

Though Hartman rubs in polish with very fine steel wool, she warns that you should never use anything thicker than grade 00 steel wool to avoid scratching the surface. Blue Magic is great for getting rid of tarnish and oxidation and works well on brass jewelry, the rim of a watch face, or a vintage tea set. Twinkle Brass & Copper Cleaning Kit actually has an anti-tarnish ingredient that extends the treatment, making it ideal for outdoor pieces. Bar Keepers Friend tackles both rust and tarnish on brass pieces. Brasso is great for to bring back shine to door knobs and locks. Our experts recommend some great store-bought cleaners to bring your brass back to its original luster in a jiffy. To remove discoloration, use a cleaning product specifically designed for brass, like Wright’s Brass Polish. Grab a soft cleaning cloth-Sorenson prefers a knit-cotton material, like an old undershirt-and buff away. For a more neglected piece, store-bought brass cleaners will get your brass polished in a jiffy. If your brass isn’t too grimy, this might be all you need for a refresh. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe away the soapy water and all the debris, dust, and dirt.
#Vintage glass drawer pulls free
All you need to start is a mild dish soap, like Dawn Platinum Powerwash Free & Clear, and a warm water rinse. For hard water scaling use a simple solution of vinegar and water.” For other pieces, always wash the brass before polishing. “The best way to clean a brass faucet is with a clean microfiber cloth and water,” says Abbas Imtiaz Poonawala, director of operations for Isenberg Faucets in Dallas. “Wiring, mechanical complexity, and lubricating requirements generally turn these types of projects into more than simple DIY chores,” he says.


“Too often I see what would be a wonderfully patinated item significantly degraded by a bad decision to restore it to a like-new state.”įor functional elements, such as locks, hinges, hardware, or light fixtures, Sorenson suggests seeking the help of a professional. “Oftentimes it’s best to forgo the polishing process altogether,” he says, noting that polishing antiques could significantly reduce their value. How do you clean badly tarnished brass?īefore you roll up your sleeves to clean brass, consider this: Sometimes the beauty of an antique brass object is its tarnish, in which case Sorenson recommends leaving it alone. Whether you’ve inherited brass jewelry, picked up a vintage lamp, or just replaced your cabinet pulls, this cleaning guide is sure to make your brass badass.
#Vintage glass drawer pulls how to
Here, they reveal their favorite brass cleaners, how to make a DIY brass polish, and other key insights on cleaning brass. AD turned to experts for the best tips on caring for brass: Teri Hartman, manager of Liz’s Antique Hardware in Los Angeles, and Carl Sorenson, founder of Nanz, a New York company that produces custom-made solid-brass hardware.
