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Cleaning Brass

June 12, 2001

brass candle sticksToday on the Happy Garden list, one of our list members, Nanette, mentioned a way to polish brass she learned from her husband. After she had been working on some brass handles for a while here husband told her a tip he'd learned in the Navy. Soak them in KoolAid. She tried it and it worked like a charm.

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I just finished cleaning a very large brass candlestick (5 feet tall) that unscrews into sections. I soaked the pieces in the kitchen sink with 4 packages of KoolAid for two hours (I'd imagine you could use 1 package for smaller items, but this was a lot of brass). It saved me a lot of rubbing, polishing, and brass polish. The only drawback I can find is that it turned my hands red (stained by the dye) so it would be best to wear rubber gloves. Also, wash the pieces with soap and water before soaking so they will be free of dirt and grease. For stubborn spots, use a little very fine 00 steel wool.

It is supposed to work on silver also. I haven't had time to test it though.

Susan

 
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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts
February 12, 2020

I bought these bookends at a thrift store and want to know if anyone can tell me how to clean them. The tarnished area is a gray/green color and feels gritty. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Cleaning Brass - dog bookends
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
February 12, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

Brasso is a tarnish remover and cleaner and this should do the trick for you. Just use a cloth and apply the cleaner to the item, allow it to sit there and then buff it out with another cloth.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
February 13, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

If you wanted to go natural for cleaning. You could use white vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice. Or, CLR no scent metal cleaner!

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
February 13, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

Learned quite by mistake, the cheapest ketchup works best. Cover the it's for a hour, then will off. Sometimes it takes several times. A toothbrush can help get yuck out of the crevices!

 
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December 23, 2006

I want to find out what I can use to clean brass, apart from Brasso. I need to clean all my door and window handles.

Roger from South Africa

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Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks
January 12, 20050 found this helpful

To clean brass, use equal amounts of Coca-Cola and ammonia (Pepsi won't work). Mix contents in a glass bowl, dip a soft cloth into solution and wipe the brass article to remove tarnish. Rinse and wipe dry.

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By Linda

 

Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks
January 12, 20050 found this helpful

Keep decorative items dusted and clean. Wash in sudsy, lukewarm water, rinse and dry. Never use hot water on lacquered items as it loosens the lacquer; do not polish them or soak them in water.
Source: www.msue.msu.edu/.../01500065.html

 
By Annie (Guest Post)
January 22, 20050 found this helpful

One of the best brass cleaners I've ever used is Worchestershire Sauce. Rub it all over and let it sit for a bit and rinse off. Does a beautiful job.
Annie

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts
December 24, 20060 found this helpful

----> For brass & copper plates & bowls:

Take a lemon half, dip lemon into salt & use lemon to scrub the piece over sink.

When done rinse thoroughly to stop the chemical reaction.

 
By gurdeep (Guest Post)
December 28, 20060 found this helpful

Well to clean brass I have heard of filling a saucepan up of ketchup and put the brass item in there. put the saucepan on heat and bring to boil and take item out and give it a good polish.

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I havent tried it but i believe it works.

 
December 28, 20060 found this helpful

Even the store brand ketchup will polish brass. Just use a soft cloth and polish it the same way you would use Brasso.

 
December 29, 20060 found this helpful

Aluminum Foil! Seriously - take a piece and crumble it into a ball and rub away.

 
By Marta (Guest Post)
January 18, 20070 found this helpful

From Alton Brown - Good Eats: Good Wine Gone Bad

Copper cookware is nice to use, but difficult to clean. No problem. Just dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of white vinegar and stir in enough all-purpose flour to create a thick paste.

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Rub this on the bottom of the vessel, wait fifteen minutes, rinse, dry, and behold. New pot luster!

 
By marti (Guest Post)
June 27, 20080 found this helpful

What keeps it from looking black the next day after you polish. I live in Maui on the South end towards the lava fields. Can condensation cause it to look dull and if so what to do to prevent it

 
April 7, 20090 found this helpful

All these tips may work but it is not necessary to work so hard to clean copper and brass! My restaurant buys brass cleaner called Brassmate. It is a non hazardous liquid that requires NO rubbing at all. I use it on my copper pots as well as my brass at home. Brassmate is a good product and I'm just passing on what I have found.

 
April 17, 20110 found this helpful

Thank you for feed back on cleaning brass, can't wait to try the suggestions offered. kathy

 
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February 18, 2005

I clean a church and have a little dillema. The foyer has a very nice ceramic tiled floor with some brass inlayed strips. (I just found them a little bit ago because the last person didn't pay attention to them).



I've started cleaning them with an SOS pad... yep on my hands and knees. I have found that the 'grime' I'm taking off isn't very thick. Is there something anyone knows of that I can use. Maybe even something to spray on and then use a floor machine? The trouble with that is, the inlays are below the actual tile surface so I'm not sure that using a floor machine will work.
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Are there any cleaning people out there that have experience with brass inlay on a floor? I thank you for any input.. or even ideas to keep me off my knees scrubbing all of them. Thank you so much!!

Kathy

Answers

By Derek (Guest Post)
February 19, 20050 found this helpful

The best way is to use a buffing pad on the floor machine. That keeps the brass shiny.

 
By sandy (Guest Post)
February 19, 20050 found this helpful

i work on the altar guild. we use a lighter fluid to clean the brass candle covers. we spray pam on the bottoms so the wax doesnt stick, but i guess dirt woould stick to your floor. i cant picture what you are talking about at all. how about brasso? that is something else we use to clean our big brass stuff.

 
By Kathy (Guest Post)
February 22, 20050 found this helpful

Derek and Sandy, Thanks for the input from both. I have things to try lighter fluid on and I'm definitely going to start using Pam on some things!! Derek, I've seen your name on a few posts, are you a professional cleaner?

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I'm not sure if there is a way to have you contact me if you are so I'll leave the post here and see if you get it. Thanks.

 
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May 7, 2007

I am looking for a fast and easy way to clean a brass chandelier.

Answers

By (Guest Post)
May 19, 20070 found this helpful

Go to any nice store that sells lighting. This is where contractors go to get all the lighting for new homes but these stores are open to the public as well. Ask them if they have a spray that they sell for cleaning chandeliers. I had one and used the spray and it was easy and cleaned it beautifully. Just put newspaper down to catch the drippings. It has been so long ago I can't remember anything about what kind of spray it was but I'll bet these stores will have someone who will help you.

 
May 19, 20070 found this helpful

Hi! I had a chandelier at one time and I cleaned it with a spray that was specifically for chandeliers. Try going to a store that sells light fixtures (contractors go to these stores to purchase lighting for homes they are building) but these stores are open to the public as well. There should be someone who can help you. I can't remember the name of the spray because it has been so long ago but it was easy and did a beautiful job. Just spray (put newspaper down to catch the drippings) and that's all there is to it. Lowes or Home Depot may have sprays like this too since they sell lighting as well. Good Luck.

 
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February 5, 2016

While working on a brass USMC plaque I managed to spray some WD40 on the surface. How, pray tell, can I remove the stain it left?


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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
September 21, 20170 found this helpful

Cleaning brass plate. All oils, including oils from your fingers, will discolor brass. Try not to touch it with your fingers.

  • Dust thoroughly
  • Now that the plaque is free of dirt and grime, its time to tackle the discoloration. Create a paste by mixing together equal parts of flour and salt in a small container, adding a few drops of vinegar until the mixture has a consistency that is similar to toothpaste.
  • Rub this mixture onto the bronze plaque with a small soft cotton cloth. Continue rubbing as needed to restore the original shine. Dry with a clean dry cloth.
  • Once dry, apply a thin even layer of paste wax to the bronze memorial plaque. Let the wax dry for half an hour, then buff it with a clean dry cloth. Continue buffing until the plaque shines. Repeat if necessary.
 
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April 17, 2011

How do I clean a brass occasional table?

By kathy from western Australia

Answers

May 15, 20110 found this helpful

Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Use a small brush to brush it on. This might take some elbow grease.

 
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September 2, 2009

I would like information on cleaning brass fireplace doors that got burned and discolored.

By cindy choate from IN

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September 2, 20090 found this helpful

www.mrscleannw.com/.../brass-cleaning.html

 
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April 12, 2014

There is excess tile grout covering my polished brass shower drain. How do I remove the grout without damaging the polished brass finish on my shower drain?

By Ken

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April 28, 2012

How do you clean the brass around a shower stall?

By Lucy

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March 14, 2005

Ideas for cleaning brass. Post your ideas.

 
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