How To Clean Brass Using 2 Natural Kitchen Ingredients Brass has slowly been making its way into interiors again as a trendy sheen to accent accessories. And since this was a popular edition to home decor years ago, it's not unheard of to find good deals on brass objects while thrifting. But if your new-to-you brass accessory or furniture piece has loss its brassy bite, you might need to clean it up. We've got the step-by-step guide to cleaning brass using only two natural ingredients you probably already have on hand! a teaspoon or so of baking soda a small bowl to mix your paste and some dirty brass *adjust to suit project and juiciness of lemons 1. Check to see if it's really brass First off you'll probably want to know if you're actually working with brass. This might seem obvious but old brass can get pretty dirty and I'm not expert enough to pick fakes or brass plating. So if like me you're not 100% sure grab a magnet from your fridge and see if it sticks.

If it does you'll want to stop right here and do some more investigating. If it doesn't you're probably looking at some really dirty brass. 2. Squeeze half a lemon into your bowl. 3. Add your baking soda. It will fizz a little but settle down when you mix it. 4. Stir the baking soda and lemon mix until it forms a delicious smelling paste. 5. Use a soft cloth and apply the paste. Gently work it into the brass. I got the best results when I rubbed the paste gently in one direction. (In the end I mostly used my fingers) 6. Rinse off the paste and dry. Reapply and repeat the process as and where necessary. 7. When you're done, give the brass a really thorough rinse. Make sure there's no paste left over and then dry it with a clean dry towel. 8. If you want to buff your brass try rubbing it gently with a clean dry cloth. I'm also told that you can shine brass with olive oil. Fresh out of baking soda? a teaspoon or so of salt 1. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle on a generous helping of fine grain salt.

2. Using the lemon as a scouring pad, begin to work it all around the piece, lightly squeezing the juice as you go. The slightly abrasive salt will begin to work away the tarnish. 3. Continue to work the lemon all around the piece until it is clean.florida air duct cleaners complaints 4. Rinse under warm water and you're all set! water air purifier hong kongCan you see yourself smiling in your reflection?air purifier reviews canada More brass inspiration + ideas: Trend Watch: A Touch of Brass Fabulously Classy: Brass Lighting Metallic Color: Beautiful Brass DIY Project Idea to Try: Make a Brass Swing Light Trend Spotting: Gold and Brass in the Kitchen Post re-edited from one that originally published 1.1.15 - AP

Brass is a beautiful metal, and can be a wonderful way to bring shine to accent pieces throughout your home. Brass is an alloy metal made up of zinc and copper. The amounts used of each are adjusted depending on the intended use of the piece. Brass is popular and is used for cookware, mirror frames, picture frames, vases, candlesticks, instruments, jewelry, fittings and so much more. Brass, like silver and other metals, does tarnish easily. So what is the best way to clean your brass pieces? One of the first things you'll need to do is figure out if your piece is solid or brass plated. We'll tell you how below, then go over some quick, easy, and safe ways to clean your brass using natural ingredients. Some of the ingredients you may have in the house already. No need to go to the store - how handy is that? An important first step to knowing how to best clean your brass piece is to determine if it’s solid brass or actually brass plated steel. A quick and easy way to check is to try putting a small magnet on the piece.

If the magnet falls, your piece is solid brass and you should read on! But if the magnet sticks, your piece is brass plated steel and what you’re seeing is not tarnish but rust. Take some very fine grade steel wool and buff away the rust. You may then need to have the piece repainted. Brass can often be cleaned with a clean, lint-free cloth. One of the best types for this is a microfiber cloth. Put some elbow grease into it, and really buff the area hard. You might be amazed that you don’t have to do anything further! The second easiest tip for brass cleaning is the simple washing of the piece in warm, soapy water. This can be done by immersion or wiping, depending on the nature of the piece. Make sure you dry the brass thoroughly once it’s clean, and buff it to a shine. Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce really do clean brass. Use a clean, damp cloth to rub the sauce of your choice into your brass piece, and then wipe it clean. The piece will shine like never before!

It’s not crazy, we promise, even though you may think this is a waste of good cooking materials! This method is wonderful because it’s both completely natural and doesn’t require dirtying a clean rag and only takes a few steps to clean and shine brass. Salt and vinegar is more than a great flavor of potato chips, it’s also a great brass cleaner! Another great option for a brass cleaning paste is one made of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Yogurt isn't just something to enjoy eating. Using plain yogurt is a great way for cleaning brass. Rub it on the brass with either a clean cloth or your fingers, then let it dry. Use a clean, dry cloth to buff off the yogurt. Your brass now looks like new again! If your piece of brass is particularly tarnished, a great cleaning method is a solution of: As always, when using ammonia, ensure that you are working in a well-ventilated area. You’ll need to completely immerse the piece in the solution and let it sit for at least 10 minutes.