy Home"; Jan M. Dougherty; 2011