Bronze Cleaning Solutions
Many households have bronze pieces in the home ranging from small items such as decorative plates and candle holders to larger items such as free standing statues. Bronze can lose its luster and collect dirt over time, marring attractive displays. Luckily, there are a number of effective mixtures you can use to make brass items shiny and new. Does this Spark an idea?
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Lemon and Baking Soda
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Lemon makes an effective mixture to clean and polish brass, although utilizing it does require a moderate amount of physical exertion. Put a tablespoon of baking soda into a bowl and squeeze in about half a lemon into it. The liquid may bubble up slightly but this will soon subside. Dip a soft, clean cloth into the mixture and rub it on brass items such as candle sticks or dishes. For items with substantial dirt build-up, leave the mixture for approximately 15 minutes so the ingredients can break down the dirt. Wash with clean water when finished to remove any residual stickiness.
Soap and Water
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For moderate dirt on bronze items, a simple mixture of household soap with water will be sufficient. Use a plain soap with low levels of chemicals as these may react adversely with the bronze. Boil a three percent concentration of soap in a vat of clean, distilled water. Once the mixture has cooled, wet a soft cloth or sponge and rub over brass items until clean. Chamois leather should ideally be used to dry bronze items.
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Coconut Oil
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Coconut oil is an effective, natural way to keep brass statues around the home clean and shiny. It can be purchased from most health stores, organic shops and in some supermarkets. Pour around twenty ml on to clean cloth and rub around the brass items to remove dirt. Coconut oil helps brass retain its luster and won't cause any discoloration to brass statues.
Vinegar, Flour and Salt
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A cup full of flour combined with the same amount of salt also makes an effective cleaner for bronze items. The powder should be mixed with a drizzle of vinegar until a moderately thick paste is formed. Use a clean cloth to rub this mixture onto your brass items. It's best to leave the items for around 30 minutes to allow them to react with the brass and erode away the dirt. Wash with tap water once it has been wiped clean.
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- Photo Credit Traditional brass candles image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
