How to Clean Brass

by Rena Klingenberg.

Looking for ways to safely remove tarnish and dirt from brass, and bring out the shine (or as much shine as you desire) in this lovely jewelry metal?

I’ll share several methods below – but first, some important tips for getting the best and safest results when cleaning brass.

Tips for Best Results

The brass cleaning methods below are intended for cleaning only brass. They may damage gemstones, cameos, shells, or other components that may be part of the brass piece.
Whenever you clean, wipe, or polish brass, be sure to work in the direction of the metal’s natural grain as much as possible – instead of rubbing in circles.
Brass really retains water spots – so always dry it immediately and thoroughly.
Don’t use any of the cleaning methods here for old or genuine antique brass, as they may also remove some of the lovely patina coloring of aged brass. Instead, wash old brass items gently in soapy water as described below, rinse and dry thoroughly, and rub the surface with olive oil.
For brass with an “antiqued” finish, I would use only the soapy-water method described below, followed by olive oil well rubbed in. Use a Q-tip to test-wash a small area on the back side of the item first before washing the entire piece.
When using the cleaning methods below, use only containers, spoons, etc. that you won’t be using for food – since who knows what kind of yuck or toxins they’ll be cleaning off of the brass.

Okay, now for how to clean brass at home, using things you probably have in your kitchen:

First, Remove Dirt, Oils, and Pollutants

I find that I get more uniform results when I start with this quick, easy cleaning as a first step; in fact, sometimes this is all the cleaning you need to do:

Use warm water and a small amount of mild liquid dish soap to remove any accumulated dirt, pollutants, skin oils, etc. from the metal.
Use your fingers or a soft toothbrush to de-grime all surfaces of your brass item with the soapy water.
When you’ve finished washing the piece, thoroughly rinse off all soap residue. You’ll know the brass is completely clean of all gunk when the water runs smoothly over it without beading up.
Dry the metal well.

Then, if you desire more polishing, brightening, or tarnish removal, use one of the following natural methods for cleaning brass:

How to Clean Brass with Ketchup or Worcestershire Sauce

This is a simple, non-toxic method for removing dullness and tarnish, and restoring a nice shine to brass:

Smear ketchup or worcestershire sauce on your brass item.
Use your fingers or a soft toothbrush to give the sauce a quick rub across all surfaces of the metal.
Let the smeared item sit for a minute.
Thoroughly rinse off all ketchup / worcestershire residue.
Decide whether your piece is done, or if you want to give it one more round of sauce for more tarnish removal and shine.
When your brass has reached the desired appearance, rinse it well to completely remove all traces of ketchup / worcestershire sauce.
Thoroughly dry the piece.

How to Clean Brass with Lemon Juice

Pour 1 cup of water into a glass or plastic container.
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the water.
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt, and stir till salt is dissolved.
- Place your brass item in the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes. Don’t walk away – keep an eye on it so you can remove the brass item as soon as it’s reached the desired appearance.
- Thoroughly wash your item in water to remove all traces of lemon.
- Dry completely.

How to Clean Brass by Rubbing with a Lemon

The salt in this method is mildly abrasive, so you may not want to use it to clean delicate brass items. However, it’s safe for most other brass pieces.

Cut a lemon in half.
Sprinkle salt on the cut side of one of the lemon halves.
Rub the salted lemon over the brass, in the direction of the metal’s natural grain.
You may want to use a soft toothbrush to help the lemon reach into small crevices of your brass piece.
When your item has reached the desired appearance, wash it thoroughly in water to remove all traces of lemon.
Dry thoroughly.

How to Clean Brass with Vinegar and Salt

Warning: I recommend doing this procedure outdoors.

Although vinegar fumes aren’t toxic, they are quite pungent and can really make your house smell bad!

The salt in this method is mildly abrasive, so you may not want to use it to clean delicate brass items. However, it’s safe for most other brass pieces.

In a glass container, mix 1 cup of white household vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt.
Heat the mixture in the microwave until the liquid is quite warm, but not too hot to touch.
Give the mixture another stir, and add your brass item.
Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the item, and then let it soak for a bit.
When the brass has reached the appearance you desire, remove it from the mixture.
Rinse the item thoroughly in water to remove all traces of vinegar, and dry it completely.

How to Clean Brass with Ammonia

Caution: Wear goggles and rubber gloves to protect yourself from ammonia splashes.

In a glass container, mix 1 part ammonia with 8 parts water.
Add your brass item and swish it around in the liquid.
Use a soft toothbrush if necessary to scrub the item a bit and clean any crevices.
You can then let your brass item soak for a short time – but don’t walk away! I recommend standing right there and keeping an eye on it so you can remove it from the ammonia as soon as it reaches the appearance you desire.
Remove the brass item from the mixture, rinse it completely to remove all traces of ammonia, and dry it thoroughly.

Finishing Step (Optional)

Use a soft, dry cloth to rub a small amount of olive oil or Renaissance Wax into the surface of the brass.

This provides a protective layer that helps the brass item maintain your desired finish for a longer time.

Olive oil is a safe, natural item most of us have on hand in the kitchen.

Renaissance Wax is a safe, longer-lasting protective layer, especially on surfaces that will come in contact with skin oils.