Brass door handles can make a house look classy. But sadly, air and water can make brass look old and dull. Cleaning and care can keep your brass handles looking good. This guide will show you how to clean brass door handles. It will help keep them shiny and working well for a long time.
Understanding Brass: Why Does It Tarnish?
Brass door handles can make a house look classy. But sadly, air and water can make brass look old and dull. Cleaning and care can keep your brass handles looking good. This article will let you how to clean brass metal. It will help keep them shiny and working well for a long time.
5 Tips to Clean Brass Door Handles to Keep Your Handles Shiny
- Gather Your Supplies
- Check for Lacquer on the Brass Certain
- Basic Cleaning for Lacquered Brass
- Cleaning Unlacquered Brass with Natural Solutions
- Polishing to Restore Shine
1. Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin the brass cleaning process, gather the following supplies:
- Soft cloths
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- White vinegar or lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Toothbrush (optional)
- Microfiber cloth
- Protective gloves (optional)
2. Check for Lacquer on the Brass Certain
Brass doorknobs have a lacquer coat to stop them from dulling. First, confirm whether your handles carry this safeguard. Try this: lightly rub a corner with an acetone-soaked rag or nail polish remover. If lacquer peels off, remove it before any cleaning. If it doesn’t, move on to a softer cleaning approach.
3. Basic Cleaning for Lacquered Brass
Your door handle is coated with lacquer? Here’s what to do to avoid harsh cleaners messing up the finish. Let’s get some warm water and add a little bit of mild dish soap.
- Take a soft cloth, dunk it in the soapy mix and then with care, wipe the handles.
- Next, refresh the cloth in clean water, this will get rid of any remaining soap.
- Once that’s done, grab a microfiber cloth and dry the handles till they’re spotless.
- Makes sense, right? This easy process works great for both routine upkeep and light cleaning on brass.
4. Cleaning Unlacquered Brass with Natural Solutions
Got tarnished brass door handles? Not to worry!
(i) You can use stuff like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice right from your kitchen to clean them up.
Who knew? So, how do you do it? Here’s the rundown:
- It starts with making a paste from vinegar and baking soda. Just match equal parts. Once it’s a good, thick paste, you’re ready to put it on your brass door handles.
- Use something soft, like a cloth or toothbrush for the really detailed parts. You’re gonna want to let it camp out there for a bit, like around 10-15 minutes.
- That’s to help it fight off the tarnish. Following that, take a scrub at the handles.
- Remember to keep it gentle and focus more on the really tarnished spots.
- Wash it off with some warm water afterward and then lastly dry it using a microfiber cloth.
(ii) There’s another method, too. For this one, you need a lemon and some salt.
- Cut the lemon in two and dip it in salt. This lemon is your cleaning tool.
- Rub it onto the handles. Use the salt as if it’s sandpaper, but a gentle one.
- Keep it up till there’s no tarnish. Once that’s done, wash with warm water again and easy-dry with a soft cloth.
- Cool, huh? Plus, these are all very green-friendly methods, making them the real-deal for regular brass shining.
5. Polishing to Restore Shine
After ridding the brass door handles of any discoloration, it’s time to make them gleam once again. This is how do you shine brass after a deep clean:
- Readymade Brass Polishing Agent: Put a tad of brass polish onto a gentle fabric. Rub it in circles onto the handles softly. Buff the handles with a fresh, untouched cloth to bring out the sheen.
- Homemade Polishing Compound: Blend a bit of flour, salt, and vinegar, forming a smooth polishing compound. Slather the mix onto the handles. Let it stay for a spell. Buff the handles using a soft fabric until they gleam.
Polishing doesn’t just boost the look of the handles, it also shields them adding a layer that hampers future discoloration.
Preventing Tarnish and Keeping Brass Shiny
Keep your door handle fresh with routine care. Here’s how to ditch the tarnish and keep the glow:
- Dust Often: Wipe handles frequently with a dry microfiber cloth. This keeps dust out and avoids grime buildup.
- Dodge Wetness: Water speeds up tarnishing. Swipe away any water or prints right away to keep handles dry.
- Use a Safety Layer: Think about putting a slim coat of clear lacquer or wax on brass door handles after cleaning. This shields them from air and dampness.
- Polish Regularly: Brass may need polish every few months, depending on where you live. Regular buffs keep the brass at its brightest.
Conclusion
Learning how to clean brass handles is vital if you want your home’s fixtures to stay elegant and work well. Your brass handles can keep their shine for many years with good methods and frequent care. Using natural things or store-bought products doesn’t really matter, as long as you clean and buff them regularly. By doing what the steps above say, your brass handles will always look nice. This makes your living area seem more classy.
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