Tarnished brass can take any otherwise lovely piece and make it look old and dingy. That’s why it’s important to always keep supplies around that will restore your brass to its original gleam. However, how you clean your metal depends on whether it’s lacquered or not.
The best way to polish brass that’s lacquered is to simply wipe it with a soft, damp cloth — do not use any kind of household cleaner.
If you’re in a pinch, you can also try any of the following ideas that will also clean brass quite easily.
1. Ketchup
Squirt a dollop of ketchup on a rag and rub over the surface. Wipe off the residue with a damp cloth and buff dry.
2. Vinegar
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, then rinse and buff dry.
3. Lemon
Squeeze half of a lemon onto a sponge and sprinkle salt on top. Rub over the sponge over the surface and then rinse it off. The results are pretty amazing.
