How to Clean Brass

Brass can look nice when it starts to tarnish, and some like to keep their brass tarnished. On some pieces, however, tarnish dirt and grease accumulate and look dirty, black and unappealing.

Required Materials

• Mild detergent
• Warm water
• Brass polish
• Newspaper
• Varnish remover
• Lacquer or varnish

Required Tools

• Bucket
• Soft cloth
• Toothbrush
• Q-tips
• Gloves
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Mix the detergent with the warm water in the bucket. Mix it until the water is soapy.
2. Dip the cloth into the soapy water. Wring it out and gently rub the brass piece with it. For stubborn spots or grease, you can use the toothbrush. Make sure you use the toothbrush gently so you don’t scratch the piece.
3. For grooves and engravings, dip your Q-tip in the soapy water and rub the grooves with the Q-tip.
4. Apply the brass polish with a dry, soft cloth.
5. For brass pieces that are heavily tarnished:
6. Remove the lacquer. Put on your gloves and place the piece on the newspaper. Dip your paintbrush into the varnish remover and apply it to the piece. Be sure to follow any warnings or directions on the varnish-remover’s label.
7. Using a dry cloth and the brass polish, buff the unvarnished piece until it is clean. Since there is no protective coating, be very gentle.
8. Once dry, use a paintbrush to apply the lacquer to the piece. This wil add a protective barrier between your brass piece and dust.

For more information read :-

How to Clean Brass