Antique pots, furniture, knobs and handles, musical instruments: copper and brass are present in our home more than we can imagine. Once very common and now less used, these materials still retain their charm and usefulness. Their color palette ranges from golden brown for brass to rose gold for copper, adding a touch of sparkle to our interiors. Additionally, their durability and strength made them the preferred choice for a variety of items before plastic came along.
But how do you clean and polish these copper and brass items? Are there natural methods to restore their shine? Let’s find out together!
Before using the recommended natural remedies, be sure to read the specific care instructions for each item to avoid the risk of damage.
lemon
Lemon proves to be one of your best allies when cleaning the house. Its juice, always used for cleaning and polishing brass and copper, is also effective on other materials such as zinc. To use it, squeeze the juice of two lemons into a glass and dilute it with a little water. Soak a cotton pad with this mixture and run it over the item to be polished. Thanks to its cleaning properties, lemon juice makes brass and copper shine like never before! For larger objects, you can make a paste mixture of lemon juice and baking soda and apply it to the entire surface of the object. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off with fresh water.
Tomato
Often associated with cooking, tomato has natural disinfecting and polishing properties. Cut a tomato in half, rub it on the copper or brass object, and then rinse it with fresh water. Whether it’s a brass knob or a copper pot, the result will be exceptional!
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Flour
The flour, together with a pinch of coarse salt and a spoonful of vinegar, forms a paste with polishing properties. Spread this paste on the copper and brass item, paying special attention to spots and rings. Then rinse with plenty of water to remove any remaining flour. This leaves the object clean and polished.
Seife in Marseille
Marseille soap is an effective classic for cleaning and polishing small copper and brass items. Fill a basin with lukewarm water, add liquid or flaky Marseille soap, immerse the item and leave for ten minutes. Rinse with water and dry with a wool cloth to remove oxidized parts and return the object to its original shine.
Flaxseed oil
For larger items like pans or buttons, use linseed oil diluted in hot water. To enhance the effect, add a spoonful of white vinegar. Apply the mixture to the copper or brass item with a cotton ball, creating a protective patina that slows the oxidation process.
Onion
If you don’t know what to do with the last onion in the kitchen, use it to polish copper and brass! Rub the item with half a raw onion, then use a toothbrush to get to less accessible areas. The natural active ingredients of the onion disinfect, descale and give copper and brass a shine.