Q&A for How to Polish Brass

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What is the difference between brass plating and real brass?

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist
Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.

Alicia Sokolowski

Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Brass plating is typically covered in a thin layer of real brass, which can erode the plating and reveal the metal underneath. Real brass is solid all the way through.

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Question

How do I clean a brass-plated object?

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist
Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.

Alicia Sokolowski

Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Be super gentle! Brass plating is really delicate. The best thing you can do is a natural all-purpose cleaner and buff it slowly and carefully with with a microfiber cloth. If there's a really stubborn stain or something, you can soak the item in white vinegar and rinse it off once the stain is gone.

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Question

What can I do to clean oxidized copper?

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist
Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.

Alicia Sokolowski

Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Mix 3-parts baking soda with 1-part vinegar to make a thick paste. Use a microfiber cloth to scoop the paste up and rub it into the copper. Then, rinse it off and dry it by hand.

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Question

Once I polish the brass and re-lacquer, how do I make it shine? My brass lamp is dull after the re-lacquering.

Community Answer

You have to make the brass shiny before you apply any lacquer. There is no way to polish it when it has lacquer on top. Other than that, wet sanding is commonly used to clear up the coat.

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Question

Do these methods work for brass instruments?

Community Answer

They could, but I would suggest reading through wikiHow's article on cleaning brass instruments instead.

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Question

I used corn starch instead of flour. Will I still get results? How long should I leave the paste on? My brass item turned a pinkish color.

Fire Wraith

Community Answer

Go to a professional instrument repair shop. These DIY things don't work all the time and could harm your poor instrument if you do them incorrectly. You either stained your poor baby or gave it red rot.

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