The relevance of the question of how to clean brass using available tools at home is largely due to the popularity of this material, which is. Brass has unique characteristics, the most significant of which are low specific gravity, high ductility, durability and attractive appearance.

Available cleansers

Before you ask yourself how to clean brass, you need to find out for sure that the item whose appearance you are going to return to its original state is made of this material. The simplest option for such a test is to use a magnet, which should not be attracted to the surface of the product if it is made of brass. After you figured out that you have brass in front of you, you can clean it with one of the following tools.

1. Ethandioic acid (it is better known as oxalic acid) can effectively clean a brass product not only from serious contaminants, but also from oxides. It is absolutely not necessary to use it in its pure form: it is part of many kitchen detergents, you just have to carefully study the labels. Having found a product containing oxalic acid in its composition, it is necessary to apply it to the surface of the object to be cleaned and leave it for a while. Under the influence of oxalic acid, brass may begin to darken - do not be afraid of this. After some exposure, the product must be washed under running water, cleaning the plaque from its surface with a brush. To achieve a better cleaning effect, a washed brass object can be covered with baking soda, soaked in it for several minutes and rinsed again with water.
2. If the desired cleaning effect is not achieved using a kitchen detergent, you can prepare a cleaning solution yourself, consisting of 10 liters of water and 200 ml of oxalic acid. This solution is best prepared in a plastic container. The brass object to be cleaned must be kept in it for some time, and after removal, rinse thoroughly under running water. It should be borne in mind that when working with such a solution, it is necessary to use protective equipment- gloves and a respirator.
3. You can clean brass with ordinary acetone: the contaminated surface is treated with a cotton swab dipped in acetone.
4. At home, you can clean brass in a more radical way. It involves the use of a solution consisting of water, common salt and acetic acid. The pre-prepared solution must be heated in a stainless steel container to a boil and the product to be cleaned should be placed in it, which should be in a boiling liquid for 3-4 hours. Only in this case, you can count on the fact that the brass will be cleaned of both serious contaminants and oxides. Naturally, after removing from the solution, the product must be thoroughly rinsed under running water and allowed to dry on a soft cloth.
5. Another way to clean items made of brass, which is easy to use at home, is to use special products based on acid solutions. The most famous of them are "Metalin" and "Delu". Formic and nitric acids, ammonium carbonate solution with ammonia are also suitable for these purposes.
6. Even the most heavily soiled brass products can be cleaned at home with table salt mixed with a small amount of lemon juice.
7. Hot vinegar is an effective way to remove dark stains from brass. When using such a product, you should be prepared for the fact that your home workshop or apartment will be saturated with the pungent smell of acetic acid.
8. If you need to clean a heavily sooted brass object, you can do this with fine sandpaper.
9. Another remedy to restore the brass to its former luster is a mixture of 500 ml of buttermilk and a tablespoon of table salt.

It is much easier to clean brass objects, the surface of which is covered with a special protective varnish. This is explained by the fact that the varnish, protecting brass from contact with oxygen, protects it from the formation of an oxide film, which is the most difficult to get rid of. The surface of lacquered brass products is distinguished by a bright sheen, which is lost as a result of its contamination.

If you are going to clean brass with products such as citric, hydrochloric and acetic acids, keep in mind that this is quite a dangerous undertaking, so proceed with extreme caution, observing the required safety measures.

The simplest and most commonly available tool for cleaning brass at home is ordinary toothpaste, which can be used as an abrasive. Before you start using the paste, the product must be thoroughly washed in soapy water, which will allow it to be cleaned of accumulated grease and other contaminants. Then paste is applied to it and thoroughly rubbed with an old toothbrush. Naturally, after the end of such a procedure, the cleaned item must be washed under running water, and then allowed to dry.

Available products that effectively clean brass products include vinegar and wheat flour. Of these, mixing them in equal proportions, prepare "vinegar dough". The mass obtained in this way is applied to the surface of the product to be cleaned and kept until completely dry. The vinegar used in this mixture actively reacts with the oxide film, and the flour absorbs all the degradation products of the pollution. "Vinegar dough" after complete drying must be wiped off with a soft, dry cloth. Using this method, you can clean to a shine and products made of pure copper.

Removing old varnish from brass and applying a new protective coating to it

If none of the above methods have succeeded in achieving the original shine of the brass, then most likely you will have to remove the old varnish coating and apply a new one. It is possible to perform such a procedure at home, for this you must do the following.

• First you need to prepare a workplace, which can be used as a table surface covered with old newspapers or plastic wrap.
• The old protective coating is removed from brass with a brush and nail polish remover.
• After removing the old varnish, brass must be carefully polished, for which special pastes are used.
• When the surface to be treated is polished to the required gloss, a new layer of varnish can be applied to it using a brush or cotton swab. When applying varnish, you should ensure that its layer is uniform.

When applying a protective lacquer layer to brass, you should be very careful not to leave fingerprints on it, not to damage it with long nails or the tools used.

There are brass items in almost every home, so knowing how to clean them will be useful to anyone who wants to keep them in perfect condition.

05/13/2018 0 44 726 views

Metal products created from a mixture of zinc and copper have an original color, extraordinary luster and are durable. But not everyone knows how to clean brass from oxide at home to a shine. Usually figurines, dishes and decorations are simply put in a closet. In fact, there are a large number of ways to restore them. They are absolutely affordable and safe.

For cleaning, it is not necessary to contact specialists or purchase aggressive chemicals. Before starting the process, you should make sure that the product is really made of brass. To do this, take a small magnet and attach to the accessory. If there is an attraction, you have a fake alloy in front of you. After checking, you can safely proceed to processing.

What is brass and where is it used?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Tin, manganese, lead, nickel, aluminum can be added to it. The composition affects the color and properties.

Zinc, the main component of brass, was only discovered in the 16th century. At the same time, people knew about it before our era. For example, in Rome they made alloys of copper with zinc ore and created dishes and jewelry.

Then production began in Central Asia, from there accessories came to Russia, where their unique brilliance and high quality were also appreciated. After zinc was discovered in 1746, brass appeared in the form familiar to modern times.

The standard formula is the proportion of copper and zinc 1 to 2. Now much less zinc can be added, no more than 30 percent. For technical alloys, the percentage increases to 50%. The more zinc in the product, the lower its price.

Such alloys are considered one of the most common, they are called eternal metals, because they hardly wear out. Two-component types, where zinc is 20 percent, are used for automotive parts, coils, and thermal equipment. 40% composition is suitable for stamped products, fittings. Multi-component brasses have a very wide range of applications. They make aircraft, pipes, clocks, springs, ships.

Tompac, where zinc is up to 10 percent, is used to create artistic accessories and decals. Cages, fittings and bearings are made from cast brass to provide protection against rust. Automatic alloy is used for fasteners.

Resistance to magnetic attraction allows you to make compasses, high heat capacity - samovars. Items for the church are created from brass, such as the salary of the icon. The cost of the alloy is quite low, while it is used to make prestigious items such as the famous Zippo lighters.

In jewelry, it is also successfully used. Applied yellow, golden and green species. If it contains 15% zinc and 5% aluminum, the thing looks very similar to gold. A good specialist is able to create a product from such an alloy that will be difficult to distinguish from precious metal.

Before you start cleaning, so that the product shines, you should read the following recommendations:

1. Items with a brass or lacquered finish must not be treated with aggressive agents. They are wiped with a rag or cotton pad, previously dipped in soapy water.
2. Severe dirt or oxides require the use of cleaning products that do not contain abrasive components. They are bought in special stores or made at home. First, you should test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe accessory. To remove plaque, use brushes with soft bristles.
3. Compounds with acetic, citric or hydrochloric acid act quickly and effectively, but if used incorrectly, they will cause harm. Therefore, you need to act with the utmost caution.
4. Do not attempt to wash brassware in the dishwasher. It will darken and lose its aesthetic appearance.

How to clean brass from oxide and plaque at home?

To clean products to a shine, use the following tools:

• oxalic acid;
• acetone;
• toothpaste;
• vinegar;
• lemon acid;
• emery;
• soapy water;
• salt;
• professional products.

Let's consider each method in more detail.

oxalic acid

It cleans the most "burnt" pollution. When working with it, it is important to wear protective gloves and a respirator. Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

1. For 1 liter of water you need no more than 25 g of acid. Mix the ingredients in a plastic barrel.
2. Dip a soft sponge into the solution, carefully process the brass products.
3. Wash off after a quarter of an hour.
4. Wash with soap and water warm temperature.

Before applying this method, you should check brass products for authenticity with a magnet. The alloy is resistant to its effects.

This ingredient is often found in household chemicals. They do an excellent job of getting rid of oxidation and rust. To cleanse you need:

• apply the product to the darkened areas;
• wait 30 minutes. During this time, the areas may become even blacker, but this is a normal process. Thus, the acid coating is separated from the coating;
• treat with a brush moistened with water;
• apply a small amount of soda, remove the remaining dirt with a wet cloth;
• rinse with water, wipe thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Acetone perfectly helps in the fight against the dullness of the alloy, cleans objects from paint. Step by step algorithm:

1. Put on protective gloves, soak a cotton pad in the product.
2. Intensively treat dark areas on a candlestick or other accessories.
3. Rinse under running water with detergent.
4. Wipe with a cloth until dry.

toothpaste

With medium tarnish, toothpaste will save. For processing you need:

1. Wash the alloy in soapy water.
2. Apply paste to the brush, proceed to cleansing. No need to rub too hard, as the dirt will quickly come off anyway. If after ten minutes the effect is not noticeable, it is better to move on to other methods.
3. Rinse accessories in water, dry thoroughly soft cloth.

The tool copes well with soot and oxides on brass products. Action algorithm:

1. Pour water into a saucepan, then add vinegar and salt. On a mug of vinegar is taken 1 tbsp. l. salt.
2. Wait for the mixture to boil.
3. Put the products that require processing.
4. Boil for at least three hours. The ingredients will boil away, so add them in small amounts. It is worth observing the proportions described above.
5. Rinse thoroughly and wait to dry.

You can make vinegar dough. For this you will need:

• mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1: 1, pour a glass of flour;
• apply the product on a brass basin, wait a bit;
• wipe with a wet cloth, acid deposits will be removed along with the mixture;
• rinse, wipe with a dry cloth.

citric acid

Citrus with soda is great for oxidizing. Action algorithm:

• pour simple soda (60 g) into water (50 ml);
• apply the composition with a sponge on a brass mortar, wait 20 minutes;
• cut the lime into two parts;
• process brass with pulp, leave for 40 minutes;
• rinse with water, wipe.

If the desired effect is not observed, the steps should be repeated. From the second time the result should be.

emery

In the case when brass accessories are heavily smoked, soft, fine-grained sandpaper will help. The intensity of pressing should be weak so as not to harm the coating. Hard-to-reach areas are treated with chemical methods.

soapy water

The method will help only with small pollution. For processing you will need:

1. Pour warm water into the basin, add laundry soap or other cleaning agent.
2. Mix until foam forms.
3. Put brass, hold until the solution cools, but no more than ten minutes.
4. Remove accessories, brush with soft bristles, periodically moistened with water.
5. Wipe with a rag.

Finally, the alloy should be polished with special polishes, for example, Goya paste. This will help achieve the desired shine.

Salt is mixed to cleanse brass with lemon juice. Also apply 1 tbsp. l. of this product and 0.5 liters of buttermilk. Methods help to get rid of even intense pollution, to give a spectacular shine.

Still used 1 tbsp. l. fine salt along with low-fat cream. The paste must be applied to the product, wiped. Hard-to-reach areas require an hourly exposure of the composition. Then rinse with water and dry. Salt must be completely dissolved, otherwise you can ruin the thing.

Professional cleaning products

Acidic formulations such as Delu and Metalin relieve heavy oxidation. Protective measures must be taken when working with them, wearing gloves and a respirator. Processing recommendations:

• use a cloth napkin in the process;
• strictly follow the instructions on the label;
• Finally, thoroughly rinse and dry the product.

How to clean a brass samovar?

A beautiful samovar turns an ordinary tea party into a holiday. But often pollution appears on the side and inside. How to clean them depends on the material of the device.

An alloy of copper and zinc is often used to create samovars because of its strength, aesthetic appearance, ease of processing. With a long period of work, old products become dull, salted. Household chemicals can ruin it, so you should make compositions from improvised products:

1. A solution of ammonia (1 tsp) and water (1 l) helps.
2. Yogurt without additives gently cleanses. It must be applied to the device, wait for it to dry and rinse.
3. Moisten the samovar with vinegar, sprinkle with salt. Rub the coating with a cloth dipped in vinegar.

Do not use abrasives on the device. After processing, the outside should be polished with a dry cloth. It must be left in dry rooms. Excessive moisture leads to the formation of dark spots.

What can not be done during the procedure?

• Do not process figurines and jewelry with sandpaper.
• Citric acid will remove plaque, but can seriously damage the coating. You don't need to use it.
• Brass is prone to scratching, so long nails should be handled with great care.

Video: how to clean brass from oxide at home to a shine?

If all of the above methods do not work, you will need to change the varnish. This is quite simple and you can do it yourself at home, following the following algorithm:

1. Lay out the waterproof film so as not to spoil the floor with varnish. put on special clothing- overalls or robe.
2. Take nail polish remover, dip the brush into it and move it over the lacquer. It is important to use protective gloves and a respirator. Carry out the procedure away from fire, the product ignites very quickly.
3. Polish products with polishes. Rub the composition onto the surface, then polish to a shine.
4. Apply a new coat of varnish. Spread over the coating in a uniform thin layer with a brush. You can use cotton pads.
5. Wait for drying.
6. Clean the brass with a soft, dry cloth.

Remove varnish under hot water. This method is considered the most gentle. A three-minute boil in a container without aluminum alloy is also used. Purchase special means for removing varnish in the departments of sale of metal products. It is important to carefully read the instructions for use on the package.

Sooner or later, every owner of this metal asks the question: how to clean brass at home? It is important to understand what you can use so as not to harm the metal. Some items are hundreds of years old and have long become antiques and even family heirlooms. Therefore, it is very important to keep them in good condition. There are many modern ways and various cleaning products that not everyone can afford. Therefore, today we will tell you how to clean brass with minimal investment or no investment at all.

Preparing the Product for Cleaning

First, make sure your item is made entirely of brass. This can be done with a magnet, brass will not react with it and be attracted. Otherwise, the product is only covered with an alloy from the outside, and ordinary metal can be inside. Another option is a lacquered surface.

Before getting down to business, estimate the cost and approximate age of the exhibit. It is better not to clean antiques in order to preserve the patina that has accumulated over decades and now perfectly protects against external factors. An exception may be the case when the patina layer is so rough that the product loses its attractive appearance and is difficult to recognize.

Before cleaning brass, it must be washed from external dirt. This is done to increase the contact area and the same impact on the entire surface. You can use soapy water or detergent. Immersing the right thing there for 10-20 minutes. Now clean with a toothbrush. If there was no oxide, then this is how you can clean brass to a shine in the simplest cases.

Effective Brass Cleaning Techniques

Let's start with the most effective means than cleaning brass at home. They can be used in the most advanced cases. For antiques, it is better to choose safer methods.

Gel and oxalic acid

The method copes with severe pollution, if they are not of many years of age. That is, things found in the ground that have lain there for an unknown amount of time, it will be difficult to wash it in this way. You can look through all the detergents that you have, look for those that include oxalic acid. Now apply to the surface of the alloy and leave for a few minutes. Clean with a soft brush until completely clean. Rinse everything under running water and wipe dry.

Oxalic acid

If the cleanser did not work, then the percentage of acid was too low. In this case, you can try to make the solution yourself. To do this, for every liter of water add 20 grams of acid. It is better to use protective gloves in the process. Immerse the object for 5 minutes, pull it out and clean it with a toothbrush. Remember Golden Rule- the main thing is not to harm, so we do everything carefully. After the procedure, rinse with clean water and dry.

Acetone

In this case, you can either completely immerse in acetone or wipe it with it. To get started, just soak a swab or cotton pad in it and wipe it. If positive progress is not noticeable in the process, we move on to a more radical method. Pour water and add salt and vinegar. Bring to a boil and wet the brass product with this. Clean with a toothbrush and soft cloth.

Aggressive cleaning methods

Experts do not recommend using citric, hydrochloric and acetic acids to clean brass. The fact is that these are strong acids and if you do not strictly follow the instructions or make a mistake somewhere, you can harm the alloy. But if possible consequences they don’t scare you, or the condition of the product is so bad that it will be difficult to get to the brass itself, then we point out a list of recipes:

• Take a fresh lemon and cut it into two halves. Take one of them and sprinkle well with salt. Now apply to the product and carefully slowly clean to a shine. Rinse with water and wash the remaining lemon, now dry. The method will cope even with the most difficult cases.
• Fresh oxide is easily removed with hot vinegar. To do this, put it on the fire and bring to a boil. Wet a cloth and rub it into the product. As a rule, all the dirt literally disappears before our eyes.
• How to clean brass at home, if it is imperceptible from under the plaque? We take 3 liters of water, add half a glass of table vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, gently immerse the brass object there. Leave for 3 hours and observe from time to time to control the water level, top up if necessary. Leave to cool slightly and remove the product, wipe with a soft cloth. If necessary, now you can polish, the thing will be easy to give in to this.

These 3 methods are used to clean brass in the most difficult cases. Use only if no other method works. With inept use, you can easily damage the alloy and permanently spoil its appearance.

I often come across the question of whether brass oxidizes. The answer is yes, if not, then it would not be necessary to clean so much of the oxide.

Another method for cleaning brass, see the video:

Safe but effective folk approaches

At all times, people knew how to clean brass and successfully coped with this task. Although there were not so many chemistry then, therefore, those remedies that were available at home were used. We have listed the most effective of them below. All methods are suitable for solving the question: how to clean brass sleeves.

1. One of the most affordable methods for cleaning brass is with toothpaste. To do this, wash the product from dirt and dust. Now, using a toothbrush, apply the paste to the surface. If the condition is not very bad or the coin is very old, then it is better to use a soft cloth or unnecessary newspaper. At the end, do not forget to wash in water and dry.
2. You will need to make something similar to the dough. To do this, take water, table vinegar and flour, mix in a concentration of 1: 1: 1. Mix well until a homogeneous mass is formed, apply a rough layer on the brass and wait until everything dries. After that, we clean everything from the coin and wipe it well with a napkin. We repeat the procedure until the result begins to suit you.
3. A similar method has already been mentioned above. Pour hot water into a bowl. On a grater we rub the host's soap and add. Mix well until foam forms. Immerse the object and leave until the water cools. Now right there with a toothbrush they wash to a shine. Usually, in difficult cases, only the top layer will be washed off, so a soapy solution is not always effective for complete cleaning.
4. For not very valuable things that are in serious condition, you can use soft sandpaper. To do this, simply clean the surface with it. The main thing is not to overdo it, because you can scratch.
5. In some cases, buttermilk with salt will help. Add two tablespoons of fine salt per liter of buttermilk, knead well. The mixture can be used to clean brass, the main thing is not to overdo it so as not to leave scratches.

Cleaning items covered with brass

If the object is not magnetically attracted, or if you have determined by other means that only the surface is covered with brass, most of the methods above will not work. Cleaning brass in this case will be more difficult. If you are extremely careful, the most delicate methods can be used.

To remove plaque, dissolve soap or detergent in lukewarm water. Now we just wet the object in it and gently clean it with a soft cloth or napkin. Take your time and do everything with feeling. Having damaged a product covered with brass or varnish, it will be problematic to restore it. If there are places where the napkin cannot reach, use a children's toothbrush (it is softer). Rinse with water and wipe dry.

What to do if nothing helps

If none of the methods has been effective in your case, then you can try extreme measures. The last option is to try to remove the lacquer coating or top coat.

1. Spread newspaper under the area where we will clean up. Now take a thinner or nail polish remover and use it to remove the top layer.
2. We buy a polish and rub the surface with it to a shine.
3. Now you need a special varnish, with its help cover the entire surface of the product.
4. Dry the surface and leave it motionless for several days.

Watch a video on how to polish brass:

True connoisseurs of brass products should not only pay attention to the condition of the item when buying, but also know the secrets of proper cleaning of brass from various contaminants at home. There are many ways to return original view metal.

Often cleaning brass is done at home, and this process is completely associated with the creation of an acidic environment. The thing is that it is the presence of oxide that creates an unpleasant and ugly darkening on the surface of any product. To get rid of oxide, use oxalic acid. Many people think that anyone can be suitable for the cleaning procedure. chemical drug containing acids, but it is not.

Oxalic acid will help quickly and blackness on any brass products - cartridge case, samovar, bowls, spoons, etc.

Brass cleaning algorithm:

1. Any object is lubricated with the tool and left for a while.
2. Do not be afraid of the appearance of a dark coating on the surface - you can easily get rid of it with a brush and ordinary running water.
3. After the surface of the object has been completely washed, it must be covered with a layer of baking soda and left in this state for 30 minutes.
4. After that, the brass is washed again with running water.
5. Then a clean object is rubbed well with a soft cloth until the appropriate shine begins to appear on it.

If the product rusts or is among the "stubborn", then in this case a special solution should be prepared with the addition of acid:

1. For its preparation, it is necessary to adhere to the correct proportion - 200 g of oxalic acid is added to 10 liters of water.
2. After that, the contaminated product should be placed in the prepared solution.

Acetone is an effective brass cleaner. To do this, simply moisten a cotton swab with it and wipe the product until the stains are completely eliminated. This method is also very relevant for cleaning copper objects.

There are many preparations on sale, presented in the form of 20% acid concentrates, which can be used to clean brass. An effective solution is based on ammonium carbonate and ammonia, as well as nitric or formic acid. You need to take any of the proposed solutions, moisten a napkin with it and carefully wipe the damaged product.

Folk remedies

Most people are unwilling to clean brass with chemicals, and therefore increasingly use all sorts of folk remedies:

1. Toothpaste. Before proceeding with the processing of the product, it should be washed well with soapy water. This softens up a bit. old spots. After that, the substance itself is applied to the problem areas. You can rub with a simple napkin or an ordinary toothbrush, which can penetrate into more inaccessible places.
2. Vinegar. To clean the product, you will not need pure vinegar, but its mixture with water and flour. To prepare the composition, you need to take all these ingredients in equal proportions and mix well with each other. After the composition is densely applied to any product and dries on it for some time. After complete drying, it is enough to wipe the product with a wet cloth and wash off the entire mixture from it. In the event that after the first procedure the spots do not completely disappear, then it can be repeated.
3. Lemon juice with salt. To polish a brass product with citrus and salt, take half a lemon and squeeze all the juice out of it. Salt should be gradually added to it. The amount of the latter may be required differently, so you should focus on the resulting composition - it should be pasty. After preparing the mixture, it must be applied to the subject in a fairly dense layer. Movements must be careful. The remains of the drug must be washed off with running water, and then dry the surface with a dry and soft cloth.
4. Soap solution. Soaking an item in a soapy solution can be used both as an independent cleaning and as an additional step in any of the above methods. In the event that spots on the product have just appeared, then a soapy solution is sufficient. In order to blunt to work with the composition, you need to take any container (depending on the subject), pour boiled water and dissolve the chips in it laundry soap with the addition of any detergent for dishes. After that, the composition must be foamed and brass objects must be immediately immersed in it. You need to keep them until the liquid cools down. Then all the water is drained, and the cleaned products are washed with running water.

If the brass product is covered with individual spots, then hot table vinegar can be used to get rid of them. It should be well heated, and then moisten a cotton swab and wipe the entire surface of the object. With this method of cleaning, the procedure should be carried out in a well-ventilated area, as the smell will be very strong and pungent.

To prevent the appearance of unwanted stains on brass, it is enough to adhere to the necessary preventive measures. To do this, it is necessary to periodically wipe the objects with a moistened olive oil napkin. The amount of oil is small. If a thick layer of oil is applied to the product, then the polishing will deteriorate, and unwanted marks and prints will remain on the metal.

In order for the metal to shine, polishing of brass products must be done constantly, after each cleaning. For this purpose, you can use special preparations, carefully rubbing them into the surface.

Varnishing can also deal with this. This procedure is important not only to maintain the desired shine on the object, but is also used to ensure reliable protection. It is important that the varnish layer is applied evenly. To do this, you can use a special brush or an ordinary cotton pad. After the product is varnished, it should be wiped well with a soft cloth. If the brass has been lacquered, then cleaning such an item will be much easier, and the procedure will not take much time. The thing is that the protective lacquer film does not allow the metal to quickly oxidize.

Any item made of brass requires special attention and care. To avoid the occurrence of unwanted stains or the appearance of rust on the product, it is necessary to follow the rules of prevention. When cleaning brass with strong acids, you need to be as careful and careful as possible to avoid getting them on exposed skin, mucous membranes or eyes.

To clean products made of copper and its alloys (brass and bronze), it is not at all necessary to purchase special cleaning products.

In everyday life, we are surrounded by many different objects made of copper and its alloys - brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) and bronze (an alloy of copper and tin). Copper basins, coffee makers, mortars, candlesticks, door handles, plumbing fixtures and a range of decorative items. They are incredibly beautiful, comfortable, practical. But they have one common misfortune - time does not spare them, and gradually a copper coffee pot, a bronze figurine or brass doorhandle begin to be covered with a "noble patina" - a not very aesthetic touch of an incomprehensible nature. Of course, for antique dealers, collectors and other aesthetes, this is good sign, indicating the longevity of products. But not for us - rationally thinking people who want to get rid of this very patina and other layers, but as soon as possible.

The reason for this behavior of copper and its alloys lies in the aggressive manifestations environment. Air is a heterogeneous substance. This is a heterogeneous mixture of gases, containing, in addition to oxygen, a wide range of other inclusions: carbon dioxide, water and acid vapors, hydrogen sulfide. It is they, together with oxygen, that are responsible for the appearance of oxide and salt deposits on the surface of our favorite products. But you shouldn't get upset. There are many ways to deal with this unpleasant phenomenon.

The easiest way to clean

A small amount of ordinary dish detergent in combination with tooth powder or paste is dissolved in hot water. The resulting composition is used for cleaning products made of copper and its alloys. The method is good, but not always effective enough, especially in cases where a more radical approach is needed.

Table salt and whey

A good way to clean copper, bronze and brass is to treat the item with a whey solution with salt added. A spoonful of salt dissolves in 200 ml of serum. Then soft rags are impregnated with this composition and the product is processed, after which the object is abundantly washed with running water, wiped dry and thus acquires a new life.

Lemon juice and table salt

A very good result is given by the method using salt and lemon juice. The lemon is cut into two parts. Each of the halves is sprinkled with salt and used as a kind of swab to treat problem areas on the surface of the product. Upon completion of the operation, the object is thoroughly rinsed in running water, wiped dry and polished with a soft, dry cloth.

This method can be improved somewhat. The lemon is squeezed into a small container, salt is added there in the amount necessary to obtain a mushy substance. The resulting mixture is cleaned with a soft rag, then rinsed, rubbed and polished with cloth or flannel.

Technology using ketchup

The method is rather extravagant, but it works. Ketchup excellently removes oxide deposits from the surface of copper alloys. To do this, apply a small amount of ketchup to the product and wait a few minutes. Then the object is wiped with a sponge, napkin or cloth, rinsed under running water and wiped dry, after which it acquires its original appearance and shine.

Some may think that this method is wasteful. Not at all, for cleaning any will do, even the cheapest ketchup, moreover, you need quite a bit of it.

Salt, vinegar, flour

A tablespoon of salt is mixed in a glass of vinegar. Flour is added to the prepared solution until it acquires a mushy consistency. The mixture is applied to a copper, bronze or brass product and left in this form for 20-40 minutes. Next, the paste is washed off the object. The product is wiped dry and polished.

The effectiveness of this method can be increased by adding a little sawdust to the resulting “dough” and rubbing the product directly with the paste itself before rinsing.

Digestion in acetic-salt solution

This composition can also be used without heat treatment, using it for mechanical manual cleaning. But in problematic cases, boiling is indispensable. To do this, add a glass of vinegar and a spoonful of salt to a pot of water. Next, the product is placed and boiled until the cleaning result is visually noticeable. When the item has cooled, it should be washed well with soap and warm running water.

Paste based on chalk and ammonia

To prepare the paste, you will need a 25% ammonia solution, ground chalk and water. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 5:2:10. The product is lubricated with the resulting composition and left for 10-15 minutes. Then the object is thoroughly rubbed with a stiff bristle brush, rinsed well and wiped dry with a clean soft cloth.

Laundry soap

A good effect when cleaning products made of copper, bronze and brass is the use of ordinary unbleached laundry soap. Soap 72% is rubbed on a coarse grater and stirred in warm water. The product is immersed in the resulting solution and left in it for a period of up to three days, after which it is well brushed, washed and wiped. Such a procedure in non-started cases is able to return our products to their original appearance.

Oxalic acid, turpentine, ethyl alcohol

Excellent composition for cleaning and easy to prepare: 1 ml of oxalic acid is mixed with 4 ml of turpentine, 5 ml of ethyl alcohol and 1 ml of plain water. The mixture is thoroughly stirred and applied to the subject with a soft swab of rags. Turpentine and alcohol remove the fatty film from the metal, and oxalic acid neutralizes plaque, the remnants of which are easily washed off with soap from the surface of the product.

Kerosene and chalk

This method is especially good for products with a smooth polished surface. The object is wetted with kerosene and rubbed with chalk using a woolen or cotton rag. Thus, it is possible not only to remove plaque, but also to restore the former gloss of the surface.

Cleaning copper coins

Old coins, as well as some Soviet ones, which are gaining more and more popularity among collectors, often need to be cleaned. It is quite possible to restore their original appearance. Bright green plaque is removed with a swab dipped in a 10% citric acid solution. The reddish coating is removed by immersing the coin in a 5% ammonia solution, and the yellowish coating is removed with a 9% acetic solution.

How to refresh jewelry made of copper and its alloys

To restore its former brilliance to jewelry or small items made of copper and its alloys, they must be immersed in a boiling solution for half an hour. soda ash at the rate of 40 g per liter of water. You can polish brass, bronze and copper surfaces with a special mixture consisting of 15 g of tooth powder, 30 g of a 10% ammonia solution and 50 g of water. For these purposes, a piece of cloth or flannel is used.