Polishing lacquered brass

How to clean brass

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Brass is beautiful, whether it's a copper pan, a doorknob or a family heirloom, so it's sad to see it get tarnished over time. Fortunately, there are simple ways that you can restore your brass to its former glory without damaging it.

Better yet, there's no need to buy expensive products — you can clean your brass using items you already have around the house.

Here's how to clean brass, with advice from our experts at the GHI.

How to tell if it's really brass

Brass is in style at the moment, but not everything that looks like brass is the real thing. Although brass is a metal (an alloy of zinc and copper mainly), it is not magnetic, so if you grab a fridge magnet and it sticks to it, it isn't brass. It may be metal or steel with a coating of brass.

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Caring for antique brass

If you are lucky enough to own antique brass, be especially careful about cleaning it. You could inadvertently reduce the value by rubbing off its lovely old surface ‘patina’. To clean, simply remove dirt and dust with a microfiber cloth.

If you want to remove tarnish on antique brass items, take advice. Polishing tends to use abrasives, so every time tarnish forms and is polished away, part of the original surface is lost. Do this too often and you could lose detail or even hallmarks. If in doubt, check with someone who knows about antiques first.

How to clean lacquered brass

Some brass is lacquered to protect its surface and prevent tarnishing. The best way to clean lacquered brass is to simply wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. Don’t use household cleaner on it or you will damage the surface.

How to clean new brass

Modern brass is usually lacquered with a clear finish to stop it discolouring and by comparison to old brass looks yellowish in colour. Cleaning modern brass is easy, simply wipe with a soft damp cloth. If it’s really grimy, use a mild mix of washing up liquid and warm water. Wipe the surface clean, wipe with a clean cloth and dry thoroughly.

Brass cleaning home-remedies

If it’s non-lacquered and it’s not old brass, there are some sustainable to a shop-bought brass polish that you’ve probably got in the kitchen. But take care, these can be abrasive. Less is more!

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How to clean brass with ketchup

Yes, you heard us right! Squirt a dollop of ketchup on a rag and rub over the surface, let it sit for a couple of seconds. Wipe off the reside with a damp cloth and buff dry.

How to clean brass with vinegar

This versatile cleaner is great for getting brass to shine. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in ½ cup white vinegar and add just enough flour to make a paste. Rub on to the brass and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse and buff dry.

How to clean brass with lemon

Squeeze half a lemon onto a clean cloth and sprinkle salt on top. Rub the cloth over the surface of the brass and then rinse it off. This will really cut through the tarnish but don’t leave it too long. This is a good way of cleaning doorknobs and knockers that you can’t easily soak. You might need to gently work into the tricky bits with an old toothbrush.

How to clean brass with toothpaste

Apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the brass, leave it on for a few minutes, polish with a clean cloth. Then rinse with cold water and dry with a microfibre cloth.

General care tips for brass

Never put brass in the dishwasher
Never soak it, always wash, rinse and dry straightaway
If using brass bowls or pans, clean as soon as possible after use, especially after contact with fruit juices, eggs, salt and onions.

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How To Clean Lacquered Brass

Although the vast majority of brassware on the market today has been lacquered in production, the brass should not be polished, but instead cleaned. Brass that is lacquered will feature with a clear layer and tarnish will only show up if a crack appears on the surface. This thin layer in the short term protects the brass finish from exposure to the atmosphere and will ensure it displays the bright shine. So to help you maintain your brassware properly, we’re sharing with you our guide on how to clean lacquered brass.

What Is Lacquered Brass?
Lacquer is not permanent and can be chipped, scratched or broken down chemically. As brass has a chemical production process, it is susceptible to oxidisation in the atmosphere. Once the lacquer has been breached, steps must be taken to restrict exposure. As it is not possible for us to know the exact atmospheric conditions and the degree of use and abuse the lacquered brass item will get, it is not possible for us to give guarantees on the life of the lacquer. Any estimates given will be based of the information given to us and are estimates only.

How Do I Clean My Brassware?
To prolong the life of the lacquer it is advised that the item is regularly cleaned with warm soapy water. To do this, you should only get the lacquered brass wet enough to clean the surface, then wipe with a clean wet cloth and dry thoroughly. You should also regularly dust brass with a soft cloth, but in general you will not need to wash it. However if you do need to wipe something off, you should only use tepid water and mild washing up liquid. The occasional use of a good quality wax polish will also help to seal and chips and scratches in the lacquer itself. In exposed and external situations, more regular waxing is advised to keep it clean.

At some point it is possible that the lacquer will deteriorate beyond your maintenance capabilities. When this happens with your lacquered brass, it is suggested that the lacquer is removed using a lacquer remover such as Nitromors Lacquer and Varnish Remover and then polished back to its original finish using a good quality brass cleaner such as Duraglit. We advise that once the item’s lacquer has been removed, it is not relacquered and instead, periodical cleaning is undertaken. If you wish to re-lacquer the item, do not use brush-applied lacquer as it will leave streaks once the lacquer is dry. A car spray lacquer should be fine to relacquer the item, however do not spray onto a cold metal as the lacquer will set almost immediately and bubbles can become trapped. Equally, excessive spraying drip marks will be evident. It is best to let the lacquered brass item warm through in a warm area such as an airing cupboard before spraying.

How To Maintain Unlacquered Brass
Some manufactures will now offer their brass item made to order unlacquered. This is only limited to British made items and usually can involve a lead-time of a few weeks for manufacture. This option will be useful for anyone looking to achieve an aged look to his or her door knobs and handles as the brass will form a natural patina and turn a coppery colour.
However unlacquered brass can tarnish quickly, so to keep your brass in top condition, you will need to polish it every few months.

Cleaning With A PVD Finish
PVD is a relatively new finish to the architectural ironmongery market and is designed to remove the finish maintenance hassles associated with brass. PVD is the result of an extra manufacturing process which alters the chemical state of the first few microns of the brass. Once this is done, the resultant finish is slightly more gilt than normal brass but depending on the supplier, generally has between a 20 and 25-year finish guarantee. The range of PVD items available is very limited and is mostly restricted to front door furniture. On average you can expect PVD to be 40% more expensive than its lacquered brass equivalent.

Need more guidance on how to clean lacquered brass? Please feel free to contact us to find out more on maintaining your hardware. View our full range of front door furniture and lacquered brass items here.

Furniture polishing, doors, brass

We are pleased to offer you services for polishing furniture, door panels, brass at reasonable prices. Our craftsmen always take a very responsible approach to the tasks of restoring the appearance of the client's products and are ready to guarantee a 100% positive result!

Let's first understand what this material is. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with an intense golden color, highly demanded in the manufacture of various interior items: from door handles to candlesticks. Brass looks extremely expensive and elegant both on its own and as decorative elements for tables, chairs, sofas, armchairs, etc. nine0003

The main and, perhaps, the only significant drawback of this metal is that over time or with too intensive use (“grasping” with hands, careless removal of dust, and similar actions), the elements made of brass fade and acquire a sloppy gray-yellow hue .

It looks very ugly, and only professional intensive polishing can help get rid of such a plaque. Naturally, the polishing of lacquered furniture is carried out by our specialists in combination with the cleaning of brass elements from surface contamination. nine0003

The essence of the procedure is to remove the thinnest layers of the treated surface by chemical, electrolytic or mechanical means. There is an elimination of pollution, roughness, the product acquires a mirror shine. If necessary, our master is able to quickly and efficiently restore polishing on furniture.

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Furniture polishing with brass inserts

Restoration of furniture polishing with brass elements of any complexity, our craftsmen will carry out quickly and professionally. For lightly soiled and not very tarnished surfaces, a simple mechanical treatment with felt and brushes at high speed is sufficient. nine0003

More neglected brass elements are cleaned using special abrasive compounds. The electrolytic method is usually used to give products shine in industrial conditions.

The polishing of doors, furniture, clocks, utensils, and other brass items, which you probably already despaired of putting in order on your own, performed by our specialists, will please you not only with a reasonable price, but also with the quality of workmanship. A truly brilliant result awaits you! nine0003

In order for you to quickly decide whether you need to polish furniture scratches, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with examples of our work on polishing the door leaf and brass on it. We hope you make the right choice!

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How to Clean Brass - Expert Tips for a Polished Look | Women's magazine BLACK FASHION

Proper cleaning of brass prevents tarnishing or discolouration. it is also important to know the most efficient way to clean all finishes to keep them looking their best.

From shiny new brass to aged antique brass, this metal alloy's versatility makes it the perfect complement to all decors. However, the trick is to keep it the way it was intended. Like other metals in your home, improper cleaning of brass can ruin the original state of the material and therefore its desired appearance. nine0003

Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways to clean brass, both lacquered and unpainted, to keep it looking its best. In addition, many of the best ways to clean brass include only natural ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen cabinets.

How to tell? Is something brass?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It looks fantastic in our homes, but it is a material that corrodes over time and develops an iridescent iridescent patina on its surface if not cleaned enough. But all things that look brass are not necessarily brass, so how do you know? nine0003

The way to tell if something is all brass is simple. Attach a magnet to it, if it does not stick, then it is brass. If it sticks, it's only the brass-plated item.

Before cleaning brass, you need to know what type of brass it is and whether it has an unpainted or lacquered brass finish. Polishing is not necessary for brass-only plated items and, in fact, it can scratch the finish. That's why it's important to determine if the brass is just a plating before you start cleaning the brass. nine0003 How to Clean Brass

How to Clean Brass: Different Cleaning Methods

Once you have determined what type of brass you are cleaning, you should choose the most appropriate method, because all different types of brass require a different approach, whether it is solid antique brass or brass plated alternatives.

There are several different options for cleaning brass, depending on what you have on hand at home. All of the methods below are great for tidying up your brass appliances or home plumbing, so choose the one that works best for you and get started. nine0003

1. Cleaning brass with soapy water and a cloth

All brass finishes, lacquered or unpainted, can be gently cleaned by wiping the surface with a soft cleaning cloth and a little soapy water. Clean with warm water or warm water combined with a mild, pH-neutral liquid soap, and then polish with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. Microfiber cloth is ideal as it is gentle yet effective for scratch-free cleaning and can be cleaned with water. nine0003

This can be done daily in areas throughout the home where needed, such as kitchens and bathrooms where brass fittings are subject to potential tarnishing. This works with brass and brushed brass.

One of the best tips we can give is to constantly clean brass, especially faucets, because it's much easier to do than after soap or limescale builds up on the surface.

2. Use special polish to clean antique brass

Antique brass has a beautifully aged patina that gives the material its charm, which means that it must be carefully cleaned to maintain its character.

If brass is not varnished, it will develop a patina over time and age with proper care. To remove any discoloration from the surface, use a polish specifically designed for brass. Refer to instructions for proper application and apply with a soft cleaning cloth. Use in conjunction with warm water using a soft damp cloth to remove any debris, dirt and dust. nine0003

Of course, if you prefer, you can let the brass age naturally without any intervention. Failure to polish can cause a fixture to tarnish wonderfully, sometimes polishing can bring it to a new-like condition, defeating the purpose of letting it age in the first place.

3. Clean Brass with Vinegar and Salt

Vinegar cleaning is one of the most common methods used to clean and restore brass. If your brass has stubborn stains that need to be removed, then you will need the abrasive power of salt. A vinegar and salt scrub will do the trick and works in a similar way to the acidic solutions that are used to clean metals in manufacturing. nine0003

To find out how to clean brass with vinegar, simply mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of semi-coarse table salt (not fine or coarse salt). Mix in a medium bowl with just enough all-purpose flour to thicken. Stir the mixture thoroughly to dissolve the salt. If the mixture is too thin, just add more flour to make a paste.

Apply the paste to brass items and leave for 10-15 minutes. If necessary, use an old, damp toothbrush or cotton rag to remove stubborn dirt. nine0003

Then rinse off all cleaning solutions and dry completely to restore shine.

4. Cleaning Brass with Lemon and Baking Soda

If you don't want to use vinegar, you can use lemon juice as an acid substitute and sodium in baking soda to make a homemade brass cleaning paste. This is a powerful duo for a brilliant clean brass finish.

Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a bowl and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix well to make a paste. Apply the mixture to your brass pieces and let it dry completely. Remove dirt and build-up with a clean, damp cloth, making sure you don't leave any residue behind. nine0003

This natural solution is a great way to clean items that need to stay in place while cleaning. This includes doorknobs, lamp bases, and doorknobs.

5. Toothpaste as an alternative polish

Inexpensive plain white toothpaste has enough cleansing power to clean and polish real brass fixtures. Avoid gel toothpaste or toothpastes with artificial flavors to rule out the possibility of a bad chemical reaction. nine0003

Simply apply a thin layer of toothpaste to your brass items and let them sit for a few minutes. Then take a soft, clean cloth, such as microfiber or cotton, and polish it. Tougher stains may require a little more effort and the addition of extra toothpaste.

Toothpaste is a great way to remove tarnish on brass caused by oxidation. The oxidation process is common for brass products that are exposed to water. It is easily identified by its blackish, green, or blue coating, and sometimes hardens to form a thick crust on the surface of the brass.