How To Clean Brass Hardware Without Causing Damage

There's something about brass hardware that adds the perfect touch of old world charm to any space. It's durable, elegant, and doesn't rust. However, it requires a bit more caution when cleaning in comparison to other common household metals like stainless steel. The safest way to clean brass hardware without causing damage is to use simple soap and water. If you want to remove tarnish as well, try natural ingredients like baking soda, salt, and vinegar.

Brass is an alloy metal made of zinc and copper. Over time, the metal reacts to the air and changes color and texture, creating a tarnish or patina. There are a few different types of brass hardware on the market, including solid brass, brass-plated, and polished brass. It's important to know which type of brass hardware you have so you can use the right cleaning technique and avoid damage.

Solid brass is exactly what it sounds like, while brass-plated hardware usually consists of a steel or zinc base with a layer of brass on top. You can tell if an item is solid brass rather than brass-plated if a magnet does not stick to it and it feels quite heavy. Meanwhile, polished brass is sealed with a lacquer to slow down tarnishing. You can spot a lacquered piece by its shine and yellower look.

For brass-plated or lacquered items, stick to hot soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Skip polishes and abrasive cleaning solutions, and don't scrub too hard to prevent rubbing off the plating or lacquer. Hot soapy water is also the way to go for solid brass hardware if it has a patina that you don't want to risk removing.

If you'd like to clean the tarnish off as well, however, you can clean brass with household products that are gently abrasive or acidic, such as white vinegar, salt, baking soda, flour, lemon juice, or even tomato paste. Leave the cleaning solution on for 30 to 60 minutes, scrub, rinse with warm water, and buff dry with a dry microfiber cloth. You can also use store-bought cleaning products such as Bar Keepers Friend or Brasso, or a polish designed specifically for brass. For severely tarnished brass, a soak in ammonia (diluted at 1:8 with water) will do the trick. To clean tarnish from lacquered brass, you'll need to remove the lacquer first by soaking in hot water and gently scraping.

Regardless of the type of brass hardware, avoid abrasive scrubbers like steel wool, as they can scratch and damage the surface. Corrosive cleaning products are also best avoided since they may accelerate tarnishing. If you're unsure, check the label to see if it's safe for brass or test the product on an inconspicuous area first. Lastly, don't air dry your brass hardware or you'll be left with splotchy water marks — use a microfiber cloth to wipe dry instead.