The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier

Author:Karyn Siegel-Maier
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2008-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Most brass items acquired in recent years will have a lacquer finish to retard tarnish. You can maintain the shine of these items with a weekly dusting and an occasional bath in warm, sudsy water. Never use hot water to clean brass items or the lacquer finish may begin to peel away from the metal. After cleaning, you can polish the brass to a shine with a bit of olive oil, which will help to resist tarnish.

Older pieces of brass will oxidize over time and become tarnished, developing a greenish tinge. Here are a few ways to restore brass to its original beauty:

Citrus Salt Paste. Dissolve 4 drops of any citrus essential oil and 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 cup of vinegar. Add just enough all-purpose flour to make a thick paste. Smear the paste onto the brass and rub with a dry sponge. Let the paste completely dry, then rinse in warm water. Dry and polish to a shine.

Citrus Vinegar Paste. Combine ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, 3 drops lemon essential oil, and 3 drops grapefruit seed extract. Using a soft sponge, apply this solution to the metal and rub well. If the item is very tarnished, let it soak for 30 minutes or more in this solution. Then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Milk Bath. Soak your brass pieces in 1 cup of warm water and 1 cup of milk (or more for larger pieces — just use equal parts of milk and water). Milk contains lactic acid, a natural solvent.

Lemon–Cream of Tartar Paste. Make a paste of ¼ cup lemon juice, 4 to 6 drops of orange or lemon essential oil, and 2 to 3 tablespoons cream of tartar. Rub the paste on with your fingers (wear protective gloves) using small circular motions. Let the paste dry. Then rinse and dry with a cloth.

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