You can restore an antique brass piece or polish up your brass jewelry with DIY cleaning solutions. Before you get started cleaning, be sure to learn about the causes and how to remove tarnish from your metal items.
First, find out the age and type of finish on your brass. If your brass is lacquered, you will need to remove any varnish. Then you can use a cleaner or anti-tarnish agent to get rid of the tarnish. Unlacquered brass can be cleaned with mild soap and water to remove any tarnish.
Next, look for an acidic substance that can remove tarnish on brass. Tomatoes and lemons are good options. However, vinegar or ketchup is also an option. Applying a thin coating of one of these products to your tarnished brass will help the acid loosen it. Let it sit for about an hour, and then gently scrub it away with a soft cloth or toothbrush.
Toothpaste is another good DIY solution to tarnish. Sean Parry, Neat Services' cleaning expert, says toothpaste "reacts to the acid in the tarnish."
For antique brass pieces, Bougere recommends dipping a lemon slice or rind in salt and rubbing it on the tarnished item for about 10 minutes. The combination of the lemon's citric acid and the salt's abrasiveness can be quite effective at loosening and removing tarnish, especially on more delicate brass items.
Mixing lemon juice with table salt can also be used to make your own paste. Mix the salt with the lemon juice until the mixture is a thick paste, and then apply it to your brass items, leaving them to soak for up to an hour before scrubbing them.
After cleaning the brass, wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth. You might need to repeat the process multiple times depending on how severe the tarnish remains.
Finally, if copper or brass has been damaged by oxidation, mix equal parts flour and white vinegar together and spread it on the affected areas. Allow the mixture for about an hour. After that, use a toothbrush to scrub off any tarnish.
A natural, organic salt-based product is the best way to clean brass that has been badly tarnished. Flitz Instant Brass & Copper Tarnish Remover is a safe and efficient way to remove heavy tarnish and corrosion from copper and brass surfaces.
This spray-on tarnish remover instantly dissolves and lifts heavy tarnish, calcium deposits and rust, corrosion, oxidation, water spots and stains on brass and copper surfaces. It is safer and more effective than traditional acid-based cleaners. It is safe for indoors as well outdoor and can be used on copper and brass, aluminum, glass and painted surfaces.