How to clean brass? This question has always crossed the mind of every brass utensil owner at some point in time or the other. Whether you are using brass cookware or brass drinkware, with time brass tends to develop tarnish. But since it is also one of the easiest metals to clean, all you need is a few home supplies and ingredients to bring back the lustre of your brassware.
Like every vehicle that requires occasional servicing to function well, if you clean and maintain your brass utensils after every use, it will last long and offer you excellent utility.
So, here are a few tried and tested methods of cleaning brassware that will keep your treasured utensils in perfect condition.
How To Clean Brass Utensils at Home
The best thing about brass is that you won’t need fancy cleaning solutions or expensive powders. The best brass cleaners can be found in your pantry or your cupboards that will not only clean your utensils but will also remove any tarnish on them.
Method 1: How to clean brass utensils with lemon & baking soda
Lemon and baking soda are among the most time-saving methods for cleaning cookware or other brassware. Since lemon is acidic in nature, it keeps the brass surface from tarnishing while the baking soda gently polishes the utensil due to its mild abrasiveness.
Ingredients:
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
Stepwise Guide:
- Mix both lemon juice and baking soda (in equal parts) in a small cup or a container and stir until it becomes a paste. If you have a big utensil or multiple utensils, you can increase the quantity of both ingredients.
- Apply the mixture on the surface of your brass utensil and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Gently rinse it with warm water. Within 15 minutes, you’ll have satisfactory results.
Method 2: Cleaning Brassware with Tamarind Pulp
Tamarind pulp is one of the best natural brass cleaners due to its highly acidic properties. Using tamarind is an age-old method that might take some time but delivers surprising results.
Ingredients:
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Tamarind pulp (as required)
Stepwise Guide:
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Take the tamarind pulp according to the size or quantity of the brass utensils and rub it on the surface.
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Let it sit for 10 minutes and then gently wash with warm water.
Alternatively,
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You can mix the tamarind paste in a large vessel and fill it with water.
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Heat the vessel until the water begins to boil and then submerge your utensil in the boiling tamarind water for 15 minutes to half-an-hour.
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Remove the utensils from the solution when the results seem satisfactory and store them for drying.
Method 3: How to clean brass utensils with lemon and salt
To get instant results and a long-lasting shine, a lemon and salt solution works as an excellent method for cleaning brassware. Lemon offers resistance to oxidization while salt cleans the surface of the utensil.
Ingredients:
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Lemon juice
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Salt
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Half lemon (alternative method)
Stepwise Guide:
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Mix equal quantities of lemon juice and salt in a container until the salt is completely dissolved. Alternatively, coat a layer of salt on half of a lemon.
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Rub the solution thoroughly on the surface of the utensil for 10 minutes. Do not rub too hard or you’ll leave marks on the utensils.
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Rinse the utensil with warm water until it's clean.
Method 4: How to clean brass utensils with tomatoes
Tomato makes a great homemade brass cleaner. Its acidic properties help remove the tarnish from the utensil, restoring the natural shine. All you need for this method to work is a single everyday ingredient.
Ingredient:
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Tomato (in any form paste, sauce, or even ketchup)
Stepwise Guide:
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Apply and rub the tomato ketchup, paste, or sauce on the surface of the utensil.
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Let it rest for an hour or so to allow the properties of the tomato to clean the utensil.
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Remove the tomato paste with water or dishwashing soap. Store the utensil to dry.
Method 5: How to clean brass utensils with flour, salt, and vinegar
This method provides a thorough cleansing of the utensils and removes any tarnish on the surface. The mild acidity of the vinegar breaks down the tarnish, and the salt gently removes any unwanted particles without scraping your brassware. Lastly, the flour leaves behind a smooth surface.
Ingredients:
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White vinegar
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Flour
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Salt
Stepwise Guide:
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To make the paste for cleaning brassware, combine salt, flour, and white vinegar in equal parts. Mix and stir them well until a paste is formed.
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Apply the paste to the tarnished brass utensil and rub it well across the surface.
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Leave the utensil for an hour or so before gently scrubbing it and rinsing it with warm water.
How to Clean Tarnished Brass Naturally
If you have old brass items, you might have seen that they have developed greenish or blackish spots on their surface. That’s tarnish and it’s really easy to deal with through simple home items. Here are a few methods you can use for cleaning brassware:
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Scrubbing: Gently scrub the surface of your utensil with salt crumbs to rub away the tough black spots. Alternatively, you can apply toothpaste on the surface and wash it with cold water.
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Cleaning: You can use lemon juice or tomato paste to clean the utensil and then wash it off with warm water.
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Polishing: Combine olive oil and vinegar in equal parts and apply the mixture to the surface of the utensil with a soft cloth. You’ll instantly get a smooth and shiny finish with this natural brass polish.
Brass Cleaning Done Right
With these methods you can maintain the vintage charm of your utensils. These natural brass cleaners will restore your brassware to their former glory. So, do not worry the next time you come across any brass piece. These methods will help keep your utensils in perfect shape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the easiest way to clean brass?
A. There are many methods with which you can clean brassware. But using lemon and baking soda or lemon juice and salt are the most efficient and time saving methods.
Q. How often Should You Clean Brass?
A. Brass, especially brass utensils, must be cleaned after every use to maintain its natural shine and properties.
Q. Can toothpaste clean brass?
A. Yes, you can clean your brass utensils with toothpaste. The alkaline nature of the toothpaste balances the pH level of the utensil's surface, removing tarnish and black spots.
Q. What’s the best brass cleaner for heavy tarnish?
A. A paste of baking soda and lemon juice, or vinegar and flour are the best brass cleaners for heavy tarnishing on your utensil. Apply the paste on the surface of the tarnished metal and let it sit for 30-60 minutes before rinsing it with water.
Q. Is there a way to clean old brass without removing the patina?
A. Yes, you can use lemon juice and baking soda to keep your brass pieces shimmering without disrupting the patina.
Q. Does vinegar dull brass?
A. Yes. Since vinegar is mildly acidic, it can oxidize the metal slowly and after prolonged use.
Also Read:
How to Clean Copper Utensils | 7 Best Utensils For Cooking Food | Types of Cookware | Finding The Best Utensils: Brass Vs Copper
