Having brass items means dealing with tarnish. Let’s uncover a few ideas on how to clean brass to keep it shining.
If you grew up in the 1980’s like I did, you likely had brass fixtures in your home. My grandmother had several brass candelabras and tabletop decorations that I fondly remember during my childhood years. Keeping brass clean and shiny requires a special kind of care. Today, let’s unveil a few ideas for how to clean brass with items you probably have in your home.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
First of all, you may be wondering what causes the brass surface to tarnish. If you live near the ocean, you may be surprised to learn the the salty air has a large impact on your brass finish. Salt tarnishes brass quickly.
If you have brass plant holders that you leave outside, you should know that rainwater also tarnishes brass. If you can do so, keep those brass plant holders inside. Handling brass often also tarnishes it because of the chemicals present in the air and on our fingertips. These chemicals are corrosive to brass and lead to the dull, tarnished finish you are trying to avoid.
How to Clean Brass:
There are a few ways you can clean brass with items you may already have in your home. Let’s explore a few ways to clean brass.
How to clean brass using Ketchup:
While it sounds odd, ketchup can be quite effective at cleaning brass. Start by using a paper towel and begin rubbing the ketchup all over the brass surface. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then wipe a small area to see if the tarnish has started to improve. If not, give it more time and retry until it accomplishes the task.
How to clean brass using Onions:
Onions can be boiled in water to produce a liquid that is effective at cleaning brass. Slice onions into a pot of water and then boil. Allow the water to to cool. Then, use the water to wipe your brass clean.
How to clean brass using Vinegar:
Distilled white vinegar mixed with equal parts of salt and flour provides a paste that removes tarnish from brass. Apply to your brass surfaces using a paper towel. Rinse clean with water.
How to clean brass using Toothpaste:
When using toothpaste, look for the paste variety and not the gel, as seen below. You can apply the toothpaste with a cloth or an old toothbrush to wipe away the tarnish from brass. Use water to rinse clean.
How to Clean Brass using Lemons:
Lemon slices dipped in salt remove tarnish from brass, also. Use a paper towel to wipe the surface clean. Rinse with water.
Special Tip: Never put brass in your dishwasher. The harsh detergents and heat will ruin the finish of your brass. Also, be certain the surface you are trying to clean is actually brass, so you can clean it properly. Only wash brass items by hand using brass cleaner or one of the methods mentioned above.
I hope you have found this information beneficial on how to clean brass. Subscribe to my blog for more tips and tricks on cleaning and organizing everything in your home.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
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The Year Long Thorough Declutter Series is designed to help you declutter every room and every space in your home. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. It includes daily tasks, so you can track your progress. It also includes detailed lists to declutter each room and each space within your home. Subscribe below to receive your daily task.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
If you are asking: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? You need a basic routine to maintain it once it’s clean. Specifically, to keep up the general housework, you need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
How do you remove clutter? Follow each room-by-room “declutter your home” checklist below
I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below. What is the best way to declutter? Follow my “Declutter Your Home” checklists to get you started.
Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.
Need “Declutter Your Home” checklists for each room? Read more below.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
Also, my How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist is found here.
My How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
Next, you can find my How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist here.
Find my How to Declutter Your Attic checklist by clicking here.
The How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
My How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
The How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
My How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
Also, a How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
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How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.
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