If you are like most people, you probably have some brass items in your home that you would like to restore. Brass can start to look black and dingy after a time, and it can really detract from the look of your home if you have many brass fixtures – for instance, the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. Fortunately, it is easy to clean and restore all of the brass goods that you have. Best of all, you can do it on your own.
First, wash the tarnished brass with warm, soapy water. Get as much of the grime off the piece as you can with a soft scrubbing brush or flannel. Don’t worry that you won’t be able to get everything off right now.
After you’ve dried the brass, take a soft cloth and apply some boiled linseed oil to it. Use this cloth to remove the rest of the tarnish. You can then use another soft cloth and lemon oil to polish the piece.
A great trick for keeping your brass looking great after you’ve cleaned and polished it is to use olive oil. Take a cloth, apply a small amount of olive oil to it and then wipe the surface. This helps to keep that nasty tarnishing at bay, and it means that you will not have to polish as much in the future.
Commercial brass cleaners are also available if you prefer. You will always want to make sure that you follow the instructions on the cleaners to make sure you do not damage your brass. For very old brass items that are in poor shape, you may need to consult an expert so that you do not ruin the piece with harsh modern chemicals.
Find local listings of businesses and services near you. Get driving directions, reviews and ratings, phone numbers, addresses and more on Local.com.
