How to Clean Vintage Brass | 2 Easy DIY Recipes

Want to clean up tarnished brass thrift store finds? Today I try out two easy, all natural, DIY solutions to clean up brass treasures in minutes!
I could have left these cleaners on longer for a brighter finish, but I actually prefer a little aging and patina on my brass decor. What do y’all think? Do you like bright and shiny or aged metals?
NOTE: I know a lot of people do prefer the aged patina on brass - to each their own. I do like this look as well but wanted to explore options for items that are too dirty or that you think might fit your decor better if they were shiner.
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Пікірлер: 98

  • @sisterspooky
    @sisterspooky3 жыл бұрын

    _FLOUR, SALT AND VINEGAR METHOD_ Recipe 1 - 6:06 _LEMON JUICE AND BAKING SODA METHOD_ Recipe 2 - 3:51

  • @paleologue
    @paleologue2 жыл бұрын

    I have a lot of brass pieces from Lebanon and using the home recipes work well. The darkening of brass is just oxidation...it's basically brass rust. It dissolves when exposed to higher PH. The vinegar (or lemon juice or citric acid) is what loosens the oxidation, but at the end of the day, heavy oxidation will NEVER rinse off without elbow grease. You just have to buff buff buff and repeat. MY METHOD: I use the vinegar/salt with flour or (if I can) submerge it in a solution of citric acid, salt and water (I add a little lemon juice or vinegar). The flour just acts as a binding agent to form a paste. That helps to remove the thickest oxidation. After that I honestly use brasso and buff away with a cloth. It takes time, especially for intricate pieces, but it results in a high luster. You can also use an abrasive sheet, but I find it can leave scratch marks.

  • @lynnesteele9682
    @lynnesteele96822 жыл бұрын

    I love how the 1st formula left the age and removed some tarnishing. Old things look better with some patina. Thanks for posting.

  • @jr7575
    @jr7575 Жыл бұрын

    I have used packets of Ketchup to clean the tarnish off of brass. It works it just takes a little time and you have to wash off the ketchup in warm soapy water.

  • @mo-kw6pe
    @mo-kw6pe7 ай бұрын

    I like that both these methods have a lot of character to the patina after the treatment. Also great to not have to buy specific products. Going to try this on an old lamp.

  • @bosvigos9165
    @bosvigos9165 Жыл бұрын

    I used baking soda and vinegar on my intricate Tunisian tray using a toothbrush, it worked a treat.

  • @KCsFunHouse
    @KCsFunHouse3 жыл бұрын

    Barkeepers friend... works like a charm, also going over it with an extra fine sanding block they sell at craft stores gets the initial oils off it before you use anything else. However be mindful to sand in gently one direction you’re not trying to shine by sanding just get the initial layers of dirt and oil off

  • @joeg9523

    @joeg9523

    2 жыл бұрын

    You saved me the trouble. Barkeepers friend liquid does a 100% better job and not as messy.

  • @jessicah3450

    @jessicah3450

    2 жыл бұрын

    I mix the Bar Keepers Friend with water into a paste. Works good on skillets that start to stick too- I picked up that tip when I worked at a kitchen store.

  • @user-ob8gh7le7h
    @user-ob8gh7le7h7 ай бұрын

    Getting ready to do a brass bed, I will use your second recipe!

  • @elpidiadeleon-aponte3696
    @elpidiadeleon-aponte3696Ай бұрын

    I like lemon juice and baking soda. I’m gonna try it. Thanks for your advice. I enjoyed watching.😊

  • @charlyedennis4361
    @charlyedennis43613 жыл бұрын

    I just inherited a few really beautiful brass pieces from my great aunt, one being a vintage Swiss made mechanical alarm clock, the other being a small stand up mirror. I’m trying to decide if I want to refurbish them or leave them as is, how I remembered them in her home growing up 🥺 I love how bright the brass looks though!

  • @helpfulnatural
    @helpfulnatural Жыл бұрын

    I used the lemon juice & baking soda paste and after a few minutes of scrubbing with a plastic mesh kitchen scrubbie, I managed to remove about 80 years of patina from a little bell handed down from my husband's grandmother. I still can't believe how well it worked! It revealed a sweet flower and leaf pattern I couldn't make out when it was so darkly tarnished. Thanks for the demo! 🔔

  • @inahroutes
    @inahroutes3 жыл бұрын

    thank you for the informative video, we will try it out on our old brass items at home.

  • @jessicah3450
    @jessicah34502 жыл бұрын

    I have tarnished brass burners on some thrifted kerosene lamps. Going to try this! I know salt and vinegar work well on copper. Thanks!

  • @joshwilson6305
    @joshwilson6305 Жыл бұрын

    I watch a restoration guy on here, and he uses ketchup. Just coats the brass item in ketchup and then put ms it in a ziploc bag. His results are always pretty nice, but I haven’t tried them personally. I love the finished look on your brass items.

  • @the2dreamers
    @the2dreamers11 ай бұрын

    Lovely items

  • @ritacistone6654
    @ritacistone66546 ай бұрын

    Awesome and Thank you for the Tutorial

  • @queentishay85
    @queentishay853 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the upload because my brass looked like your before pictures. Keep the uploads coming because I just subscribed

  • @jenniferday118

    @jenniferday118

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and for the kind words! ❤️

  • @jimgallup9080
    @jimgallup90803 жыл бұрын

    The lemon juice and baking soda will work better if you soak the brass in lemon with a little baking soda overnight. To get out spots use 0000 steel wool on hard to get out marks. You can also soak brass in vinegar and baking soda. Be careful adding the baking soda it will foam up so a little at a time.

  • @jenniferday118

    @jenniferday118

    3 жыл бұрын

    Great tips, thank you!

  • @rudra7615

    @rudra7615

    Жыл бұрын

    Instead of vinegar you can use citric acid (dried lemon) too

  • @TheTypingTeen
    @TheTypingTeen Жыл бұрын

    Tried the lemon and baking soda mix works amazing!!

  • @falquezfalquez
    @falquezfalquez4 жыл бұрын

    I love the idea of using natural products for cleaning brass, I am sure it’s also more cost effective than buying specific cleaners. Great video!

  • @jenniferday118

    @jenniferday118

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Daniel! I hope it also inspires people to clean items they already have vs adding more to landfills :)

  • @dragan3290

    @dragan3290

    2 жыл бұрын

    I use vinegar on rusty steel. Eats away the rust lacing a black gunk. When you wipe and use a dremel to polish the tool steel? It brass plates the steel surface! A coat of enamel paint and baked with a heat gun gently rotating tool. Amazing look! Now I'm doing electroplating! Copper , nickel etc? Easy. Just white vinegar and teaspoon of iodide salt. Two copper little pipes ( scrap) 2 to 6 volts max. And little current! I use 18 volt Dewalt cordless battery with a buck converter from eBay with a LCD volt and amps readout gauge! My feeler gauge looks awesome! Clean surface with Acetone. Voila!!! I love that brass vase. I have one waiting for me to clean and polish! Nice tutorial!🙂👍👍👍👍

  • @andyvilla5113
    @andyvilla51132 жыл бұрын

    I just used bar keepers friend and it took a second to clean an all the brass looked amazing! only 2 bucks also found at the grocery store

  • @brucewilson1958

    @brucewilson1958

    2 жыл бұрын

    I just used that product to clean mold from the seal on my refrigerator doors. Worked amazingly! Used a tooth brush then wipes with paper towel.

  • @ritjai5482

    @ritjai5482

    2 жыл бұрын

    For copper products does it work?

  • @Wickedstickyflowers

    @Wickedstickyflowers

    Жыл бұрын

    Does your bar keeps friend do this for a living . Can I get his contact info 😉

  • @rachelbaziak4159

    @rachelbaziak4159

    Жыл бұрын

    I have been using this for years and it works.

  • @connorwagstaff2348

    @connorwagstaff2348

    11 ай бұрын

    Unreal product, life hack

  • @feyyazesat
    @feyyazesat2 жыл бұрын

    You can also try with a brass brush, which will be very effective to clean the rest of the dirt, then if you want to shine it, you can also buy polishing agents and apply with very fine scotch brite type sand paper.

  • @davinchiis1
    @davinchiis12 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing !

  • @menopausalmusician414
    @menopausalmusician4143 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this! Peace

  • @bernadettedunn6129
    @bernadettedunn6129 Жыл бұрын

    Lemon juice and baking soda hands down

  • @helpfulnatural

    @helpfulnatural

    10 ай бұрын

    Agreed!

  • @kalraj7821
    @kalraj78213 жыл бұрын

    Easy procedure thnx

  • @lovkvist1
    @lovkvist1 Жыл бұрын

    I just experimented with an item which i dont wanna loose its patina. I did first wash with a soaped sponge. Then i rubbed hard with a piece of dry wool cloth. And rubbed moore with it:) But i was satisfied with the "gloss" and remaining patina.

  • @elizabethguilbe557
    @elizabethguilbe5572 жыл бұрын

    Pottery Barn is bringing back brass 😉 The style of brass in 2021 is beautiful!

  • @andyvilla5113

    @andyvilla5113

    2 жыл бұрын

    I saw that too!

  • @haphazardgardener8651
    @haphazardgardener86512 жыл бұрын

    I'm a fan of the aged brass look so the vase was my favorite. It is clean but still leaves the patina.

  • @redd4poetry
    @redd4poetry4 жыл бұрын

    Aged brass has a patina. Lots of people value that and explore ways to make shiny brass have the patina of age. Maybe try removing excess wax and simply buff the surface with something soft like an old cotton diaper.

  • @jenniferday118

    @jenniferday118

    4 жыл бұрын

    I too enjoy the patina on aged brass, but these items were a bit too rough for my liking. Thanks for the support!

  • @abdulmueedabro8299
    @abdulmueedabro82992 жыл бұрын

    I had made a past from salt lemon vinegar and flour and applied on an object for few hours i had lost the original shine.. 😭 What to do now please help

  • @user-zb8cp5kd8o
    @user-zb8cp5kd8o7 ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @patty237
    @patty23711 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the video…

  • @curlyfurpuppyltd8817
    @curlyfurpuppyltd8817Ай бұрын

    I like the 1st formulation because it leaves the patina of the pieces.

  • @VishalVerma-lr4ev
    @VishalVerma-lr4ev10 ай бұрын

    If thats a beautiful bell i think u need to see our home temple bells every house has amazing design bell🔔.. temples have beauty in its every object used to pray even the dishes used are mesmerizing.. hope one day the world gets to see the wonders of our city temples what we see everyday..😊🙏

  • @hdson46
    @hdson463 жыл бұрын

    Lemon juice and baking soda ❤️

  • @Mandy4610
    @Mandy46102 жыл бұрын

    I tried the vinegar, salt and flour method. My piece came out looking like copper instead of brass. Anything I can do to fix this?

  • @anjuthanm

    @anjuthanm

    2 жыл бұрын

    Was it in brass color before it got the oxides and dirt or you got the piece dirty and tried to clean? Sounds like it is bronze to me.

  • @c.r.stewart9434

    @c.r.stewart9434

    5 ай бұрын

    The top layer has lost its zinc or tin - You just need to keep polishing until it returns.

  • @maryspear4989
    @maryspear49893 жыл бұрын

    I really enjoyed this very well presented informational video. Thank you. I didn't like the music at all.

  • @josephineelves8591
    @josephineelves85912 жыл бұрын

    I think the lemon and baking soda worked very well. However the first recipe was good and the brass could have had more copper and less of the other metals such as silver and been more stained.

  • @lilibethdaligdig6560
    @lilibethdaligdig6560 Жыл бұрын

    I too have a tarnished not sure if it is made of brass or bronze Child Jesus Image about 4 inches in size. What I did? Rubbed it with something rough a new Scotch Brite using a toilet bowl cleaner, toothpaste and dishwashing liquid in water to remove the brown-black rust. Thanks to your video for the idea. More Power!

  • @medicalworld1089
    @medicalworld10893 жыл бұрын

    If someone have antique brass or copper items, never clean it, it will reduce the price.

  • @jaylaw6970
    @jaylaw6970 Жыл бұрын

    Add lemon to your paste. Much better. Cleans grim stuff left for 45m-hour

  • @darkwind2024
    @darkwind20248 ай бұрын

    Lemon juice ans salt.

  • @najafbilgrami2064
    @najafbilgrami20642 жыл бұрын

    Why not white vinegar lemon juice and baking soda

  • @dicruz8536
    @dicruz85362 жыл бұрын

    I'm not sure why you just don't soak the brass in a solution of vinegar and salt, Much less mess and not diluted by the flour. Thanks for the tips : )

  • @Mtlhed1099
    @Mtlhed10992 жыл бұрын

    Navy has this process locked down

  • @matthewvaughn1116
    @matthewvaughn11162 жыл бұрын

    If it’s candlewax warm it up a little bit and it will wipe right off

  • @carolhovenstine9059
    @carolhovenstine90595 ай бұрын

    Baking soda lemon juice ❤ best

  • @HamHata
    @HamHata Жыл бұрын

    Natural Lemon juice + White vintage + Soda Powder + Cif powder.

  • @julsknapp7192
    @julsknapp71923 жыл бұрын

    The natural patina on brass is now much more favorable. If it is indeed antique, suggested not to polish it all.

  • @susanp.sutherland2453

    @susanp.sutherland2453

    3 жыл бұрын

    I have some patina brass pieces that were my brothers. He passed in 2013. I need to get on eBay & sell if it's worth anything. I believe he had some of the same pieces she has in this video plus some animals figurines. They are super heavy. Make great paperweights.

  • @AL-ru3nk
    @AL-ru3nk9 ай бұрын

    Salt, flour and vinegar didnt work on my piece will try the lemon and baking soda

  • @homebrass
    @homebrass Жыл бұрын

    Top

  • @aj11223345
    @aj11223345 Жыл бұрын

    Hey you live in Big ol TEXAS! howdy 👋

  • @mamtanaidu2208
    @mamtanaidu2208 Жыл бұрын

    💯👌

  • @cherylhitchcock7244
    @cherylhitchcock72446 ай бұрын

    Definitely lemon and baking soda. Thanks for sharing

  • @rosamoyano8743
    @rosamoyano87432 жыл бұрын

    para dar una idea de cómo limpiar ,tanta solemnidad x favor 😡😡

  • @carolbuchanan5724
    @carolbuchanan57242 жыл бұрын

    Lemon juice and baking soda seem to work better to me

  • @jessicaleite8753
    @jessicaleite87532 жыл бұрын

    Q material e este

  • @sandramatos6409

    @sandramatos6409

    2 жыл бұрын

    Bronce

  • @rubynaidoo4624
    @rubynaidoo4624 Жыл бұрын

    Definitely lemon juice and baking soda

  • @user-zx4gn9so3j
    @user-zx4gn9so3j4 ай бұрын

    Use 0000 steel wool to polish.

  • @culpepper7665
    @culpepper76657 ай бұрын

    You see that pink spot in the middle of the tray? That is the zinc being destroyed ( brass is a zinc and copper alloy ). A lot of these home made methods will leave your brass pink... do your research on what the pros use, or simply use brasso which is made for it.

  • @cheryllong6107
    @cheryllong61074 ай бұрын

    Lemon juice and baking soda

  • @elpidiadeleon-aponte3696
    @elpidiadeleon-aponte3696Ай бұрын

    I’m going with l

  • @bernadettedunn6129
    @bernadettedunn6129 Жыл бұрын

    Leon juice and baking soda wins hands down

  • @nqabisamvula9185
    @nqabisamvula9185 Жыл бұрын

    No: 2 gives better results

  • @daviddram6523
    @daviddram6523 Жыл бұрын

    WD-40 and 400-800 grit sandpaper. Polish it up and your brass will look brand new with no stains

  • @gigistrailsandtales7203
    @gigistrailsandtales72034 ай бұрын

    Be very careful using vinegar!!!! It can actually dissolve the brass over time!

  • @MirceaD28
    @MirceaD28 Жыл бұрын

    Watchmakers use heated amoniac.

  • @gknee923
    @gknee9232 жыл бұрын

    Save the struggles use brass polish. Most of those pieces are pitted And get rid of them with the polish