Before

After

Oh, you’re probably thinking “That’s easy. Why would I need brass cleaning tips?” Well, let me tell you, Sweetie, it’s not as easy as you think. I’ve been working on some tarnished antique light fixtures and I found out that it’s not a 5 minute job.

I think I’ve got a good system now, but I learned by trial and error.

Two things to consider before you even start:

1. Is it really brass? A magnet will NOT stick to brass. If it’s only brass plated, tread lightly.

2. Does it have a coat of lacquer on it? If so, you’ll have to remove that before polishing. Soak the piece in warm, soapy water first to determine whether or not it’s sealed. If the tarnish doesn’t wipe away, it’s coated. You can try to soak it in hot water or boil it if it’s small enough, but you may need lacquer thinner to remove it.

Ok, so now you’re ready to begin. This is for completely tarnished pieces. If it’s just alittle dull, by all means, skip the first few steps and just polish it.

Soak the item in warm soapy water for about a half hour. Gently “scrub” away the black with the rough end of a sponge or 000/0000 steel wool. I said gently!

You’ll need gallons and gallons of vinegar if you have large pieces. I used the slop sink for my fixtures. Make a solution of 3/1 vinegar/water. Add some salt. Maybe a pinch of lemon. And even some dish soap. I throw it all in there because, hey, ya never know. But it’s really the vinegar that does the trick. Soak for oh, another half hour. Again, gently “scrub”. Alternatively, you can add flour and make a paste.

After this step, your piece is probably bright pink. Not what you had in mind? Don’t freak out. Now clean with Brasso, Never Dull or Wright’s Brass Polish. That will get the pink out. Now the problem is getting rid of that nasty polish. Soak yet again in soapy water or wipe away with boiled linseed oil.

Brass tarnishes when exposed to air, so it should be re-coated when you’re finished.

Some other tips people swear by:

Ketchup. Yes, it works! But that ketchup smell will linger forever!!

Apply a verrry thick coat of Brasso so it doesn’t dry out. Leave on for 30 minutes.

Sulfuric and Hydrochloric acid. Never tried it, it seems pretty harsh.

Kool Aid. I have no idea why.