How to keep your brassware shining as new this festive season

Identify your brassware correctly

The first step in cleaning brass items for Diwali is to perform a simple test to see if a magnet sticks to the object. If it does, then it’s brass-plated, which therefore means it merely needs some gentle cleaning with water and detergent to avoid damaging it.

However, if the magnet does not stick, then that means that your item is most likely comprised of solid brass and therefore requires a slightly more complex cleaning process. Read on to discover how to clean brassware correctly.
 

The cleaning process for brass changes if the object is lacquered
If your brass object has a glossy coating, this means it is lacquered and therefore only needs to be wiped with a damp cloth. However, if your item is un-lacquered than there are several ways in which you can effectively clean it, these include:

• Cleaning liquid - the easiest way to clean your brassware is with a store-bought liquid and cloth.
• Ketchup - squeeze a dash of the condiment onto a soft, clean cloth and rub hard to remove any dullness. Use a further clean, damp cloth to wipe off any residue and finish by buffing it with a soft, clean dry cloth.
• Dish soap - to remove simple dust and grime, soak it in warm water with a drop or two of mild dish soap, then clean with a soft cloth or a toothbrush to reach smaller, more intricate areas.
• Vinegar, salt & flour paste - combine a teaspoon of salt, half a cup of vinegar and enough flour to form a paste. Then apply this paste to the item, leave for 10 minutes and rinse off. Wipe dry and buffer.
• Salt, vinegar & water solution - add two tablespoons of both salt and vinegar to a cup of warm water to rinse the item and then dry with a soft cloth.
• Pure lemon juice – cover your brassware in freshly squeezed lemon juice to clean it; you can also rub the cut lemons directly on to the object. Rinse and wipe with a damp cloth, then buff with a dry one.

Incorrectly cleaning brassware can permanently damage it
Please note that if your brassware item is an antique, polishing it might affect its sale value so it is essential to avoid polishing the patina off completely. Sometimes, old is gold, when it comes to brassware!