Brass and copper cleaner
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Lemon, salt, vinegar and flour pastes. Rub on, rinse and buff dry.
What You’ll Need
- Paste: ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon flour; ½ cup white vinegar
- Lemon and salt: 1 lemon; table salt
- Lemon paste: 1 teaspoon baking soda OR 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Microfiber cloths warm (soapy) water
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Directions
- Paste: stir the salt, flour and vinegar into a paste; spread it on and leave for up to an hour, then rinse with warm water and buff dry.
- Lemon and salt: cut the lemon in half and remove the seeds, coat the cut side with salt, and rub it over the brass (adding more salt as needed); leave for up to an hour, then rinse, dry and buff.
- Lemon paste: stir baking soda or cream of tartar into lemon juice, rub it on with a cloth, and rinse with warm soapy water.
Notes
A thin coat of ketchup for about an hour, then hot soapy water, also works.
Safety: use a magnet test, if it sticks, the piece is plated; clean plated and lacquered brass only with hot soapy water (acids and rubbing can strip it); no steel wool, metal brushes or harsh abrasive cloths; don’t submerge brass jewelry. Also: don’t use acid pastes on cookware linings or antiques without checking first; rinse thoroughly so acid residue doesn’t keep etching.