subject: Cleaning Brass Products Easily [print this page] Polishing or cleaning cleaning ruined brass can be quite a task and it is not for the faint hearted. There are many polishing or cleaning products used to clean brass in the market. Some agents have the ability to react and dissolve the brass. Then there are still more agents that do not dissolve the brass and only the impurities. The acids soften the compound on the stains and can easily remove the unwanted compounds. Restoring brass articles to their original condition, may be an ordeal, if it is severely damaged. In cases like these, one may have to resort to a two-step process. Step one includes a caustic tarnish remover and brushed thoroughly on the surface and left as it is. In some products, it may be required to use mild acid neutralizer to prevent the caustic from dissolving the brass. If the solution is left on for a longer period of time, it will eat into the metal.
The solution depends on the degree of the tarnish. It can either be light tarnish or heavy tarnish. The tarnish can be removed with simple liquid which react faster with oxidized brass. One has to read the instructions provided on the container to witness the desired effects. The cleaning agents used, for cleaning brass, depends on the type of tarnish.
It is fairly easy to clean brass and since most cleaning agents are available in any neighborhood, it is not that big a deal! For cleaning brass, one requires the following materials:
Rubber gloves
Newspapers to cover your work surfaces
Small dish or saucer
Commercial brass polish
Cotton rags or sponge
Instructions
The brass needs to washed in hot water and dish soap. The light-green patches on an object may be the result of previous polish which had not been completely removed.
A small amount of polish is then poured on saucer or dish. One can add more polish but caution must be exercised.
The brass needs to be dried and a coat of polish must be applied, in that order
Leave it to dry
The dry polish should be buffed off and washed again. If one notices spots of tarnish, one may need to apply a second coat of polish and a re-buffing!
Cleaning brass which are slightly larger in dimension may require more care than usual. When one is dealing with metal polish adequate ventilation is required. The way chemicals work result in a chemical reaction between the metal and polish and it is recommended to limit exposure, either through skin or inhalation.
Another effective homemade brass cleaner is a mixture made of baking soda and lemon. The lemon juice and baking soda should be added in a bowl to make a paste. This paste is then applied to the brass and rubbed with a soft cotton cloth.
