How to Get Tarnish Off of a Bronze Lamp

A mixture of copper and usually tin, bronze tarnishes quickly. A slight darkening of the metal adds an antique look. Many people don't find badly tarnished bronze decorations so attractive, however. Too much discoloration can make the lamp look uncared for rather than old. You probably don't want to remove the patina, and you need to decide how much of the tarnish you wish to remove. Begin with the gentlest method and try tougher techniques until the lamp has the desired look.

Dusters
Cleaning cloths
Dishwashing liquid
Bowl
Towel
Mineral spirits
Abrasive cream for bronze

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the lamp and allow it to cool.
- 2
  Rub the bronze part of the lamp with a dry, soft cloth to remove some of the most obvious tarnish.
- 3
  Mix warm water and a few squirts of dishwashing liquid in a bowl. Polish the brass with this solution, which gently removes a bit more of the tarnish. Dry the lamp with a soft towel afterward.
- 4
  Drip mineral spirits onto a dry cloth and carefully polish the lamp. Mineral spirits are a solvent and slightly harsher than the other methods so take care not to rub too hard.
- 5
  Use an abrasive cream for bronze, if there is still too much tarnish. Polish the tarnished parts of the lamp gently, increasing the pressure as necessary. Wipe off remaining traces of the cream with a damp cloth and dry the lamp with the towel.

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