Brass Care – Cleaning and Polishing

Brass Care made simple and easy as it can be. Yes, you can care for the brass articles with items available in your household.

Brass Care – decorative articles

Beauty of brass and the need to care

Brass articles provide a golden sheen and beautify our surroundings. Many handicrafts and even household items are made of brass. They have been in existence since the dawn of civilization.

Brass Care of old brass fittings and objects

However, due to exposure to adverse weather and contact with oil, grease and dirt they can get tarnished very easily. Brass care would seem very difficult at first sight. We can take proper care of brass articles and minimize tarnish and damage due to atmosphere.

Care for Different Brass articles

First we have to determine if it is solid brass or and iron article plated with brass for an effective care. Bring a magnet near the article and if it sticks it is iron inside and otherwise it is solid brass. Treatment for each type is different. Brass plated iron articles can be polished but they should not be strongly rubbed or ground because the brass plating will wear off showing the iron metal underneath the outer brass casing. In such cases it is usually better to gently wipe the brass article with a mild brass cleaner like lime juice + salt or white vinegar + salt with a soft cloth. Immediately neutralize it with bi-carbonate (baking soda) and wash or wipe the brass article with clean water. For the best results it is better to give a thin coat of linseed oil or other drying oils or wax on the outside of the brass article. You may also give a fine coat of lacquer for good protection and tarnish resistance .

Brass Care – Kitchen brass utensils and articles

Brass Care and the Kitchen

Keep in mind that brass articles for kitchen use that come into contact with food items should not be coated with anything artificial. It is enough to scour the brass articles with dish wash detergents. An occasional cleaning with lime/vinegar + salt provides excellent brass care.

Brass Care of rustic and antique brass objects

Do not ever polish or clean a brass object that is deliberately finished with an antique or rustic look!. Simply clean the dust off the brass object with a soft cloth and protect from abnormal weather and that would take care of the brass item.