Your practical guide to cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors

 

Brass is present everywhere, in lamps, vases, coffee tables. Nowadays, brass is fashionable, tarnishing is not. That's why it's important to know how to clean and shine the brass in your mirrors. That's why we offer you this guide that shows you several tips to clean and shine the brass in your mirrors. This guide try to give you a clear answer for an important question: How to Polish Brass to a Mirror Finish ?

No one can deny that brass tarnishes due to its metallic components, namely copper and zinc - which are exposed to oxygen. This is a natural process. 

It should be mentioned that the more an item is used, the more corrosion or tarnishing can occur. Water can also contribute to the aging of brass (this is the case for brass mirrors in your shower), so you need to make sure you don't touch too much water. 

The more regular maintenance efforts you make, the easier and faster it will be to restore your object.

What is brass? And what are its characteristics?

The Brass is a yellow alloy which is essentially composed of copper and zinc. It is characterized by its malleability, ductility and by a golden or silver color. 

Brass is categorized by three families: 

• binary brass whose constitution is mainly copper and zinc. The latter allows to reduce the melting temperature while increasing its mechanical resistance and hardness; 
• leaded brass which are characterized by a better machinability and fragmentation of the chips;  
• special brass  which are characterized by the addition of several elements such as lead, nickel, tin, chromium, silicon, magnesium, aluminum ... The presence of these elements allows the brass to achieve various mechanical properties and appearance, until for some an excellent resistance to wear and friction.

Nowadays, brass is the most widely used copper alloy, mainly for manufacturing turned parts in large series.

The first tip for cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors: Cleaning brass with ketchup

Ketchup is not only a dish accompaniment, but it is also a convenient and economical way to clean your brass mirrors. What has allowed ketchup to be an element to clean brass is the content in the ketchup which is in the form of a mixture of tomatoes, spices and vinegar. 

What you need:

• Ketchup
• A clean cloth

Step 1: Do a test first

First, use a small amount of ketchup on the brass in a visible area, such as the bottom. Wait a few seconds, then wipe with a damp cloth. If this works well, try repeating the process on the rest of the brass surround.

Step 2: Apply ketchup and wipe off.

If the first step is successful, use the ketchup on the brass object and let it sit for a short time. Wipe the object with a damp cloth.

Step 3: Rinse and dry

Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth.

The second tip for cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors: Cleaning brass with vinegar 

For cleaning stubborn stains in your brass mirrors. Benefit from the power of the combination of salt, the acid of vinegar and all-purpose flour as a thickener.

What you need:

• This tip you will need salt,
• Vinegar
• All purpose flour
• Bowl
• A clean cloth

Step 1: Mix the salt and vinegar

You need to add a teaspoon of salt to 1/2 cup of vinegar. Stir the mixture until the salt dissolves.

Step 2: Make a dough

To obtain a paste, it is necessary to add in a sufficient way of two spoons of flour to the first mixture (salt/vinegar).

Step 3: Using the paste

Rub the paste on the brass frame and let it dry for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Rinse and dry

Rinse, wipe and dry the brass thoroughly with a clean cloth.

The third tip for cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors: Clean brass with lemon and baking soda

Lemon and baking soda are powerful natural cleaners on their own, but in this case they are combined. This magical duo easily removes brass buildup.

What you need:

• Bowl
• Lemon juice

Bicarbonate of soda

Step 1: Mix the ingredients

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a bowl. Then try adding a spoonful of baking soda and start mixing.

Step 2: Apply and polish

Use a small amount of this mixture by rubbing it into the brass. Polish off the dirt, applying the mixture as necessary.

Step 3: Wipe and dry

Clean up any remaining residue with a damp cloth. Then dry with a clean cloth.

The fourth tip for cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors: Clean brass with soap and water

This is the easiest method but still very effective. It is the cleaning of the tarnished brass with soap and water.

What you need

• Soap
• A microfiber cloth
• Brosse à dents

Step 1: Mix soap and water

You can make a hot bath for your brass mirror in a clean container and mix a few spoons of soap.

Step 2: Soak and scrub the brass

Soak the brass for a few seconds using a clean microfiber cloth or toothbrush to clean up any stains. Using hot water and soap will do some of the work, but this method will require some elbow grease!

Step 3: Rinse and dry

Once your brass mirror has become bright, remove it from the soapy water. Rinse it off and wipe it with a clean cloth.

The fifth tip for cleaning and shining brass in your mirrors: Clean brass with toothpaste

Like ketchup, toothpaste has a dual function by not only helping to whiten teeth, but also cleaning brass. Just choose a plain white toothpaste.

What you need:

• Toothpaste
• A clean cloth
• A microfiber cloth

Step 1: Apply toothpaste

Use a thin layer of toothpaste on your brass frame while resting it for a few minutes.

Step 2: polish the brass

Then rub with a clean cloth. You'll certainly find some tough spots, so you'll need to put in a little extra effort by using extra dabs of toothpaste on particularly stubborn stains.

Step 3: Rinse and dry

Once you find good results, rinse it with cold water and dry it with a microfiber cloth.

So, we tried in this article to give you some tips to clean and shine the brass in your mirrors and bring new life to your brass mirrors.

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