Neglected brass-help?

We have gold doorknobs, letterbox, taps - everything!

So much easier to keep clean

rosequartz is right you cannot really clean brass objects without spoiling the surface. It depends if its solid brass or brass plated some of which is very thin. Perhaps you should go for gold instead.

Antiques experts will throw up their hands in horror if brass is clean and shiny!

We have a pretty fire screen which has a lot of brass on it. It is a nightmare to clean. I use Brasso but it gets onto the bits that aren't brass and it won't come off. I am going to try ketchup! On the top tips thread I mentioned that toothpaste will clean chrome. It really works. Smear it on (just any cheap one will do) leave for about 10 minutes, wash it off and your taps or whatever will sparkle

So did I at first, eGJ! I was hoping for a bit of advice on how to perk things up a bit... !

I read this as neglected bras help!! now looked at it properly!!

White spirit works.

Thanks. Can't wait to try the sauce remedy. All advice appreciated. Will let you know if it works!

Hi this might sound like an odd solution, but brown sauce is brilliant for tarnished brass. Get the cheapest kind and paint on or rub on with a cloth , quite thickly, and leave for a couple of hours, or overnight if it's bad. Then wash off and buff. Works wonders. Good luck! Kath

No it has never been lacquered. I had thought of that, but never got round to it in 44 years!

It is the vinegar in the ketchup that cleans, so you could soak it in vinegar or lemon juice.

Has it been lacquered at some time to "stop it tarnishing and save on cleaning" The cleaning stuff can't get through the lacquer, so any tarnishing it has managed to acquire can't be removed until you take off the varnish.

Stomach acid? I've got plenty of that, but don't fancy the means of accessing it.

Ah, I've found a rather old bottle of ketchup!

I must try something on my Indian brass tray which is looking decidedly dull. It's the pie-crust rim that does me in. Old tooth brush is the best tool, but I have to lie down in a darkened room afterwards.

DH loves cleaning brass ! He says the only way to go is plenty of elbow-grease and Brasso.

I've only ever found that vigorous use of elbow grease works, and life's too short for that!
#cba

Stomach acids are way worse than cola or ketchup, marmight!

Good heavens. If coca cola and tomato ketchup do that to brass what on effect do they have on the gut? Just as well I don't like either! Joking aside, I have in the past tried the tomato ketchup remedy on an old brass fender but didn't have much luck apart from smearing the stuff far and wide. I think patience, elbow grease and Brasso is the only way to go.......

Meant coca cola. Coca cola works well on rust also.

Brown sauce works well on brass also. So does coke a cola.

I have the same problem with mine. They probably haven't been cleaned for 20-30 years. Someone suggested taking them off and soaking them in Coca Cola.

I Nina am not responsible for this statement

smear with tomato ketchup and leave for about 10 minutes before rinsing off. Yes seriously!

I`ve got the same problem, bought some stuff from Betterware that`s supposed to be very good, but it`s similar to Duraglit and didn`t work at all.