How To Clean Brass, Copper & More: {DIY Methods}

Here’s a list of homemade cleaners I’ve collected over the years to help remove tarnish and buff brass to a shine, clean copper and polish metals such as pewter and bronze, some of them may surprise you!

Directions For Use:

Brass Can Be Found On Many Fixtures Around The House

Using a damp cloth or toothbrush, scrub cleaner into brass. Wipe off with a clean, damp cloth then buff to a shine with a piece of flannel or other soft cloth. If the piece has a lacquer coating for protection, don’t use cleaner since this can damage the coating, simply use a damp cloth to wipe clean then dry with a soft cloth.

(For Brass)

Worcestershire Sauce (from Homekeeping – A Natural Shine To Cleaning)
Tabasco sauce
Ketchup (allow to dry then scrub off with a cloth or soft bristle brush)
Tomato Juice Soak: Cover the piece with tomato juice and allow to soak for a few hours. Rinse off with clear water then buff dry.
Milk Soak: Mix two parts milk with one part water, soak pieces for a couple hours then rinse with clear water and buff dry with a clean cloth. If you’re out of milk, try plain yogurt (undiluted) or sour milk instead.
Vinegar Soak: Mix two parts vinegar with one part water, soak pieces for a couple hours then rinse with clear water and buff dry with a clean cloth.
Cream of Tartar & Lemon Juice: Make a paste then scrub into piece. Rinse off with clear water and buff with a soft clean cloth.
Vinegar & Salt: Pour vinegar on a clean cloth, sprinkle with salt then gently rub into object to clean.
Lemon Juice & Salt or Baking Soda: Sprinkle salt or baking soda on a wedge of lemon, this will provide a gentle abrasion for cleaning.
Old-timers Tip: Rub piece all over with olive oil then with a dry rotten-stone (tripoli), remove with a clean cloth and buff to a shine.

Protect From Tarnishing: Keep brass shiny by polishing it with olive oil after cleaning.

How To Remove Lacquer Finish: Some brass pieces have a lacquer finish to help prevent tarnishing. If you wish to remove it, boil piece in a large pot of boiling water with 3 tablespoons baking soda and 3 tablespoons washing soda. Polish dry with a soft, dry cloth once the lacquer has been successfully removed.

Why do things like Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce & Lemon Juice work? It’s the acidic content that eats away at the tarnish. Milk also contains a lactic acid and that’s why soaking brass in milk will help clean the piece.