| Sometimes brass can start to look a bit dark and | | | | contacting the brass. lacquered brass still changes |
| tarnished after a few years exposed to the | | | | color sometimes from aging under the lacquer. If |
| elements. In this article we are going to go over | | | | this is the case you will have to remove the |
| how you can get them looking nice again. Before | | | | lacquer first before cleaning the handle which we |
| we get started you should know that some | | | | aren't really going to get into today. So now that |
| solutions for cleaning brass can be toxic so make | | | | we know what we're working with lets move on. |
| sure you take the proper precautions to protect | | | | This method will work for both solid and plated |
| yourself. | | | | brass products. First You will need to use a damp |
| Some handle sets are brass and some are just | | | | cloth and wipe off any dirt or initial grime that is |
| brass plated so you need to make sure you | | | | lingering on the surface of your handle. After it is |
| know what you're working with. The reason we | | | | clean you will need to head to the kitchen and find |
| do this is because brass plated handles should be | | | | flour, vinegar, and salt. Mix equal parts of the |
| cleaned with abrasive materials. You don't want to | | | | three together to make a paste. Now before you |
| take the chance that you can scrape the brass | | | | apply this paste, wet the handle down again with |
| right off so you need to use a more gentle | | | | water. Once it is wet apply the paste we made till |
| solution. The easiest way to find out is to use a | | | | it covers all of the brass. If the handle is still on |
| magnet on the handle. If it sticks to the handle | | | | the door make sure you put something on the |
| then you know that it is plated because brass has | | | | floor to take care of anything that drips off. Let |
| no magnetic qualities. The problem with this trick | | | | the handle sit with the paste on it for 30-45 |
| is that if it doesn't stick its still not 100% certain | | | | minutes then clean it off and take a look at the |
| that its brass. A more definitive test would be to | | | | brass. If it is clean enough then you're done and if |
| make a scratch in a nondescript location on the | | | | not then you need to reapply the paste for |
| lock. If the color inside the scratch is yellow then | | | | another half hour or so and check again. When |
| it is solid and if not then you have a plated handle. | | | | you are removing the paste from your handle |
| The methods below involve vinegar which can | | | | you can also rub it around with a cloth and the |
| discolor brass if not used properly. After cleaning | | | | salt should work as an abrasive to get off any |
| the lock you need to thoroughly rinse the brass in | | | | additional corrosion that is there. |
| water then dry it off to prevent discoloration. The | | | | If the method above didn't quite do the trick then |
| best way to dry the handles off is by a quick | | | | you can use a move evasive trick. This method is |
| wipe with a dry cloth and then use a hair dryer. | | | | not recommended for plated brass as it may |
| Some brass will discolor as soon as it comes into | | | | scratch the brass off as well as leave swirls and |
| contact with vinegar so if that is the case you'll | | | | discoloration. For this method you need a clean |
| have to get some tarnish remover from the | | | | piece of steel wool, preferably a fine piece, and a |
| store to get the discoloration out. Brasso will work | | | | container with vinegar (Red wine Vinegar or white |
| just fine for this. | | | | works) in it. Make sure the steel wool doesn't |
| Now we also need to know if the handle is | | | | have cleaning agents applied to it. put the vinegar |
| lacquered brass or natural. We need to know this | | | | on the lock and gently to moderately rub the |
| because the majority of cleaning options you will | | | | steel wool over the brass. scrub the brass till it is |
| use depend on the product having a chemical | | | | where you want it. Now clean everything off with |
| reaction with the brass to bring its shine and color | | | | water and dry it like mentioned above and you'll |
| back. A lacquered product will prevent you from | | | | have clean looking handle sets again! |