How to clean brass at home?

People use brass from ancient times. It is distinguished by simplicity in leaving, attractive appearance and ease in processing. Dishware, interior and decor items are made from this alloy. In this article we will discuss the methods of cleaning products made of brass.

The structure of the alloy consists of two elements - copper and zinc:

• Copper. This element belongs to the class of native minerals. Differs plasticity and availability. This metal is among the first seven types of metals, which are known from antiquity.
• Zinc. The metal is distinguished by its silvery-white color and has been known since ancient times. The modern name of the substance received in the 20s. last century. The chemical properties of the metal include brittleness and ductility. When interacting with air, zinc tarnishes, but at the same time it is resistant to corrosion.

Brass stands apart from other metals, despite the fact that it can easily be attributed to the bronze class, because their compositions and properties are identical. Its color depends on the concentration in the composition of zinc and can vary from greenish to gold. A feature of brass is that this alloy does not possess magnetic properties. To check whether it is brass alloy, it is enough to bring a magnet to it. If it does not succumb to magnetic effects - in front of you a brass product.

This unique material was known in the Roman Empire. It was then that the production of brass alloys began. They were classified as precious materials, which were in third place in terms of value. The first two places belonged to gold and silver. Then brass became popular in the East, in Asia Minor and in the North Caucasus. Travelers, following the Silk Road, could acquire this strange alloy, supplied from Asia Minor.

For the first time, brass alloy was obtained in England by combining copper and zinc. This production method was patented in the 18th century by James Emerson. In Russia, as in Western Europe, brass served as fake gold.

In Russia, this alloy was used for making various jewelry: earrings, beads, amulets, medallions, bracelets, rings. They were subjected to silvering, blackening, covered with gilding, which made jewelry beautiful works of art.

Jewelry made of brass and to this day are distinguished by sophistication and originality. It is used to create jewelry in vintage style, characterized by a unique design and extraordinary strength. Due to the heat capacity of brass samovars were made. They are distinguished by a spectacular appearance, and uniform heating and the ability to keep warm for a long time made brass samovars an indispensable attribute of tea drinking in Russia.

Like any other material, brass is prone to contamination, and over time it can lose its original appearance and grow dull. In order that products from it for a long time pleased with the original appearance, it is necessary to carry out the correct care of them.

Ways to return brass products of the original form include:

• chemical;
• folk remedies.

Cleaning products with different chemical composition solutions is widespread, because this method is quick and not time consuming. The main criterion for the choice of chemical cleaning agent should be its sparing effect, which will be exerted on the brass product. Chemical treatment options include:

• oxalic acid;
• formic acid;
• acetone;
• professional cleaning products.

Oxalic acid is often used as a delicate substance that can restore the original appearance of the alloy. Along with this, any household product that contains acid can be used to remove contaminants from brass products. It is important to pay attention to the other components that make up the cleaning agent.

Formic acid is not less effective than oxalic, but has a more gentle effect. This reduces the risk of damage to the product. For this, it is preferable to choose a 30% acid solution.

Also common acetoneIt returns the original shine to your product with ease and as quickly as possible and removes oxide spots. To do this, just moisten a cotton swab in acetone and wipe the product. This method is ideal for returning the original look to products that require a delicate attitude: jewelry and rare things.

Professional cleaning products. The advantages of this cleaning method include the fact that their composition is specifically designed for brass products. The risk of damage to the product reaches a minimum with a cleaning method using professional tools. Detailed instructions tells how to properly carry out the sequence of actions and get an excellent result.

Brass is an ancient material, due to which a lot of effective folk recipes have accumulated that can return the original look to products made from this alloy. Folk methods are distinguished by their cost-effectiveness and the ability to care for brass products with the help of available tools that will be found in each housewife's house. The result of the effort will be the return to the product of a pristine yellow shade and unique brilliance, which happens only in products made of brass.

The following recipes are among the common and simple ways to eliminate pollution from brass products:

• acetic salt solution;
• the use of sour dough;
• lemon cleaning;
• the use of abrasives.

Acetic-saline solution. To use this method, it is necessary to dissolve a little salt in three liters of water by adding half a cup of vinegar to the resulting solution. Bring the liquid to a boil, then put the contaminated brass object into it. Continue boiling for four hours, periodically adding water. Thanks to this method, all the pollution will disappear, and the bright luster of the product will return.

Use sour dough. To prepare the mixture, mix one cup of flour and the same amount of vinegar and water. The resulting composition should be coated with a brass product in the most polluted places, then let it dry and polish with a soft cloth.

Lemon cleaning. A simple and effective recipe is as follows: cut lemon into slices, salt abundantly and rub contaminated places on a brass product. Even the strongest pollution will not stand under this influence, and the product shine will return again.

The use of abrasives. These include brushes and hard paper.Before rinsing the product in a soapy solution, it is necessary to smear the polluted places with toothpaste, and then clean it with a brush.

In the case of strong oxidation, as well as if the product does not require a delicate relationship to itself, you can use sandpaper. This method is ideal for cleaning brass fireplace grates.

First you need to make sure whether in front of you a brass product. This can be done with a magnet. If there is a need to clean vintage items, you need to evaluate how important it really is. After all, a product touched by a perennial patina has its own charm, removing which the external attractiveness of the object will be lost. Before cleaning such products It is recommended to first contact an antiquary.

Compliance with these rules will help not to spoil your favorite brass product in the process of caring for it:

• do not use professional cleaners for varnished products;
• for rare objects, abrasives and hard brushes are not recommended for cleaning;
• To select the optimal method for cleaning the product, it is necessary to conduct preliminary testing in a small area;
• make sure there is no varnish on the product.

All modern brass products are coated with a protective layer of lacquer, which prevents oxidation, retains luster and prevents contamination. During operation, the lacquer layer may crack, and a dark bloom forms under it. There are several effective ways to remove varnish from the surface of the product:

• rinse with hot water;
• boiling;
• use of special solutions.

Rinsing with hot water. Hot water can expand the metal. After the product has been under a stream of hot water for several minutes, the lacquer will easily come off. This method is the most gentle and safe.

Boiling. It is important to pay attention to the choice of pots for boiling brass products, it should not include aluminum. The whole process should not exceed three minutes.

The use of special solutions. The above methods may not help if the coating is old. Then you will need to buy a cleaning solution in a specialized hardware store.

Sometimes cleaning the product is not required, but its appearance loses its luster. In this case, help polishing brass object. The methods of metal polishing include:

• Polishing by specialized means. The composition of commercially available products is environmentally friendly. They remove traces of oxidation and contamination well and do not require large labor costs in the process.
• Lemon juice polishing. To use this method at home, you need to cut the lemon into two parts and squeeze the juice from one half. Add a tablespoon of baking soda or salt, mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to the product and polish with a soft cloth.

These recipes for the beauty of brass products will help to carry out a thorough care and maintain their unsurpassed appearance. The oxides outside the brass will disappear for a long time.

See how to clean brass with citric acid in the next video.