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Cleaning brass railings with muriatic acid [Pennsylvania] 

August 4, 2007

Hello. My mother has brass railings outside her home. The railings are deep brown, very dark and brasso or home remedies do nothing. I bought a gallon of muriatic acid from Lowes (diluted). I sprayed a part with water and brushed on some muratic acid to see what would happen. The brown came off like magic however the brass "under" it seems raw and copper like. I want to wait and see what happens overnight however even if the railing part is fine, how do I get it to be shiny? or more "brass" like? I'd appreciate any help. I've looked into having them professionally re-done however the cost is way too high. Thanks so much!

Maria Yanga
Home owner - Philadelphia, PA

Muriatic acid is too dangerous for this use, Maria. I think you will get nearly as good results with vinegar plus salt.

There are a number of different general types of brass polishes and you are correct that this would take forever with Brasso or those like it. But other polishes are designed to chemically attack the brass and might work fast enough; Revere copper cleaner [link is to product info at Amazon] is one example of that type. The raw orange or salmon look comes from dissolving the zinc out of the brass; it will eventually go away, I think, but the Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] should mellow it pretty quickly. Getting it shiny, however, might require power buffing. Good luck with it!

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ