subject: Unusual Ways To Clean Brass [print this page] A lot of people tend to neglect cleaning their brass items because commercial-grade cleaners can end up costing a fortune and are full of potentially harmful chemicals. But what do you do when your brass is looking tarnished and a little worse for wear? Well, why not try out some of these natural and unusual ways to clean your brass items and you can even do it with ingredients you already have in the house.
Toothpaste
Place a dab of generic white toothpaste onto an old stiff bristled toothbrush or scouring pad. Gently rub the paste into the brass, focusing on the areas that are especially tarnished. Ensure that you thoroughly rinse the brass when youre finished and give it a good dry with a clean cloth.
Tomato Sauce
Apply a spoonful of tomato sauce to an old rag and gently work it into the brass surface. Ensure that there is a thin layer of sauce covering the entirety of the brass object and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse the rag you used to apply the tomato sauce, then use it to wipe away the remaining sauce. Once the item is clean, gently buff it with a dry clean cloth to improve its shine.
Flour Solution
In a container, combine one teaspoon of table salt with half a cup of white vinegar. Slowly sprinkle plain flour into the mixture, continuously stirring until a thick paste forms. Dip a cloth into the paste and gently rub it onto the surface of the brass item, being sure to fully coat it. Let the paste sit like this for around ten minutes, then remove with a damp cloth.
Lemon Juice Solution
Get a fresh lemon and cut it in half, squeezing all of the juice onto a cloth. Wipe this across the surface of your brass item to remove any tarnish. You will need to finish by giving the brass a second wipe with a new cloth dipped into warm water to remove the lemon juice.
Vinegar, Flour and Salt Paste
Soak your brass item (or items) in a bucket or sink full of hot water. If your item is too large to fit into one of these tubs (such as a bed frame), fill a bottle with hot water and spray it into the metals surface. Mix equal parts vinegar, plain flour and salt in a small bowl to create a paste, which you can then apply to your brass item using your fingers. Let this sit for thirty minutes to an hour, then thoroughly rinse the brass with clean water.
If you have been searching for a more natural or slightly unusual way to clean your brass items (using ingredients you can find around your home), try one of the above methods and see how it works for you. Nothing beats a shiny, good as new brass surface, after all.
