Methods for Cleaning Old Brass Fixtures

Homemade Cleaners

• Mild abrasives made from ordinary household items are used to clean brass. According to Lifescript, for instance, rubbing half a lemon sprinkled with table salt over the brass object can remove tarnish. Half a lemon, seeded, and coated in baking soda has a similar effect. Both salt and baking soda are mild abrasives that are unlikely to scratch brass. You can also mix lemon juice directly with cream of tartar or baking soda and rub it on brass objects using a soft cloth. If there are no lemons in the house, consider using equal parts of salt, vinegar and flour to create a brass polishing paste, or apply ketchup or Worcerstershire sauce to the brass; the acid helps to remove the tarnish.

Commercial Brass Cleaners

• Commercial brass cleaners normally contain an abrasive substance, often in a base containing ammonia and other solvents. According to Hammer Time, you must first strip brass fittings of their lacquer coating using lacquer thinner or paint stripper. Apply the brass cleaner directly to the fixture, and rub it over the surface. Some cleaners encourage rubbing the entire time the brass is cleaned, while others are designed to leave undisturbed for a period. As commercial brass cleaners are generally toxic, follow package instructions closely. Gloves and good ventilation are required to safely clean brass with this method.

Power Polishing

• Difficult pieces with heavy tarnish may require buffing with a powered polisher, such as a rotary tool and buffing wheel. According to Creators Syndicate, a bench grinder with buffing and polishing wheels may also work for this purpose. An abrasive substance, such as polishing rouge, removes the clear coating and the surface layer of tarnish but often leaves scratches. Follow up the polishing process with hand or machine buffing using a buffing compound to remove scratches and return the brass to its original, shiny state. Steel fixtures with a brass plating are more difficult to successfully clean with this method since it's easy to buff through the thin plated layer.