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Brass candlesticks are a beautiful and classic way to add a touch of elegance to your table. However, they can be challenging to clean.
Cleaning brass candlesticks is not as hard as it may seem. You can use household items such as vinegar, salt, and toothpaste to clean the surface of these pieces of metal. Toothpaste also has a bonus because it will remove any unwanted residue that may have accumulated on the candlestick over time.
How To Clean Brass Candlesticks
While many people are tempted to use a brass polish, this will wear away the surface of your candlesticks over time, leading to more discoloration. Instead, you’ll want to clean them with an oil-based cleaner or a solution made from vinegar and lemon juice.
If you’re having trouble finding something that can clean the spider webs and break up the caked-on dust inside the delicate crevices in your candlesticks, try using water mixed with baking soda until it forms a paste. Then, you can gently rub this solution with a cotton swab or cloth.
Once your candlesticks are nice and clean again, take some time to buff them with a soft cloth and metal polish.
1. Clean Your Brass Candlesticks
Please make sure they are clean! Clean your brass candlesticks with dish soap and water. If you want to take it one step further, you can use vinegar and baking soda or salt and lemon juice.
Make sure all the areas of the candlestick, such as the base and the top are spotless and dry before continuing!
2.- Determine What’s Causing The Tarnish
Take a look at what’s making your candlesticks to be dirty or tarnished. Look at the kind of lighting they’re under and any candles close by – these can cause discoloration over time. If you have any candles or lighting close to the candlestick, it’s time to move them!
3. Sand The Candlesticks
If there are any areas on the candlestick that are rougher, then sand them down with coarse sandpaper until you get them to a softer texture. For minor scratches, use fine sandpaper instead. This step might need some elbow grease!
4. Clean Tarnished Spots
Buff out any tarnish with toothpaste. Don’t forget about the base of your candlestick, too. You can use reusable paper towels or a clean cloth with a bit of toothpaste on the tarnished brass. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off with cold water.
You can buff out any tarnish with baking soda and vinegar on microfiber cloths. Alternatively, you can use salt and lemon juice on your brass candlesticks to clean them up. Be sure to wipe down all of the surface areas of the candlestick with this mixture – even inside!
5. Dry the Candlestick
Ensure the candlestick is completely dry. If you leave it wet for a long time, it can cause more discoloration of the brass. Ensure all areas are clean before storing them away for another time!
6. Polish the Brass
Make sure you use non-oily polishing cloths or towels. Polish them with metal polish or you can try using toothpaste or vaseline for this step. Be sure not to go overboard with these products as they could damage some metal finishes. Buff off any excess oils, so you don’t have greasy stains on your candlesticks!
7. Store the Candlestick
Store your candlestick in a closed space (like a cupboard) to avoid further tarnish. Keep them away from lighting as more as possible so they can look as good as new as much as possible. Clean and polish them regularly to ensure there’s no additional tarnish on your candlesticks!
To recall, these are all the cleaners you could use:
| Products Used | Effectiveness |
| oil-based cleaner or solution made from vinegar and lemon juice | Highly Effective |
| water mixed with baking soda | Somewhat Effective |
| dish soap and water | Somewhat Effective |
| vinegar and baking soda or salt and lemon juice | Highly Effective |
| Toothpaste/Vaseline | Somewhat Effective |
| Baking soda and Vinegar | Highly Effective |
How To Keep Candlesticks Clean
Keeping your brass candlesticks clean and shiny can be a challenge, but it’s worth it in the end. Be sure to let them dry entirely after using vinegar or lemon juice on them! They might look better shiny, but they won’t last long if you don’t make sure they’re 100% dry before storing away!
Remember to keep candles well out of reach of any metal surfaces. If this isn’t possible, consider moving the candle stand to another spot where there’s less chance of fire (like under a shelf).
Please remember that this is only how to clean brass materials such as jewelry and candlesticks. When trying to remove tarnish from other types of metal, such as copper or silver, use different solvents and chemicals.
Related Questions
How Do You Clean Tarnished Brass Candlesticks?
You can clean tarnished brass candlesticks by dissolving a teaspoon of salt into a half cup of vinegar. Slowly add flour until it feels sticky. Use this to rub onto your tarnished brass candlesticks and leave it for about 10 minutes and then rinse.
What Is the Best Cleaner to Clean Brass?
The best cleaner to clean brass would be lemon juice and baking soda.
What Is the Best Home Remedy to Clean Brass?
The best home remedy to clean brass would be vinegar because of its acidic property.
Conclusion
Cleaning brass candlesticks can be a bit of a challenge, but if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be able to keep them shiny and discoloration-free. Be sure to let them dry entirely after using vinegar or lemon juice on them! They might look better shiny, but they won’t last long if you don’t make sure they’re 100% dry before storing away!