Is your brass tarnished? Have you tried every polish on the market without success? Well, there is another way to clean it—and it’s a lot cheaper than buying a commercial brass cleaner.
Yes, you can use toothpaste to clean your brass! Toothpaste contains mild abrasives that will work their magic on tarnished brass without scratching. This method is particularly useful for cleaning small amounts of brass and removing stubborn buildups of tarnish. It’s also perfect if you don’t have access to a commercial polish or don’t want to deal with chemicals.
In this article, I’ll show you how to clean brass with toothpaste. I’ll also share some other things you can try for cleaning brass along with some tips for keeping your precious metal shiny and gorgeous for years to come!
Let’s get started.
What You’ll Need:
- toothpaste
- water
- soft cloth
- towel
Steps:
- Apply a thick layer of toothpaste to your brass object.
- Let the toothpaste sit for 10-15 minutes—enough time for it to work its magic!
- Use a soft cloth to wipe away the toothpaste and reveal your newly polished item.
- Rinse off any lingering traces of toothpaste with water, then dry with a clean towel or rag.
Why Toothpaste Work
Toothpaste is effective for cleaning brass because it contains mild abrasives that can help remove tarnish and grime from the surface of the metal. The mild abrasives in toothpaste work by gently scrubbing away the dirt and grime without damaging the underlying metal.
In addition to its abrasive properties, toothpaste also contains a variety of other ingredients that can be beneficial for cleaning brass. For example, most toothpaste contains surfactants, which are chemicals that help to break down and disperse oils and other contaminants on the surface of the brass. Toothpaste also typically contains fluoride, which can help to protect the brass from further corrosion and tarnish.
Overall, toothpaste is effective for cleaning brass because it contains a combination of mild abrasives, surfactants, and other beneficial ingredients that work together to remove tarnishes and restore shine to the metal. However, it is important to use gentle toothpaste that does not contain harsh abrasives, as these can scratch the surface of the brass and cause permanent damage.
Other Items You Can Try to Clean Brass
Baking soda
Lemon juice
Vinegar
Ketchup
Salt and dish soap combined
These are just a few of the many other items you can try to clean brass. I’ll be making an article on each one of them and updating this post soon.
2 Tips to Keep Brass Shiny
- To maintain the shine of your brass objects, clean them regularly with a non-abrasive cloth or soft sponge.
- By using some paste wax, such as Johnson’s Paste Wax (available in hardware stores), you can protect your brass from tarnishing.
These simple tips will keep your brass looking bright and shiny!
How Often Should You Clean Brass?
This is a great question that could affect the longevity of your brass. It’s important to keep your brass clean but not over-clean it, as this can be damaging.
Most manufacturers recommend cleaning your brass every few weeks and it’s a good idea to stick with this advice. This will help to prevent too much tarnish from building up and remove any grime or dirt before it gets caked on.
It’s also important to clean any new brass items before using them for the first time to remove any residue left behind by the manufacturer. Many are polished with abrasive polishes that could scratch and dull their surface if allowed to come into contact with fabric or skin, so be sure to take care of the cleaning before they’re put into use!
Conclusion:
Great job! You should be well on your way to cleaning brass surfaces with toothpaste.
If you like this article, you might also enjoy reading about how to clean gold jewelry with toothpaste.
Thanks for reading this article. I really appreciate it, and I hope the method works for you. Please feel free to share this article with your friends.
-Baking Soda Guy
Photo by Magicbowls from Pexels
