Brass is all around the home: door handles and escutcheons, taps, candlesticks, ornaments, old coffee pots and trays. Over time it dulls and darkens, and in damp places it develops a greenish layer of oxide. Front door handles and bathroom fittings tarnish especially fast.
You do not need expensive products to restore the warm golden shine. Below are several methods: a quick one with WD-40 for fittings and decorative pieces, and gentle household methods for heavy tarnish.
What you will need
Important: If the brass item is lacquered, lubricant and acids may damage the finish: test on a hidden area first. Wash any tableware you eat or drink from with soap after treating it with lubricant.
Step 1
Wash off dust and dirt
Wipe the item or wash it in warm water with liquid soap to remove dust and greasy fingerprints. Dry it thoroughly so you can see exactly where the brass has tarnished.
Step 2
Clean the brass with lubricant
Spray a little WD-40 Multi-Use onto a soft, clean cloth. For small parts and relief detail, dispense it through the WD-40 Smart Straw.
Rub the tarnished surface in circular motions without pressing hard. The lubricant dissolves grime built up over years and the metal gradually brightens.
Step 3
Treat heavy stains
Where tarnish is thick or there is greenish oxide, spray the lubricant directly onto the surface and leave it for a few minutes. Then wipe with the cloth and work into recesses in the pattern with a soft toothbrush.
Step 4
Household method for old tarnish
Mix baking soda with a little vinegar into a paste and spread it on the dark areas. Wait a few minutes for the acid to work through the layers of grime, then scrub gently with a soft toothbrush. Lemon juice can replace the vinegar.
Rinse off the paste with water and dry the item thoroughly: any moisture left behind will cause it to tarnish again.
Step 5
Polish and protect
Put a few drops of WD-40 Multi-Use on a cloth and buff the dry brass to a shine. A thin film on door handles, escutcheons and decorative pieces displaces moisture and slows new tarnish.
Wash tableware and anything that touches food in warm soapy water after cleaning and dry it; do not polish these with lubricant.
Tip: Front door handles tarnish fastest because of hands and winter temperature swings. Wipe them once a month with a cloth and a drop of lubricant and you will not need a big clean again.
What next
Decorative brass only needs polishing every few months, bathroom and front door fittings more often. If a brass handle or lock starts to stick, lubricate the mechanism with the same WD-40 Multi-Use, using the WD-40 Smart Straw for precise application into the keyway.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».