How To Clean Up Brass In A Humidor

Most of us have some contumely pieces in and effectually our homes, such equally cabinet hardware, door hinges, bath faucets, piece of furniture, and decorative curios. Brass, which is a combination of copper and zinc, is highly prized for its immovability, corrosion-resistance, and good looks. Over time, however, tarnish can have over, dulling the appearance of your contumely pieces.

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Information technology's possible to restore tarnished brass to like-new status, only yous accept to keep a couple of things in mind. For starters, y'all'll want to exist conscientious not to use coarse abrasives or harsh chemicals that tin can cause damage to the metal. Then, determine if the slice is solid contumely or only brass plated. Take a magnet and place it against the brass. If the magnet does not stick, and then it'due south solid brass. If it does stick to the piece, then it'due south plated. Brass-plated pieces can be cleaned past simply scrubbing with hot, soapy water. Remember not to use anything too abrasive or you'll run a risk scrubbing abroad the plating.

⚠️ Don't use a wire brush, metal knife, or anything else that might scratch the contumely.

Remove the Lacquer

Many solid-brass pieces are protected by a manufactory applied coating of lacquer. To clean abroad the tarnish, you must first strip off the lacquer. Yous could use acetone or lacquer remover, just attempt this first: submerge the brass piece in very hot water for almost five minutes. Then, remove information technology from the water and wait for it cool. The heating/cooling cycle causes the brass to aggrandize, then contract, which breaks the bond between the contumely and the lacquer. Now, attempt scraping or peeling off the lacquer with a plastic putty pocketknife or your fingernail.

Soak the Tarnished Brass

If the hot-water bathroom doesn't loosen the lacquer, scrub information technology off with a cloth dampened with acetone or lacquer remover. Later removing the lacquer, make clean the brass piece past soaking it in hot, soapy water. Employ an sometime toothbrush to remove any caked on dirt or dust. Rinse the piece well and so dry out it with a clean fabric. It'due south now ready for tarnish removal and polishing.

Rub the Tarnish off to Reveal Shiny Brass

To clean abroad the tarnish, make this safe, nontoxic cleaning solution: squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a modest bowl. Then, add two teaspoons of baking soda and mix to form a thick poultice. Use a super-soft micro-fiber material to rub the cleaning solution onto the tarnished brass piece. Force the solution into modest spaces, holes, and crevices with a cotton wool swab or your fingertips.

Wait about x minutes, so rinse and dry out the piece. If at that place's withal some residue tarnish, repeat the poultice treatment. Once all the tarnish is gone, apply a calorie-free coating of mineral oil to the contumely and and so buff information technology with a clean micro-cobweb cloth until it shines. And to deter the brass from tarnishing over again, repeat the oil and buffing process every vi months.