Cleaning Brass
Knowing Brass Is Cleaning Brass
Cleaning brass can be done in a variety of ways, but each one unfortunately includes a bit of elbow grease. Brass is an alloy composed of zinc and copper, and can often be found in pricey and fashionable fixtures around the home. The reason that most people steer clear of it, however, is the often chintzy look that it can take on when improperly cleaned or cared for. Cleaning brass often is the key to its beauty, and most people simply do not have the time to be bothered with such trivial and tedious matters. You can keep on top of your fine brass fixtures by doing a quick once over once per week, and here are a few tips for cleaning brass going forward.
You will need to determine, first, whether you are dealing with solid brass or with plated pieces. You can determine this with the use of a standard magnet. Magnets are not drawn to this zinc and copper alloy, so if your piece is plated than the magnet will stick to the metal beneath the thin layer of plating. If it does not stick, then the brass is solid. This will help going forward, as solid brass may take more readily to certain cleaning methods. When cleaning brass items which are plated, it is important to realize that the damage is more often related to rust than it is to tarnish. In these cases, especially with old doorknobs or cupboard hinges, it may be more cost efficient and less troublesome to replace them rather than to have them plated again.
There are a few surprise home remedies for cleaning brass that you may not know about, and they are quite interesting indeed. It is important to begin any brass cleaning project with a clean, dry, lint free cloth. Rub at the piece with a bit of speed and pressure, ad then check for its level of response. If it shines up like new, then this will be your best bet going forward. If not, then you may need an agent. Though this may seem slightly strange, ketchup or Worcestershire sauce are great tools against brass tarnish. Cleaning brass with such materials takes very small amounts, and the brass should be shined with a clean, dry cloth just after application.
If you have determined that your brass pieces are merely plated, and you notice that there may be rust stains or penetration on them, you can use a very low-abrasive, fine steel wool for the buffing of these trouble spots. Rather than re-plating these pieces, which can be costly and time consuming, you might want to touch them up with a high quality spray paint which is meant to adhere to metals.