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BrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass jewelry can be cleaned with a few different methods, but the most important thing to remember when cleaning brass jewelry is to use only water or soap-free solutions on it.
Here are a few tips on cleaning brass jewelry.
- Mix a mild soap and a few drops of lemon juice to make a paste. Add salt to this mixture if it is still not pasty enough for your liking.
- Apply the mixture on the brass item and let it sit for 30 minutes, or until you see that all of the tarnish is gone.
- Rinse the piece in lukewarm water and dry it with a cloth. If you want, you can add vinegar to the mixture instead of using lemon juice.
- You can also use a commercial silver-cleaning solution to clean your brass jewelry instead of making your own paste from soap and lemon juice.
- Another option for cleaning brass is to dip your brass item in a mixture of lemon juice and salt, or even baking soda. Let the jewelry sit in this mixture overnight before rinsing it off with water and drying it with a cloth.
- If you own any other types of metal that are mixed with brass, be sure to check the label on the bottom of the item if it says not to place it in water. Cleaning these items will require you to use another method, such as using a commercial silver-cleaning solution or even toothpaste.
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Things to Avoid
You may want to avoid cleaning brass with vinegar since this can cause damage after some time. Although lemon juice, baking soda, and commercial silver-cleaning solutions will work to make your brass jewelry sparkle again, they may not be quite as effective as vinegar.
Just remember that if you want to use lemon juice or vinegar to clean the brass, it is best only to soak the piece overnight. If you try cleaning your brass jewelry in a shorter amount of time, you may get unsatisfactory results.
Also, remember if your brass jewelry is attached to another metal (silver or gold), don’t use any abrasive on the piece. This could scratch the other metal and damage it. It is best to clean these pieces with a commercial silver-cleaning solution or toothpaste, which is not likely to cause damage if used correctly.
Soak in Silver cleaning Solution
Another option for cleaning brass jewelry is to soak it in commercial silver-cleaning solutions. To ensure your brass piece will sparkle when you are done cleaning it, rinse the item with warm water after soaking it overnight in the solution. You can use toothpaste to clean your brass jewelry, but you need to be careful when using it since it can cause damage if not used correctly.
How to Make Paste
To make a paste with toothpaste, apply some to the piece and sit overnight. Then wipe away the remaining paste with a cloth in the morning. You may want to avoid using this method if you have a piece with stones since it may damage them.
If your brass item is close to another metal, such as silver or gold, be sure not to use any abrasive on the piece. This could scratch the other metal and cause damage.
Tips
If you want to avoid using vinegar or lemon juice, you can also soak your brass item in a commercial silver-cleaning solution overnight. Try rinsing the piece with warm water after soaking it in the solution to make sure all of the tarnish disappears when you finish.
Also, remember to avoid using any abrasive on a brass item since it could scratch the metal and cause damage.
Using Toothpaste
If you want to clean your brass jewelry with toothpaste, you can use a soft cloth to rub some onto the piece. Then let it sit for about an hour before rinsing the item in warm water and using a soft cloth or toothbrush to remove any remaining paste.
When cleaning your brass items, remember that rust will have a more substantial effect on them than other types of dirt and grime. To remove rust from your brass jewelry, soak it in lemon juice or vinegar for a few hours before rinsing the item with water and wiping it dry.
If your brass jewelry has stones such as pearls or turquoise, be sure not to use any abrasive on the piece. This could scratch or damage these delicate features. You can try using commercial silver-cleaning solutions or toothpaste instead, which are less likely to cause damage if you use them appropriately.
Rinse the jewelry off with warm water
After letting the lemon juice, vinegar, or commercial silver-cleaning solution soak into the brass jewelry for a few hours, rinse it off with warm water. This will help remove any of the tarnish or dirt on the jewelry before. Make sure to dry the piece off with a soft cloth afterward.
Apply a thin layer of brass polish
To make your brass jewelry look shiny and new again, you can apply a thin layer of brass polish to the piece and then buff it with a soft cloth until it shines. To keep your brass items looking this way, you should clean them every few months to remove any dirt or tarnish that might have built up.
How to Store Your Brass Jewelry
It is essential to store your brass jewelry in an airtight container or bag to prevent tarnishing. This will keep the air from coming into contact with the metal and causing it to tarnish. You can also try using a polishing cloth to remove any tarnish that might have built up on your brass jewelry.
To prevent tarnishing, you should try to keep your brass jewelry from getting air-bourne. You can do this by storing the items in a bag or airtight container when they are not in use. You can also use a polishing cloth to remove any tarnish that has built up on your brass pieces.