How to Clean Brass

Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, sometimes including other metals. Brass material has been used from ancient times to modern times due to its durability, malleability and elegance. However, brass can accumulate dust, grease and tarnish over time. If you want to brighten up a piece of brass, you can apply cleaning methods that require only common household products combined with a bit of meticulousness. You can also use commercial products to polish brass, depending on how dull it is.

Table of Contents

Preparing to clean brass

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Determine if the item you are looking to polish is actually brass. Bring the magnet closer to see if the magnet attracts.

If the magnet doesn’t attract the item, it’s brass.
If the magnet sticks to the item, it’s likely that the “brass” item is actually iron or steel plated with brass. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Determine if your item really needs polishing. Some brass items are not designed to be shiny. Any polishing effort really only reduces the value of the item. If you are unsure about the steps to clean brass, you should consult a brass specialist to select the appropriate cleaning method. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Sometimes copper rust (turquoise forms on brass and copper) gives an item a unique look and should be left as is.
Bronze grades are used in evaluating many aspects of a brass piece. For example, one can rely on copper rust to determine an item’s age, current condition, and potential value. Removing or altering the copper rust on an antique can greatly affect its value. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Determine if there is a glossy finish. Modern brass pieces are often coated with a glossy finish to protect against oxidation, but antique brass items do not have a glossy finish. ^{[4] X Research Source} You can tell if an item has a glossy finish by looking at its surface: there will be a transparent layer covering the entire surface of the item. Brass with a glossy finish usually only tarnishes if there is a crack in the coating. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Other polished brass is easy to clean; everything you need is just soapy water. However, you should also consider removing the polish if the surface underneath the paint is already dull.
If you still don’t know if your brass has a gloss finish, keep in mind that polished brass tends to have more of a yellow tint. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Cleaning solid brass

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Clean polished brass. The first line of defense for keeping brass clean is regular dusting with a soft rag. ^{[7] X Research Source} After dusting, dip a cotton cloth in a mixture of mild dishwashing liquid and slightly warm water. Wring the cloth so that only moisture remains and gently wipe the surface of the brass, then use a damp cloth to remove the soap and dry the item thoroughly.

You’ll need to remove the top coat first if you want to lighten the dullness that has built up underneath the polish.

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Remove polish with hot water. Hot water softens the outer polish. Place the brass item in the sink and pour hot water over it. ^{[8] X Research Source} Hot water will heat and cause brass to expand. The gloss coating also expands. However, when the brass cools and shrinks, the gloss finish does not shrink. The polish will then separate slightly from the brass surface and can be easily peeled off. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You can also soak brass in boiling water to remove the polish, depending on the size of the item. All you need to do is submerge the brass piece in a pot of boiling water (don’t use an aluminum pot) and let it sit for a few minutes. Then carefully remove the item from the water, let it cool and peel off the paint. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Use a special product to remove polish. Place the brass item on a table lined with a thick layer of newspaper. Newspaper will protect your workplace by absorbing polish remover drops. ^{[11] X Research Source} You can use a paint brush to apply polish remover to the surface of the item evenly and thoroughly. When you finish scanning, you need to let it sit for 1-2 minutes, then wipe it with a soft cloth. Be sure to read the instructions on the product packaging carefully.

Be careful and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, as polish remover contains harsh chemicals, which can be dangerous.
Protect skin and wear goggles when handling polish remover.
Due to the toxic gases released from the polish remover, you should do this outdoors or in a well-ventilated place.
You should also keep away from open flames, as polish remover is a flammable chemical. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Polishing brass. Make sure the item is clean of dust before you start polishing. There are many types of brass polishing products on the market, but you can use lemon to make a brass polish at home. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze all the juice into a small bowl. Add a pinch of table salt or baking soda – which doesn’t matter, as the salt or baking soda acts only as a friction agent – until a paste is formed. ^{[13] X Research Source} You may need about 1 teaspoon of table salt or baking soda, or more. Use a soft cloth to spread the mixture on the brass.

Be sure to spread the mixture in the direction of the metal grain. Otherwise, you may cause small scratches on the brass surface.
Do not rub too hard on the item. Table salt / baking soda friction will gently remove the dull layer.
You can use a soft toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach dents. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Consider polishing brass with a commercial cleaning product. Many brass cleaning products can remove polish and restore shine without scratching or damaging the surface.

Brass cleaning products sometimes contain friction components, so you need to be careful not to damage the delicate engravings on the item. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Stay away from hydrochloric acid. This substance is not suitable for cleaning brass and can leave permanent stains. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Undiluted vinegar or ammonia can be very effective in cleaning antique brass. Soak the item in vinegar or ammonia. Both are natural cleaners and can give brass a long-lasting shine. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Consider using other cleaning products. While you can make your own brass cleaner at home or use commercial store-bought products, there are a few other natural ingredients you can use:

Tomato sauce . Use a soft cloth to spread a generous amount of ketchup over the brass. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then wipe off the ketchup with a soft, damp cloth. Dry the item thoroughly. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Yogurt . Coat the brass with a layer of white yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt works to break down and dissolve the dull layer on brass. Let the yogurt dry, then rinse with water and dry with a clean towel. ^{[19] X Research Source}
White vinegar and salt . Pour white vinegar over brass (pour or spray white vinegar over the surface), then sprinkle salt over the vinegar. ^{[20] X Research Source} Dip a little vinegar into the cloth and gently wipe the surface of the brass. Use a clean towel to dry.

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Protect brass items from tarnishing. After cleaning your brass, you need to protect it from tarnishing by applying a clear coat of paint. ^{[21] X Research Source} You can use a toothbrush or cotton ball to apply the polish. Read the instructions for use on the polish packaging for the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Regardless of how you apply the top coat, remember to apply only a thin layer. Be careful with paint splatters, as these can dry out, and your item will appear streaked. ^{[22] X Research Source}
Let the item dry completely before touching it. After the polish dries, use a clean cloth to wipe it to bring back the shine to the item.

Clean brass plated

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Determine if your item is brass or brass plated. Brass and brass plated can be very difficult to tell apart. Bring the magnet close to the item to see if it attracts. If the magnet doesn’t attract, the item is probably brass. If the magnet attracts, chances are your “brass” item is actually brass-plated iron or steel. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Another way to check if an item is brass or brass plated is to scrape it off a bit with a sharp knife in a hard-to-see area. If it is brass, the color of the scratch will be bright yellow. ^{[24] X Research Source}
If the scrape is a different color, like silver, it’s definitely a different metal, and you’ll still need to use a non-frictional cleaner to avoid stripping the plating.

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Clean polished brass plated items. Clean the entire surface of the brass finish with a mixture of mild soap and cold or lukewarm water. Dip the cloth in soapy water, wring it out so that only a little moisture remains, and gently wipe the surface of the item.

Never attempt to polish a brass piece that has been polished. Glossy paint often dulls the brass surface. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
Do not use ammonia-based cleaners on polished brass, as ammonia will destroy the protective polish.

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Clean unpolished brass plated items. Dip a soft cotton cloth in a mixture of mild dishwashing liquid and slightly warm water, wring it out so that it is only slightly damp, and gently wipe the surface of the item.

You can use an old toothbrush to clean the patterns and grooves on the item.

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Wash and sweep lightly polishing product. Wash the brass with water and dry with a clean cloth.

Polishing brass-plated items may cause some loss of the plating. If you want to polish a brass-plated object, you need to be very gentle. ^{[26] X Research Sources}
It is helpful to test the polish on a hidden corner of the brass piece before polishing the entire surface.

Advice

Half a lemon dipped in a dish of table salt can also remove the dull layer on the surface of the brass and clean but not shine.

Warning

Excessive cleaning and the use of friction beads can damage the brass.
When using paint remover or stain remover or when applying polish, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and heed the warnings.

Things you need

Magnet
Gentle dishwashing liquid
Hot water and slightly warm water
Baking soda
Lemon juice
Salt
Old toothbrush
Soft cloth
Rubber gloves
Paint remover or matte remover
Brass Polisher
Paint brush
Clear gloss paint suitable for brass
Tomato sauce (optional)
Yogurt (optional)
Vinegar

Steps