Get a bottle of ketchup and lather one of the fittings with it. Using a clean cloth rub the ketchup in a circular motion and observe if it will remove the tarnish. Sometimes letting the ketchup sit a few minutes to let the acids work will loosen the tarnish on the brass. Wash off with warm water and see if it worked.
If you're dealing with badly tarnished brass or even heavily corroded brass, a vinegar and flour paste combined with salt is highly effective at breaking down oxidation without damaging the surface.
You can remove brass corrosion with vinegar. Create a paste of equal parts salt, flour and white vinegar. Apply the paste in a thin layer and let it sit for an hour or so. Rinse with warm water and dry the brass.
Combine the juice of half a lemon with a teaspoon of baking soda and stir until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste with a soft cloth. If the tarnish is heavy, let the piece sit with the paste on it for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry.
While there are many approaches to clean brass cartridge casings, professionals rely on an ultrasonic cleaner for the job. Nothing beats ultrasonic cavitation for speed and thoroughness in removing powder and firing chamber residues, oxides and other contaminants on interior and exterior brass shell casings.
Cleaning brass with a mixture of salt and vinegar works due to the chemical reactions that take place between the brass and the acidic solution. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and over time, it can develop tarnish and corrosion, which are typically a combination of copper oxide and other compounds.
We like to use WD-40. It is not only very easy to use, but is also quick and very effective. All you need to do is coat the gold and brass lamp with a layer of WD-40, which is a great to clean brass and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes. Take a clean cloth and rub the lamp in circular motions drying and buffing it up.
(Cola or peroxide? Not proven or recommended for household brass; those methods are sometimes suggested for firearm cleaning.)
Cleaning brass: the basics
A number of household products can be used to help you maintain brass including everything from basic soapy water to Coca-Cola or white vinegar.
What will Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover do to brass, copper or aluminum? Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover can not only remove the finish off of brass, aluminum and copper, but can also pit certain grades of brass, copper and aluminum.
When brass corrodes, it can undergo dezincification, a process in which zinc is lost and copper is left behind. Mild dezincification may simply cause a cosmetic change, namely, the colour of the surface turning from yellow to pink, but severe dezincification can lead to the weakening of brass and even its perforation.
Moisture and Oxygen: The presence of moisture and oxygen in the environment can initiate and accelerate the corrosion process. When brass fittings are exposed to water and air, they undergo oxidation, leading to the formation of a greenish patina known as verdigris.
What will Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover do to brass, copper or aluminum? Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover can not only remove the finish off of brass, aluminum and copper, but can also pit certain grades of brass, copper and aluminum.
Heavy corrosion needs a bit of acidity to help break it down. DIY solutions work well in many cases, so make up a paste of your own. Here are three possible home-made mixtures to use on heavily corroded brass: Mix equal parts white vinegar, salt, and plain flour to create a paste.
When cleaning brass, acidic cleaners like vinegar (acetic acid) and lemon juice (citric acid) work best. These help dissolve hard water deposits and make the tarnish caused by them much easier to remove.
Avoid abrasives
Don't use wire wool in case you scratch the surface and damage your antique brass. Similarly, avoid getting any abrasive powder or liquid cleaner in fine details as it can leave a white residue that can be hard to remove.
In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar, salt and flour to make a paste. Apply the mixture to the brass hardware and rub using a cloth or soft brush. Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and wipe the hardware clean with a damp cloth.
This might surprise you, but yes, you sure can clean brass using just toothpaste.
Spray a small amount of WD-40 on a soft, clean cloth and gently rub it into the brass in a circular motion. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then remove it. Be sure to test it on a small spot first to ensure it won't damage your piece.
Allow the object to soak in the vinegar for at least 30 minutes. Check the progress. Excessive amounts of rust will require longer soaking, up to two hours.
Whether you're doing a weekly wipe down of your brass doorknobs or bringing a 100-year-old brass bed frame back to life, BKF is your answer. It's easy to use, safe, and it works. BKF is the answer to how to clean brass. So, before you give up on those old, tarnished brass trinkets, give us a try.