How to make brass look like new

Brass is a yellowish metal that is an alloy of copper and zinc. However, the shine of brass can easily dull, and since it contains copper, it can also develop verdigris.  

Additionally, many brass items get dirty and dusty because we display them as decorations, and brass candlesticks become covered in escaped wax.

But there is hope. Brass can be cleaned again, and this without you going broke or needing to use environmentally harmful agents. We will now go through our best tips for cleaning brass. Below we explain how to polish brass like a pro!

Find out if the item is plated or solid brass

Before you start cleaning your brass item, it is important to examine it carefully. How you clean it depends on whether it is brass-plated or made of solid brass. If it is plated, there is only a thin layer of brass, so you need to be a little more careful not to rub off the surface.

You don't need to be an expert on metals for this; all you need is a regular magnet. Brass is not magnetic, so if the magnet does not stick to the item, you know it is solid brass. But if the magnet sticks, it is plated.

If your brass item is only plated, you should avoid anything that might have an abrasive effect. This applies to commercial brass polish as well as home remedies like using salt. But that doesn't mean you can't clean it. Warm water with soap and the soft side of a scourer will get you a long way.

Items in brushed brass are best cleaned with just water as they easily become spotted. Be sure also to dry them thoroughly.

Clean before you polish your brass

If you have tested and found that your item is not magnetic, you can start polishing it. But before you do that, clean it with warm water and soap or dish detergent. This removes dust and debris, while polishing removes coarser dirt and verdigris.

For heavy cleaning, you can place your item in boiling water and then take it out and polish it with a cloth. Just be careful not to burn yourself. You may need to wear an oven glove or hold a towel between your hand and the item. If it is a brass candlestick that needs cleaning, you can remove the wax before dipping it in water.

Verdigris is a greenish discoloration that forms on copper, which brass largely consists of. The same applies to bronze. Verdigris forms when copper is exposed to oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as water. The effect is much faster outdoors than indoors. The Statue of Liberty, for example, is completely covered in verdigris.

Polish brass using natural methods

There are brass cleaning products available to buy, but often it works just as well to use things you already have at home that have a high acid content. Be sure to use a soft cloth or the soft side of a dish sponge. Avoid the rough side of the sponge and do not use steel wool or anything else that could scratch the brass. You may need to repeat polishing one or more times depending on the condition of your item.

Here you can see before-and-after pictures where the methods below have been used.

Clean brass with lemon and baking soda

1. Mix the juice of half a lemon with 1 teaspoon of baking soda to make a paste.

2. Apply the paste with a soft cloth.

3. Leave it to work for 30 minutes.

4. Rinse off with warm water and dry with a kitchen towel.

Clean brass with lemon and salt

1. Cut a lemon in half and remove the seeds.

2. Cover one half of the lemon with 1 teaspoon of ordinary table salt.

3. Rub the lemon over the brass while squeezing out the juice.

4. Rinse off with warm water and dry with a kitchen towel.

Clean brass with vinegar, salt, and flour

1. Mix equal parts vinegar, salt, and flour to make a paste.

2. Apply the paste with a soft cloth.

3. Leave it to work for an hour.

4. Rinse off with warm water and dry with a kitchen towel.

Clean brass with ketchup or yoghurt

1. Cover your item with ketchup or yoghurt.

2. Leave it to work for an hour.

3. Wash with warm water and dish detergent and dry with a kitchen towel.

You probably notice a pattern with the above methods. You cover the brass with something acidic, let it work, and rinse it off. Since the acid does the job, you usually don't need to polish much.

Sometimes you don't need to polish at all

To polish or not to polish, that is the question. It is not always the case that you want an item to look brand new. On the contrary, patina, which is what the surface of older items is called, can be extremely charming. Here you can see the difference between patinated and polished brass.

If you have an antique item of value, you should be careful about polishing it. If you remove the patina so it looks new, it might decrease in value. If you are unsure, we recommend asking someone knowledgeable, for example at an antiques shop.

Any other tips?

Polishing brass is a cleaning project many find hard to make time for. Cleaning the oven is another. Why not treat yourself to a bit of everyday luxury in the form of a deep clean done by professionals? We at Städade Hem are a cleaning company in Stockholm with expertise in everything needed to make your home sparkling clean. Get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.