5 easy tips for cleaning and buffing brass

There are two kinds of brass to consider — brass with a protective lacquer coating (most common) and raw brass. Raw brass is the bigger challenge to care for, since this copper-and-zinc alloy oxidizes when it is exposed to air, resulting in tarnish.

• Mix mild dishwashing liquid with warm water and apply it with a non-abrasive sponge or cloth.
• Rinse with fresh water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
• Buff with an extremely soft cloth or chamois. Avoid using terry towelling and paper towels, because they will scratch the surface of the brass.

• Take a tip from antique dealers and the military: Use a metal that contains cleaners to eliminate the tarnish, abrasives for polishing and oil to protect the brass from the air.
• Follow the instructions on the package.
• Only use a thin layer of metal polish — more is not better.
• To keep your unlacquered brass gleaming, polish it every few months.

• The cleaning techniques outlined above may not be sufficient. If they aren't, try rubbing the brass with extra-fine steel wool (000) or very fine emery cloth. But be careful because you're in abrasive territory now.
• Rub the metal in one direction only — not with a circular motion.
• Once the brass is clean, follow up with a commercial brass polish.

• Don't attempt to scrape it off — this could damage the finish.
• Apply methylated spirits or a citrus-oil product to a soft cloth.
• Wipe the solvent onto the sticker and let it sit for a few seconds.
• Then wipe the sticker and its gummy adhesive away.
• Buff with a clean, soft cloth.

• You can still remove tarnish from raw brass with a lemon. Slice a lemon in half, sprinkle the cut surface with salt and then squeeze the lemon over the brass that needs cleaning.
• Wipe down the brass with one soft cloth and then buff it with a second soft cloth. The technique works equally well with lacquered and raw brass.
• An alternative is to make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water (or just use toothpaste, which is also a mild abrasive). Apply the paste to a soft cloth and then rub the brass.
• Wipe clean with a fresh cloth.
• Once it's clean, rub unlacquered brass with a light coating of paraffin oil, olive oil or lemon oil to protect it from further tarnish. Lacquered brass doesn't need this sort of protection.