Homemade Discolored Faucets

Sodium Hydroxide

• Sodium hydroxide is a common ingredient found in many industrial and household oven cleaning products. It can be used to age aluminum, giving it an ashy gray color. Look for an oven cleaner with a high or low amount of sodium hydroxide, depending on the level of discoloration you are looking to achieve. Apply the oven cleaner to an aluminum faucet and allow it to sit for at least six hours, longer if you wish to create a more dramatic effect.

Copper

• When copper ages, it takes on a beautiful green patina, making it a stunning addition to your decor. If you wait for copper to age on its own, you could have a rather long wait ahead of you. Speed up the aging process with a homemade treatment instead to have beautiful, antique-looking copper faucets in no time. All you need to do is combine two parts white vinegar, one part ammonia and one part non-iodized salt and leave the solution to sit on the faucet overnight. Repeat applying the solution until you have reached the desired patina.

Brass

• Brass is another material commonly used to make faucets that shows attractive discoloration when aged. This is caused by chemical reactions in the metal when exposed to certain elements. Similar to copper and aluminum, applying certain chemicals to the brass rapidly advances the aging process. Some common items that can be found in the kitchen, such as lemon juice, vinegar and salt, can be applied directly to the faucet. Another method for aging brass is to heat it to 450 degrees in an oven and transfer the hot metal to a container filled with linseed oil to cool.

Considerations

• Discoloring metal at home can be a tricky process and might require multiple attempts before achieving your desired results. Keep track of solutions used and the time it takes to create each look to use for trial and error. Try different ratios of ingredients to get different results. Also, use extreme caution when working with chemicals. Always wear safety goggles and gloves when handling aging solutions, whether they be store-bought or homemade. Keep small children and pets away from your work area at all times.