How To Clean Brass Hardware

Let’s give it up for brass, the opulent finish that instantly lights up interior spaces. It’s sleek, smart and coordinates with almost every colour you can think of. But what happens when your brass hardware becomes tarnished? 🤔

Perhaps you’ve spotted a few marks you’d like to tidy up, or maybe your item has accumulated years worth of grime and this is your first attempt cleaning it. Either way, our guide on how to polish brass hardware will have your brass gleaming in no time ✨

We’ll start by explaining exactly what brass hardware is and how you can spot the real thing (solid brass) from its lower-quality lookalike (brass plated items). Then we’ll go into the products needed for brass hardware cleaning and several methods to try 👩‍🏫

From metal polish through to homemade cleaners using cupboard essentials like lemon and baking soda, getting that like-new shine is surprisingly straightforward. The main thing is that you clean your brass regularly to avoid build up of dirt and grime. While a little tarnish here and there can create an antique style, too much will make your brass look discoloured and like it hasn’t been cared for.

Go For Longevity With Plank Hardware

If you’re asking yourself, “Does brass tarnish?”, we’re here to set the record straight. Yes, brass does tarnish naturally and this process can speed up if cleaned excessively or with corrosive cleaning products. The process can also speed up if brass is exposed to outdoor conditions like wind and rain 🌧

But don’t stress about your much-loved Plank purchases. We guarantee a premium coat for longer and reduce the rate at which the brass ages and eventually tarnishes (because it will still age naturally over time), by coating our solid brass hardware in a clear lacquer. What’s great about the protective coating is that it makes cleaning Plank hardware easy. All you need is warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Unless you want your hardware littered in scratch marks, do not use abrasive towels, sponges, cleaning sprays, bleach and sanitisers 🙅

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Our BOBBIN Collection making a statement on powder blue kitchen cabinetry 🌟

SHOP BRASS HANDLES

Once your brass has tarnished, you can either follow our instructions below to restore brass with lacquer, or you could treat your interiors to shiny new Plank Hardware products. Keep reading to discover what brass hardware is made up of and its various cleaning and maintenance options 👇

What Is Brass Hardware?

Without going too GCSE science on you, brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc. It’s highly durable and strong and can be used on anything from plug sockets to guitar strings and of course, hardware. The properties of brass (how much copper or zinc it’s made up of) can be varied for different mechanical, electrical and chemical purposes 🧪

You’ll recognise brass by its golden hue and it’s typically used for door handles, knobs, pulls and other fixtures in the home. Why? Well first off because it has a timeless quality, creating an elegant thread of consistency from room to room. But also, most brass hardware is smooth to touch and doesn’t corrode easily, making it ideal for household touchpoints that are used frequently. Depending on how tarnished the metal is and how long this has built up, brass hardware can be cleaned with a variety of methods 🧼

How Can You Tell If Hardware Is Brass?

Nowadays, so many metals are plated in lookalike finishes that aren’t the real thing, so it can be hard to know if something is high quality without having a closer look. Here are the tell-tale signs that your hardware is and isn’t made from solid brass:

Check the colour – If you see brass that’s yellowish or has a golden hue, it’s because it has a high zinc content. Brass with a red tone has higher copper content.

See if it attracts a magnet – You can tell if your hardware is real brass by using a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the hardware, it’s because your hardware is brass plated and the underlying metal of this is iron or steel. Solid brass doesn’t attract magnets, simple.

For objects that are only brass plated, just use warm water and soap to clean them. No polish necessary (this could scratch the plating off).

How To Restore Our Lacquered Brass Hardware

Lacquered brass hardware is a type of brass coated in a protective sealant or layer which helps prevent the metal’s ageing process. You’ll be pleased to know our solid brass hardware is lacquered to ensure long-lasting quality. You can also find lacquered hardware on vintage furniture or on other decorative pieces ✨

The main signs that a piece of brass hardware or furniture has a lacquered layer is that it has a shinier, smoother and yellower appearance than other brass products. Over time, the lacquer can become scratched or damaged, so it’s important you know how to restore it. In the steps below, we’ll first show you how to clean your lacquered brass hardware, before covering how to restore it.

You will need:

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A bowl
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Non-toxic soap
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Warm water
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Non-abrasive cleaning cloths or tea towels

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Soft sponge (optional)
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How to restore your lacquered brass hardware:

Make sure the hardware is free of any dirt or debris. Wipe it down with a dry cloth to remove any loose particles.

Soaking a cloth in warm soapy water, gently clean your hardware.

Use a soft sponge for a more thorough clean.

Wipe away excess soap with a clean, damp cloth, or rinse with water.

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Dry your hardware with a cloth.
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All done and ready to screw back onto your cabinets 🔧

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Here’s how we recommend keeping our hardware sparkling clean ✨

How To Clean Unlacquered Brass Hardware Using Metal Polish

You will need:

Brass polish (ideally either Brasso or Barkeepers’ Friend)

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Cleaning rags or cloths
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Water
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How to polish brass hardware:

Make sure the hardware is free of any dirt or debris. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any loose particles.

Apply a small amount of brass polish to a cleaning rag or cloth. Rub the polish into the metal until it’s completely absorbed.

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Dry the hardware with a clean cloth.
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Repeat as necessary.
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How To Clean Brass Hardware Using A Homemade Cleaner

You don’t need any fancy tools or solutions when cleaning brass hardware. It can be argued that the best way to clean brass is by using simple household ingredients. This method has the benefit of being all natural, so there are no chemicals involved and waste is kept to a minimum. It does require a bit more elbow grease than if you were using a metal polish, but this is something you’ll be used to as a regular DIY-er 💪 

Discover exactly how to mix your ingredients together and apply your homemade cleaner in our two step-by-step guides below 👇

Option 1 – Lemon And Baking Soda

You will need:

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Lemon juice
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Baking soda
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Cleaning cloths
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Water
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Soft brush (optional)
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How to make a lemon and baking soda cleaner:

Combine one part lemon juice with two parts baking soda to make a paste. The baking soda will fizz a little but should settle down when you mix the paste together. The paste should be thick enough to coat the hardware, but not too runny.

Apply the paste to the brass hardware using a cloth or soft brush.

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Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes.
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Rinse and wipe the hardware clean with a damp cloth.

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Dry the hardware with a clean cloth.
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Repeat as necessary.
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Top tip:

Keep hold of the lemons you’ve just squeezed and use them to clean your shower or bath. Rub the lemon rind onto the shower walls or around the bath and then rinse using a cloth. Voila! Your bathroom is sparkling clean and smells amazing too 🍋

Option 2 – Vinegar Paste

You will need:

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White vinegar
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Salt
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Flour
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Water
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Cleaning cloths
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Soft brush (optional)
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How to make a vinegar paste cleaner:

In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar, salt and flour to make a paste.

Apply the mixture to the brass hardware and rub using a cloth or soft brush.

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Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes.
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Rinse and wipe the hardware clean with a damp cloth.

Buff dry the hardware with a clean, dry cloth.

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Repeat as necessary.
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How To Restore Heavily Corroded Vintage Brass Hardware

Instead of giving you tips on how to clean heavily corroded brass yourself, we’d recommend you send it to an expert for machine restoration. Yes this is a more intensive process and could cost more, but it’s the way to go for the best results.

Alternatively, it may be time to replace your old handles or door knobs with our brass hardware.

You can style our various collections on anything from brand new kitchens to DIY projects and IKEA furniture hacks. All of our brass hardware is designed to meet the needs of your projects, from handles to knobs, hooks to rails, and door numbers to door knockers. As brass is so malleable, we’ve been able to put together a SWIRLED collection of hardware with an ergonomic, textured surface, making it even easier to grip onto your interior touchpoints.

BROWSE SWIRLED COLLECTION

Mistakes to Avoid

To help you get your brass in its best possible state, we wanted to make you aware of some of the things you don’t want to be doing while cleaning. The big one is trying to restore heavily corroded brass without professional help. It’s likely you’ll do more damage to the brass and make it harder or even impossible to clean 💁‍♀️

Here are some other mistakes people make when cleaning brass:

Using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials – They can damage the metal.

Using too much polish – This can leave a residue on the hardware.

Soaking the hardware in water for too long – This can cause corrosion.

See our post on how to recycle brass door knobs.

SHOP BRASS HARDWARE

And that’s how you can breathe new life into your brass hardware! We reckon you’ll get even more satisfaction from a job well done by taking before and after photos. If you do, be sure to tag @plankhardware so we can see your beautiful, as-good-as-new hardware for ourselves 📸

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