How To Clean Brass Using 2 Natural Kitchen Ingredients

updated Oct 3, 2022
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(Image credit: Aimée Mazzenga)

Brass has slowly been making its way into interiors again as a trendy sheen to accent accessories. And since this was a popular addition to home decor years ago, it’s not unheard of to find good deals on brass objects while thrifting. But if your new-to-you brass has lost its brassy bite, you might need to clean it up. We’ve got the step-by-step guide to cleaning brass using only two natural ingredients you probably already have on hand!

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)
(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

Here’s How to Clean Brass

Ready to polish up that dingy brass piece? Here’s how to do it and what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 a lemon
  • a teaspoon or so of baking soda
  • a small bowl to mix your paste
  • and some dirty brass

*adjust to suit project and juiciness of lemons

Instructions:

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

1. Check to see if it’s really brass
First off, you’ll probably want to know if you’re actually working with brass. This might seem obvious but old brass can get pretty dirty, and I’m not expert enough to pick fakes or brass plating. So if, like me, you’re not 100% sure, grab a magnet from your fridge and see if it sticks. If it does, you’ll want to stop right here and do some more investigating. If it doesn’t, you’re probably looking at some dirty brass.

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

2. Squeeze half a lemon into your bowl.

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

3. Add your baking soda.
It will fizz a little but settle down when you mix it.

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

4. Stir the baking soda and lemon mix until it forms a delicious smelling paste.

(Image credit: Sarah Starkey)

5. Use a soft cloth and apply the paste.
Gently work it into the brass. I got the best results when I rubbed the paste gently in one direction. (In the end, I mostly used my fingers)

6. Rinse off the paste and dry.
Reapply and repeat the process as and where necessary.

7. When you’re done, give the brass a really thorough rinse.
Make sure there’s no paste left over, and then dry it with a clean, dry towel.

8. If you want to buff your brass try rubbing it gently with a clean dry cloth. I’m also told that you can shine brass with olive oil.

Fresh out of baking soda? Salt works too!

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 a lemon
  • a teaspoon or so of salt
  • dirty brass

1. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle on a generous helping of fine grain salt.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

2. Using the lemon as a scouring pad, begin to work it all around the piece, lightly squeezing the juice as you go. The slightly abrasive salt will begin to work away the tarnish.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

3. Continue to work the lemon all around the piece until it is clean.

4. Rinse under warm water, and you’re all set! Can you see yourself smiling in your reflection?

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

Post re-edited from one that originally published 1.1.15 – AP