Q&A for How to Clean Metal

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  • Question
    How do you make metal shiny?
    James Sears
    Professional Cleaner
    James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James is an expert in all things clean and provides transformative experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a current Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    Use a little bit of olive oil or ketchup to shine your brass item after you’ve cleaned and polished it. Just dab some onto a cloth and lightly rub it all over the brass.
  • Question
    What household items can I use to shine metal?
    James Sears
    Professional Cleaner
    James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James is an expert in all things clean and provides transformative experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a current Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    Avoid using steel wool or anything similar on your aluminum goods—you may be tempted to scour stuck on food, but doing so could permanently damage the item.
  • Question
    How can I clean metals on vintage jewelry or compacts?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can clean these the same way you would clean any other metal. However, you probably want to be careful if they're old or delicate and you don't want to damage them. Do a spot test with vinegar on a small, inconspicuous area. Avoid using polishes, which are abrasive and could damage the metal.
  • Question
    I have a metal surface on top of a sideboard with a ring stain on it. I'm not sure what it is, although it might have come from the bottom of a glass candle. Any ideas on how to remove it?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Undiluted white vinegar should do the trick. Be careful using vinegar if the surface is stainless steel, however. A baking soda and water paste would work better for that. If you're using the paste, simply cover the stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes or until the paste has dried, then wipe it off.
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