How to Clean Brass and Remove Tacky Tarnish

By Kristi Kellogg and Julia Mitchem

Brass pops up on everything from lamps and vases to coffee tables and flatware—and while brass is in style, tarnish isn’t. It’s critical to know how to clean brass so it gleams, sans grime. Brass, like silver, tarnishes because its metal components—copper and zinc—are exposed to oxygen. This is a natural process. The oils in your skin also have an effect on brass, so the more an item is used, the more corrosion or tarnish can occur. Water can also contribute to aging your brass, so you want to make sure you aren’t submerging them into too much water. The more regular upkeep efforts you take, the easier and quicker it’ll be to restore your item. But just remember, aging and natural tarnishing are alright.

AD turned to experts for the best tips on caring for brass: Teri Hartman, manager of Liz’s Antique Hardware in Los Angeles, and Carl Sorenson, founder of Nanz, a New York company that produces custom-made solid-brass hardware. Here, they reveal their favorite brass cleaners, how to make a DIY brass polish, and other key insights on cleaning brass. Whether you’ve inherited brass jewelry, picked up a vintage lamp, or just replaced your cabinet pulls, this cleaning guide is sure to make your brass badass.

Before you roll up your sleeves to clean brass, consider this: Sometimes the beauty of an antique brass object is its tarnish, in which case Sorenson recommends leaving it alone. “Oftentimes it’s best to forgo the polishing process altogether,” he says, noting that polishing antiques could significantly reduce their value. “Too often I see what would be a wonderfully patinated item significantly degraded by a bad decision to restore it to a like-new state.”

If you do want to banish the tarnish on brass, first determine whether it's lacquered brass or not. The most obvious test is to check for existing tarnish. “The point of lacquer is to prevent tarnishing,” Hartman says. “But if there’s a thin, shiny coating that is coming off in places, then the piece has been lacquered and the only real option is to take it to a metal refinisher.”

Next, check if the object is brass or brass-plated. The way to know whether something is fully brass is simple: See if a magnet sticks to it. If not, it’s brass. If it does stick, it’s only brass-plated—and if the object is just brass-plated, all you need to clean it is warm water and soap. Polishing isn’t necessary on objects that are only brass-plated, and, in fact, it could scratch the plating off. That’s why it’s important to identify plating before you embark on a brass cleaning project.

For badly tarnished brass, you might want to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner machine. When you add a solution of citric acid and lemon oil, stubborn tarnish comes right off. Mixing 1 cup of citric acid with 3/4 tablespoon of lemon oil (mix using a food processor and place in a jar, this will last you for a while). Then place about 12 cups of water into your ultrasonic machine, and add about 2 tsp. of the mix, with a few drops of dish soap. Run the machine for about 30 minutes. Once you dry the brass items on a towel, you can rub a thin layer on car wax to create a protective coating to keep it from tarnishing again. This works best on non-food items like door knockers. You can also use it on outdoor elements like lighting fixtures.

For functional elements, such as locks, hinges, hardware, or light fixtures, Sorenson suggests seeking the help of a professional. “Wiring, mechanical complexity, and lubricating requirements generally turn these types of projects into more than simple DIY chores,” he says.

“The best way to clean a brass faucet is with a clean microfiber cloth and water,” says Abbas Imtiaz Poonawala, director of operations for Isenberg Faucets in Dallas. “This is natural and works wonderfully. For hard water scaling use a simple solution of vinegar and water.” For other pieces, always wash the brass before polishing. All you need to start is a mild dish soap, like Dawn Platinum Powerwash Free & Clear, and a warm water rinse. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe away the soapy water and all the debris, dust, and dirt.

If your brass isn’t too grimy, this might be all you need for a refresh. For a more neglected piece, store-bought brass cleaners will get your brass polished in a jiffy. Grab a soft cleaning cloth—Sorenson prefers a knit-cotton material, like an old undershirt—and buff away. To remove discoloration, use a cleaning product specifically designed for brass, like Wright’s Brass Polish.

Our experts recommend some great store-bought cleaners to bring your brass back to its original luster in a jiffy. Brasso is great for to bring back shine to door knobs and locks. Bar Keepers Friend tackles both rust and tarnish on brass pieces. Twinkle Brass & Copper Cleaning Kit actually has an anti-tarnish ingredient that extends the treatment, making it ideal for outdoor pieces. Blue Magic is great for getting rid of tarnish and oxidation and works well on brass jewelry, the rim of a watch face, or a vintage tea set.

Though Hartman rubs in polish with very fine steel wool, she warns that you should never use anything thicker than grade 00 steel wool to avoid scratching the surface.

Of course, you don’t have to buy your brass polish. You probably have everything you need to make your own brass polish in your kitchen. Your ingredients will be all-natural, but fair warning: Hartman says, “The procedure is the same, but it takes a lot more elbow grease.” Here, four tried-and-true DIY cleaning solutions.

Combine the juice of half a lemon with a teaspoon of baking soda and stir until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste with a soft cloth. If the tarnish is heavy, let the piece sit with the paste on it for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry. Repeat if necessary.

Slice a lemon in half and cover the cut section with a teaspoon of table salt. Rub the lemon on the tarnished piece, squeezing it as you go to release the lemon juice. Rinse with warm water and dry.

Combine equal parts of all three ingredients to create a paste. Apply a thin layer of that paste to the tarnished brass and leave it for an hour before rinsing with warm water and drying.

When you wondered how to clean brass, you probably didn’t think ketchup would be involved, but—surprise—it is! Tomatoes contain an acid that helps to remove tarnish on brass and other metals; that’s why applying a tomato-based product can work wonders on brass. Ketchup, tomato paste, and tomato sauce all work equally well. Apply a layer to your brass and leave it on for an hour. Then wash with warm water and dish soap. Let it dry.

If you don’t have time to sit and polish brass, opt for soak, especially when it comes to larger items such as a bowl, candlestick holders, or something with a lot of detail. Combine one part white vinegar with two parts warm water, and let your brass items soak for at least four hours. Use this technique around your house in the same way as you would clean a showerhead, tying a bag filled with the solution. A bath of tomato sauce works equally well on small items like utensils and candlesticks.