Do It Yourself Brass Cleaners

Clean Lacquered Brass

• 1

  Check the brass to see if it is indeed lacquered. Lacquered brass does not tarnish and will have a clear coat on it.

• 2

  Dilute one squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bowl of water. Soak a clean cloth in the soapy water and squeeze the excess out.

• 3

  Wipe the brass with the damp cloth.

• 4

  Remove any water or residual soap with a clean cloth.

• 5

  Add a drop of mineral oil to a new, dry clean cloth and rub it on any stubborn dirt or grime.

Clean Unlacquered Brass

• 6

  Check to see if the brass is lacquered or not. Any signs of tarnish or corrosion are unlacquered; when in doubt, use a conservative cleaning method designed for lacquered brass. Mix a homemade cleaner of 1 cup of vinegar and 2 tsp. of sea salt and add flour to make a thick paste.

• 7

  Rub the paste on all parts of the brass and leave it there for 10 minutes to soak in and dry.

• 8

  Wipe the paste off with a damp towel then buff any residual paste off with a clean dry cloth or home buffer.

• 9

  Cut a lemon in half and dip the pulp side in sea salt. Rub highly tarnished areas with the lemon to remove any corrosion.

• 10

  Clean residual lemon and salt with a damp cloth. Buff with a dry cloth until the brass is shiny.