How to clean brass items - 5 household products that will prevent tarnishing and make your hardware shine

Brass typically comes in two different forms: lacquered and unlacquered. While the brass itself is no different, lacquered brass is finished with a protective coating to prevent tarnishing. Unlacquered brass doesn’t have this, allowing a natural (and arguably very beautiful) patina to develop. Whichever type you have in your home, you still need to know how to clean brass items to keep them looking their best.

From adding brass hardware to your kitchen cabinets to switching to brass taps and accessories in your bathroom and installing brass light switches and sockets, brass offers a timeless appeal while also inhibiting bacterial growth in bathrooms and kitchens alike.

But as Colm Lalor from Nuie explains, ‘Over time, brassware can look tarnished, especially in the bathroom, so it’s important to give it a polish every now and then.’ And while you can clean lacquered brass with just a damp cloth, the rules are different when it comes to unlacquered brass. So, this is how to clean brass features in your home if they are unlacquered.

1. Use warm, soapy water

Whether you’re looking to clean brass door handles or any other form of unlacquered brass in your home, you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to buy any fancy or expensive products.

As Colm says, ‘An easy way to keep brassware clean and shiny - without causing damage - is to simply use warm soapy water.’ This means that you just have to grab some washing-up liquid from next to your sink - and you can even use your washing-up bowl to get the job done. You’ll also need a couple of clean cloths.

Then, all you have to do is soak a cloth in the warm, soapy water and rub it over the brass items before leaving it for a few minutes. When you’ve done that, you can buff the concoction off with the fresh cloth.

Colm does have a warning when doing this, though. He says, ‘Be careful not to be too heavy-handed with this technique or use anything with a hard surface to rub the fixture as you run the risk of damaging the brassware’s finish.’

You should also take caution if you're using these cleaning products on any sockets or switches. If that's the case, turn off the electrics and remove the covers to clean them away from wires.

2. Use white vinegar and salt

You probably already know the power of cleaning with vinegar. Although the smell may burn your nostrils, this natural cleaning agent can work its magic on most items - apart from the odd few things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar.

But vinegar is a worthwhile investment for cleaning brass items if you don’t already have it in your cleaning cupboard. This is especially true when you mix vinegar with salt. You’ll need a little patience for this method, though.

Laura Harnett, founder of eco cleaning brand, Seep, ‘Mix roughly equal parts of white vinegar and salt in a bowl to create a runny paste. Submerge the brass items for a couple of hours and then when you take them out you will be able to buff them into a lovely sheen using a soft brush or an old toothbrush.’

The white vinegar will also produce a lovely shine to make your brass items look as good as new.

3. Use toothpaste

What most people don’t realise is that toothpaste can do so much more than clean your teeth. Not only can it get rid of scratches on mirrors, but it can also clean brass items in your home. This method is pretty speedy, too.

Laura says, ‘Buy a cheap supermarket-own brand rather than using your expensive whitening or sensitive version. Scrub it using a slightly abrasive sponge and rinse off any toothpaste residue and buff up with a soft, dry cloth.’

Just make sure you don’t buy a sponge that’s too scratchy, as you don’t want to damage the surface of the brass in the process. And you might want to rinse with warm, soapy water if there’s a lingering minty odour.

4. Use a lemon and baking soda

If you want to know how to clean brass items, you might want to add lemons to your trolley next time you head to the supermarket. Then, you can grab some baking soda to create the ultimate brass-cleaning concoction.

This is a technique that Roisin Smith, a professional cleaner at Wecasa, swears by. She says, ‘If you have less time, cut a lemon in half and dust some baking soda on the cut side of the lemon. You can rub the lemon straight onto the brass, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth - it is super quick and effective.’

And if you have any lemons left over, you can also use them to clean your oven.

5. Use tomato ketchup

It may seem unconventional, but tomato ketchup can also come in extremely handy when cleaning brass items in the home. In fact, any type of tomato-based product can work wonders.

Roisin explains, ‘I do also like using tomato paste sometimes because tomato-based products contain acid that helps prevent tarnish to the brass. However, you’d need about 1 hour to make it effective before you wash it off with warm water and dry it with a soft cloth.’

You also want to ensure that you don’t leave it on longer than that, as you may find that the acid begins to tarnish the surface of the brass. So, you need to get your timings right.

FAQs

Will bleach damage brass?

Yes, bleach can cause serious damage to brass. That’s because bleach is a harsh chemical that can quickly corrode soft metals, and if you use it on brass, it may start to discolour. The finish will also be permanently affected, and you won’t be able to undo this damage.

As if that wasn’t enough, bleach can also react with other cleaning products that have previously been used to clean brass items. This can create harmful gases that have no place in the home. So, it’s better to use natural cleaners instead.

What stops brass from tarnishing?

Regular cleaning and dusting of brass is a great way to stop it from tarnishing, but adding a protective layer is generally considered to be the best option. However, many people try to avoid adding a lacquer to their brass as it affects the patina and the overall aesthetic of the metal.

Thankfully, lacquer isn’t the only option, as you can also coat your brass in olive oil to prevent tarnishing. This will also improve the shine of your brass, but you’ll need to repeat this oiling process every few weeks to ensure its effectiveness.