How To Clean Brass Hardware (6 Different Ways)

Do you like cleaning hacks with household products? We tested 6 different DIY cleaning solution ideas to help you find the easiest way to clean a brass surface.  See what we discovered in this post. The answer may surprise you!

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We tested different DIY brass cleaners to find an easy way to polish hardware. The drawer pulls were in awesome shape but needed a good cleaning. I can’t believe that we got this dresser for free in my local buy-sell-trade Facebook group (get the BST group lingo here)!

Our “Before” Hardware

Different Ways You Can Clean Brass

• Use storebought cleaners like Bar Keeper’s Friend
• Create a paste out of vinegar and baking soda (optional to add some salt)
• Use warm water & soap
• Use Ketchup or Spray Cheese
• Soak in Cola
• Use WD-40
• Fresh lemon
• 1/2 cup lemon juice with 1/4 salt
• Toothpaste

Before You Begin

You need to make sure that you have real brass hardware.

• Take a magnet to your hardware. According to the University Of Maryland, if the magnet sticks you are not dealing with solid brass.
• If it doesn’t stick, you will be ready to start making your DIY natural brass cleaner.
• Remove hardware from cabinets, and furniture or protect surrounding areas.

#1: Warm Soapy Water

I would always just try a little elbow grease with soapy water first. Add a small amount of dish soap into the water. Dip a soft cloth and polish your brass.

#2: Vinegar and Salt Brass Cleaner and Polisher

1. In a plastic container, mix 2 cups white vinegar with 10 tablespoons salt.
2. Use an old toothbrush, and rub the mixture around the brass object.
3. Allow the brass to soak for around 45 minutes. Don’t rush this.
4. Wipe with a soft cloth.

Cons

I attempted this mixture a few ways. As you can see, the hardware is soaking, however, I also felt that I needed something else to help the solution get around the ends of the handles.

#3: Homemade Brass Cleaning Paste

If soaking your hardware doesn’t work out you can try to mix flour with your brass cleaner solution to create a paste. It really seemed to help get some of the areas that didn’t want to be cleaned by only the solution.

After my handles were done soaking in the DIY natural brass cleaner, I used the toothbrush to clean them as well as a sponge.

Be careful when doing this as you may end up scratching your hardware. Using the softer or yellow side of the sponge will help not scratch your hardware.

#4: Ketchup Or Tomato Paste

If you ever remember soaking a dirty penny in ketchup as a kid, this brass cleaning idea is for you. For tougher jobs, ketchup might be your answer!

1. Apply a thin coat of ketchup to the tarnished brass.
2. Let it sit for at least an hour.
3. Wipe with a clean cloth.

#5: Just Lemon

1. Cut a lemon in half.
2. Rub the lemon on the brass cabinet handles or hardware.
3. Use the rin of lemon to help clean while rubbing.
4. Wipe down with a damp cloth.

Cons

Removed some of the tarnish, but we really would have needed a lot of elbow grease to get this clean.

#6 Cheese Spray

According to a few forums, this is a way to clean brass. We need to go buy a can of cheese soon to try it. We will report back soon!

1. Apply a thin layer of cheese spray to the brass.
2. Let it sit.
3. Wipe clean with a paper towel and then a damp cloth.

Our Conclusion

After our different tests, we decided the best homemade way to clean your brass piece is probably with the vinegar and salt paste method. The paste made it easier to let the cleaner work for you.

Tips

• If the brass hardware is supposed to soak, make sure you let the supplies work for you. No need to rush the process.
• Wear gloves when working with homemade cleaners.
• If you can’t get your tarnished hardware as clean as you like, it may be time to consider painting the knobs or pulls to fit your style.
• Brass will need to be polished regularly to shine. It is a very reactive material that will change
• You may want to treat your clean brass hardware to make the shine last. Some people recommend mineral oil

FAQs

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