Natural Ingredients For Cleaning Brass Beds And Ornaments Natural Cleaning

natural ingredients for cleaning brass beds and ornaments

mumtazcatering 17 years ago

hi and good day
help!!!!!!!!! is there anyone out there that has a "recipe" for cleaning brass beds and brass ornaments the natural way, but still maintain a brilliant shine? it would be highly appreciated
kind regards
mumtaz

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pointsevenout 17 years ago said:

1/2 c flour
1/2 c salt
1/2 c powdered detergent
3/4 c white vinegar
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 c very warm water

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Stir in the liquid ingredients. Mix well.
Transfer the cleaning mixture to a glass jar. Close the jar tightly and label it.
To use the cleaner, shake a small amount onto a cloth and rub it into the surface of the copper, brass, or bronze object. Use a toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas. Rinse with water and rub dry with a clean cloth.

Clean copper-bottomed pots and pans with lemon juice. Copper fixtures can also benefit from a lemon juice cleaning. Cut a lemon in half. Dip it in some salt, and clean spots from your copper.

Sprinkle baking soda on your copper-bottomed pots and pans. Pour vinegar over the pan and use half a lemon as your "scrub brush". Rinse thoroughly and your pots will be shiny as new again.

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pointsevenout 17 years ago said:

Try a mix of salt and Lea & Parents Worcestershire Sauce.

Lemon juice
Cream of tartar
Make a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Apply to surface, leave on for 5 minutes. Wash with warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.

Enough vinegar to wet the entire surface that you want to clean.
Enough salt to sprinkle on top of the vinegar.
A cloth.

Pour vinegar over the top of the surface of the brass, then sprinkle salt on and scrub with a cloth. Rinse with warm water and polish. You can also wet the cloth with vinegar and rub all over the surface. This is a very simple brass cleaner that works well.

That depends on whether it's lacquered or not. To clean lacquered brass, simply wipe with a soft, damp cloth; do not use any kind of household cleaner. If it's nonlacquered, squirt a dollop of ketchup on a rag, and rub over surface. Wipe off residue with a damp cloth and buff dry. For a homemade cleaner, dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup vinegar and add enough flour to make a paste. Rub onto the brass and leave for 10 minutes; rinse and buff dry.

True brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It tends to oxidize (tarnish) quickly when exposed to air, which is a major reason why most brass is given a clear coating of lacquer to prevent this condition. Most conventional polishes such as "Brasso®," "Twinkle®," etc. coat the raw metal with a thin film of oil to help inhibit future tarnishing. Additionally, most metal polishes contain solvents and detergents to remove the tarnish, mild abrasives to polish the metal, and oils to act as a barrier between the raw metal and air.

Brass turns "black" when cleaning due to over-use and misuse of polish. The biggest challenge to the upkeep of most metals, including brass, is the removal and inhibition of tarnish. All substances, especially metals, oxidize when exposed to air. Once tarnish is removed, a chemical barrier should be created between the bare metal and the air to inhibit the process from re-occurring.

Many people over-use and flood metal surfaces with polishes believing that they are better protecting the surface. The more polish, the more protection. Wrong assumption. More polish creates a smudging problem since fingerprints (human body oils) "dissolve" the solvency of the metal polish. Additionally, too much polish may discolor the surface. Only a trace amount creating a thin film should be applied. Therefore, an adequate amount of metal polish should be applied and spread out an amount on an absorbent rag. Then, let the rag dry out for a minimum of 24 hours before placement onto most metals. Apply this trace amount of polish with the grain of the brass with one hand while buffing it out in a rapid motion (creating friction) with the other hand. This burnishing action will harden the polish (like "spit shining" a shoe) and create a surface far more difficult to smudge or discolor.

When dealing with "raw" brass instead of finished lacquered brass, the reaction between raw metal and chemicals can create the condition. The care of most metals is a two step process:
Cleaning (for light soils): The use of isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) applied with the sponge side of a light-duty, "white-padded" scrubbing sponge with the grain of the door. In the event of tougher scuff marks, flip over sponge and gently agitate with the grain of the metal with the white scrub pad.
For heavier soils: Dampen sponge side with water, and apply a light scouring low abrasion creme onto it. Work product into sponge, and then stroke it onto your door with the grain. Once completed, wipe surface thoroughly clean with a clean, soft rag. Once surface is cleaned, then go to the next step.
Polishing: One of the best tools which provides just the right amount of oil onto metal is a "yellow" treated dust cloth. Wipe down brass with this cloth and then buff it dry with a soft, cotton cloth. This trace amount of oil in the cloth should not smear or discolor, especially after buffing.

Lacquering can be done at home, but all old lacquer must be removed first, and the surface completely clean (no fingerprints or cleaner on it) before spraying the lacquer on evenly in multiple thin coats. It is hard to do well. Keep decorative items dusted and clean. Wash in sudsy, lukewarm water, rinse and dry. Never use hot water on lacquered items as it loosens the lacquer; do not polish them or soak them in water.

Olive Oil. Brass will look brighter and require less polishing if rubbed with a cloth moistened with olive oil after each polishing. Olive oil retards tarnish.
Tarnished Brass

Unlacquered brass tarnishes when exposed to air. A weekly wiping with a little liquid ammonia on a soft cloth will help keep unlacquered brass shiny. Use a commercial cleaner (available in grocery or hardware stores) or a homemade cleaner (below) to remove tarnish. On antique brass, test the cleaning product to be sure of obtaining the desired effect. Some methods not only clean tarnish but also remove the mellow coloring of age that is desirable on old drawer pulls and other accessories.

To polish antique brass pieces, wash in hot, soapy water to remove grime, wax, etc. Rinse and dry. Moisten a soft cloth with boiled linseed oil and rub on the brass surface until all the dirt and grease have been removed. Polish with a soft cloth. Very old brass items, especially if in poor condition, require special care. Consult museum experts for advice. To polish for a soft finish: wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry. Make a paste of whiting and boiled linseed oil. Apply with a soft cloth and rub to remove tarnish. Wipe off excess paste and polish with a clean cloth. To remove heavy tarnish, difficult stains and corrosion: wash in hot, soapy water or a weak ammonia and water solution and rinse. Dampen a soft cloth in hot vinegar, then dip in table salt and rub the brass, or make a paste of flour, salt and vinegar. You may need several applications. When the item is clean, wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly, then polish with a cloth moistened with lemon oil. If preferred, dip a slice of fresh lemon into table salt and rub over the corroded area. Wash, rinse and dry carefully.

Brass hearth and fire sets that have been neglected require special treatment. They can be rubbed with extra-fine steel wool (0000); however, this requires much time and work. Very fine emery cloth will give quicker results, but the metal must be rubbed in only one direction, do not use a circular motion.

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invisiblechef 17 years ago said:

I had learned awhile ago that milk contains lactic acid which is a natural solvent- I don't drink the stuff but it's good for cleaning brass ornaments. All you do is mix equal parts warm water and equal parts milk. And soak your pieces in the liquid.

Also in reading one of my books I have found this for you, if you like cleaning with essential oils, you could make this paste.

Make into a paste, 1/4 cup lemon juice ( I would use real lemon) 6 drops of orange or lemon essential oil and then just 2-3 tbsp of cream of tarter, using gloves rub the mixture using your fingers in a small circular motion. Let paste dry then rinse and dry with cloth. You could do this first, and if it's still not removing the green tarnish then maybe do the soak recipe I posted above after.

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mumtazcatering 17 years ago said:

hi pointsevenout thanks for your "recipe" i will be trying it this week-end ,however , i was just wondering how do i rinse the bed or should i just take a wet cloth and wipe down and then shine with a clean cloth dabbed in some olive oil. thanks sooooo much for your time and effort and your explanations it is highly appreciated.
enjoy your day
mumtaz

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mumtazcatering 17 years ago said:

thanks marie for your help and recipe using milk.
i will be trying them this week-end on my small ornaments
it is highly appreciated
warmest regards
mumtaz

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