Complete guide on how to make brass handles shiny and how to clean them. All the best natural and DIY remedies and the most effective products on the market to polish mirror brass and make it return to its brilliance.
We all have brass handles in the house, whether they are doors or furniture, and we all wonder how to clean brass and keep it shiny, let’s hope without letting it oxidize too.
The blackened aspect that comes from oxidation brass, in fact, makes the handles unkempt, makes them look worn, old and to be thrown away or in any case certainly to be replaced. Fortunately, though, there are many ways to clean brass and make it shiny again, removing any residual dirt.
There are specific detergents, available both from hardware stores and specialized stores, supermarkets or online, and also natural and do-it-yourself remedies which allow us, using easily available ingredients, to make the brass shine and clean it.
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Let’s find out everything you need to know about it, how to clean blackened brass handles and how to keep brass shiny and shiny.
Table of Contents
Brass has many advantages, but it oxidizes easily
Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper and, since ancient times, it has been used for the creation of objects of any kind. Even today we easily find brass in our homes, because it is used to make doors and windows, handrails, furnishing of the most diverse and of course the door handles and other types.
This league it is very resistant, lasts over time and tolerates high temperatures well. However in the long run it ends up oxidizing: oxidation, which makes the brass handles blackened as if they were dirty, is an inevitable phenomenon. The brass loses its luster, becomes dull and dark, factors that make it seem worn and now to be thrown away.
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However, polishing the mirror brass and letting it recover its brilliance is possible. Just clean and polish it carefully constantly, using the support of chemicals ad hoc (detergents readily available on the market) and nevertheless exploiting natural remedies and do it yourself.
How to clean brass door handles: natural remedies
There are natural and do-it-yourself remedies that are extremely effective which allow you to clean the brass handles very easily and flawlessly.
Before revealing them to you, it is good to remember that – regardless of the ingredients used – it is essential to clean the brass using a soft cloth that does not scratch. Instead, sandpaper, hard-bristled brushes and metal wool pads, as well as any other abrasive tool that would scratch the handles should be avoided.
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A great alternative sponge or soft cloth it’s an old toothbrush, with soft bristles. You must also always remember dry the brass thoroughly, so as not to cause water stains on the surface.
Here are the best natural remedies to clean and polish brass on handles.
Toothpaste
- Remove the handles to make cleaning easier.
- Polish clean with toothpaste applying a small amount on a soft cloth.
- With circular movements, treat the surface of your handles.
- Rinse with warm water to remove all residues.
Marseille soap
- Fill a basin with hot water.
- Melt some Marseille soap in flakes.
- Dip the handles brass.
- Leave them to soak for about 2-3 hours.
- Rinse And dry well and, with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Complete the cleaning removing any residue of dirt.
Baking soda and hot water
- Mix hot water and baking soda until you get a creamy consistency.
- Apply there cream bicarbonate-based on the brass handles
- Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Rinse with lemon and hot water.
Vinegar, salt and flour
- Mix vinegar and fine cooking salt with flour.
- You get a creamy mixture
- Rub it a small amount with a cloth on the brass handles.
- Rinse with lukewarm water to have shiny and clean handles. The vinegar, indeed, it is excellent against rust stains and makes the brass shiny.
Lemon juice and vinegar
Mix lemon juice and vinegar and, using a soft soaked cloth, rub well your brass handles. You will be able to make them shiny as they once were and to completely eliminate the signs of oxidation.
How to protect polished brass
There is also a particular variant of brass, polished brass also known as painted brass. It is a type of brass covered with a layer of clear varnish, which makes it shiny longer and protects it.
To clean polished or painted brass we recommend lukewarm water and neutral soap, to be rinsed with care and attention. If the handles have small lesions, better consult a professional: will be able to remove the damaged layer of paint and proceed with a new paint job.
The best products to make brass handles shiny again
As anticipated, several products are available on the market think about it for cleaning and maintenance of brass. An excellent solution can be clean brass with Sidol, a kind of cream specially formulated to clean metals and alloys such as brass.
There are also many other specific cleaners, to buy from the hardware store for example. Among the most popular brands we point out Brasso and Never Dull, but there are many others available even at the supermarket. Always make sure, for any product, that it shows on the label that is indicated for cleaning brass, in order to avoid worsening the situation.
How to make brass handles shiny again: pictures and photos
Did you find our tips on how to make brass handles shiny and how to clean them useful? In the photo gallery below, all the steps summarized by images.
