How to CLEAN BRASS – Tips and Tricks

When brass looks dusty or dirty, the best option is to use soap and water or a mild detergent. If you were wondering how to clean brass door handles, this is one of the best options, since this diluted product will not damage the door. So you must clean the brass with detergent or soap:

1. Mix a cup of detergent or mild soap in a liter of warm water.
2. Place the mixture in a deep container, into which your brass piece fits loosely.
3. Immerse the brass piece in soapy water for about 15 minutes or until the water reaches room temperature.
4. Using a soft towel, clean and dry the surface of the object. You can also use an old toothbrush for those parts where dirt doesn’t come off easily.

If you need to know how to clean brass to restore its shine follow these simple steps in which you will use water, salt, and vinegar whether wine, white, or apple:

1. Heat half a liter of water.
2. When the water is starting to boil, dissolve 2 tablespoons of fine salt and 2 tablespoons of white, wine, or apple vinegar.
3. With the help of a sponge soaked in the mixture, spread it evenly over the brass object, rub well, and let it act for a few minutes.
4. Dry your brass piece completely with a clean cotton cloth.

This process is very similar to cleaning silver with this homemade product, which is why we recommend you learn more details in this other FoxWiki article about How to clean silver with vinegar.

This option is ideal for Clean non-submersible brass parts because they are installed somewhere in the house, such as, for example, we have the hinges, the brass door handles, and some wooden furniture decorations.

With these simple ingredients, you can make flour, salt, and vinegar paste and you will get great changes in the brass parts.

1. Form a dough by mixing half a cup of vinegar with a teaspoon of salt and another teaspoon of flour.
2. Spread the dough on the brass object to be cleaned and let it act for 10 minutes.
3. With the help of a clean cloth moistened with warm water, remove the mass by gently rubbing the brass piece. Just remove the remains of this paste from the object and dry it with a clean cloth.

The components of toothpastes restore the shine of brass objects when they begin to change color. With this alternative, the procedure is even simpler, especially when cleaning brass door handles, hinges and other objects that cannot be removed from where they are.

These are the steps to clean brass with toothpaste:

1. Evenly distribute the toothpaste over the object.
2. Using a cloth or soft-bristle brush, scrub the piece.
3. Let the toothpaste sit for 10 more minutes remove it with a damp cloth and then wipe with a dry one.

As in the case of vinegar, this product is widely used to clean silver and the process is similar to this. Therefore, if you want to expand this information, we recommend this other post on How to clean silver with toothpaste.

The disinfectant power of lemon can be a great ally for cleaning brass. Furthermore, this method is totally ecological. Follow these simple steps to clean brass with lemon:

1. Prepare a cup of lemon juice.
2. Wipe the damp cloth over the brass surface to be cleaned.
3. Rub the piece until dirt and stains are removed from the brass.
4. With another clean cloth, remove the remaining lemon juice from the object.

We will tell you more about How to clean with lemon in this other post.

This method is useful when you don’t know how to clean rusty brass.

1. Dismantle the handles or any oxidized brass part that you want to renew its appearance.
2. Place the objects to be cleaned in a container and cover them with the cola soda.
3. Leave them submerged for a maximum of a couple of days.
4. After this time, scrub each piece with a soft bristle brush to remove any remaining rust.
5. Rinse the brass pieces with warm water and dry them with a clean cloth.

To remove the greenish layer that forms on brass over time, bleach is a great ally. Follow these instructions to remove stains from brass with bleach:

1. Mix equal parts bleach and water in a pot, bucket, or container that can fit the piece you want to clean.
2. Place the brass piece in the container and let it sit for a few hours for the bleach to act.
3. If you use a pot, you can speed up the process by putting it on the heat to boil for five minutes.
4. Remove your brass piece from the pot, finish removing any remains that may remain and dry it with a clean cloth.

When the appearance of brass does not improve with the use of natural or homemade products, more powerful measures must be taken.

There are various commercial products, which must be used strictly following the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, some chemicals that can be used for various purposes at home also serve to remove rust and impurities accumulated on the brass pieces. Among them are ammonia and salfumán:

How to clean brass with ammonia

This substance is very good for cleaning rusty metal objects. You just have to follow these instructions:

1. Use gloves, glasses, and a mask.
2. Mix equal parts water and ammonia in a container.
3. Immerse your brass objects in the mixture and let it sit for at least an hour.
4. Remove your pieces and rinse them with water, before drying them with a clean cloth.
5. If you can’t submerge the pieces, dampen a cloth and rub the dirty surface.

Here we tell you more about How to use ammonia to clean.

How to clean brass with salfumán

Muriatic acid, hydrochloric acid, and strong water are some of the names we call salfumán. This product generates various chemical reactions when it comes into contact with other substances. Therefore, its use must be carried out with great care, avoiding direct contact with it at all times. If you don’t know how to clean brass with salfumán, follow these instructions:

1. Use gloves, protective glasses or glasses, and a mask or face mask.
2. Place yourself in a ventilated place and away from the presence of other people or pets.
3. Place the piece in a large container and drop the salfumán on the brass piece to be cleaned. After a few minutes, you will see how the salfumán eliminates the most deeply rooted rust on your brass piece.
4. Rinse with plenty of water and dry your piece with a soft cloth.

Finally, we offer you some tips to clean the brass if it is lacquered successfully:

• It is important to know if the brass piece has a lacquer coating. This step is important because if the piece is lacquered, you can only use soap and water to clean the brass.
• If the lacquer of the piece is very deteriorated and you want to renew it, use chemical products to remove the lacquer.
• When the lacquer is gone, clean the brass piece with soap and water, dry it with a soft cloth, and apply a new coat of lacquer.