How Do You Clean Brass Ornaments?

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Kathy

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It looks like I have inherited a lot of brass which is extremely discoloured. Does anyone have any idea what is the best way to clean it. I have heard of Brasso, anyone know of anything else?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Use brasso on the door knocker so would go with that. Not sure how you'd fix discolouring other than brasso or some good ol' fashioned soap and water .
 
Duraglit is a sort of wadding type thing impregnated with brass cleaner - it's pretty efficient.

You can also buy a sort of cloth (the brand name escapes me, I'm afraid) which you can use with water on the brass, so that you effectively wash away the discolouration. It needs considerably less elbow grease and is good when the items are heavily discoloured.

Contrary to the popular image of the good little housewife, however, you should NOT clean brass (or silver, for that matter) too often as you will simply wear it out.
 
I would drop it off at my mothers.
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:D

The Duraglit stuff is fine, but remember to rub the item over afterwards with a clean soft cloth, since otherwise it leaves a residue. Brasso comes in both a liquid form and a wadding cloth - just follow the instructions on the tin. There's also a terrific cleaner for metals called 'Barkeeper's Friend' which is a powder, and available from many supermarkets or hardware stores. It's excellent used with a little water and can be used like a tooth powder, with an old toothbrush, to get into any nooks and crannies that wadding and liquid can't reach. I've used it on all kinds of surfaces and it's ace. Good luck! :)
 
Does your Mum drink beer Honest Tom? :blink:

Failing that option, I will drop one of the ornaments in the boyfriends beer this evening and see what happens.
 
No, that was Coke. You put a grubby penny in Coke overnight, and in the morning 'twas all bright and new. It might well work on brass, but you'd have to buy a lorra, lorra Coke to dunk a coal scuttle.
 
Did any of you ever do the experiment at school with a tooth and a glass of coke? Place the tooth in, I think 48 hours later it has dissolved completely!!
 
Blossom Hill White Zinfandel - works every time and cleans right the way round the bend too - move over Toilet Duck
 
Whatever you use it's labour intensive to clean brass . Brasso and Duraglit are the same thing . It really comes down to how much effort you want to put in . No easy way of cleaning brass and it's not an expensive find . Relatively small margin even on good condition stock .
 
You might be shocked to learn, Ardross, that the wine you mention has actually won a medal. Neh, neh, neh, stick that in your flute and drink it. :P
 
I had to have a valuation done of all the household contents and the brass was put in at £200 as there are some strange looking items that a collector may be interested in. They would be sold at auction as a "job lot" but I will put in the auction along with many other items, and if they sell, they sell, and if they don't, I will keep them. I am astounded at the values probate put on certain items, but it is purely that and it is not until I arrange to have the items put through auction I will know what the "real value" is.

Cleaning the brass alone is going to take me hours, but to be honest, I am quite looking forward to it. I know how to enjoy myself. :)

Alot of the pictures I have inherited also need cleaning, but I intend to leave that to a proffessional! I have a feeling some of them them are worth alot more than what the probate figure has been put in as. Time will no doubt tell.
 
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