Letter 9922

How Do I Clean Brass (gateleg table insert)? 

+ How would I clean and protect a badly tarnished outside brass ornament? Lucy A [name deleted for privacy] - Corona, CA + Make a paste of equal parts of salt, flour, vinegar. Rub on, leave for a hour, clean with soft cloth, buff. Jim S - Kingston, Ontario, Canada ++ I have just used the brass cleaning solution on a large oval heavily detailed brass table insert to a Burmese gateleg table. It works a treat. I have never seen the brass so clean since my mother owned the table 40 years ago. Thank you!!! Gordon L [name deleted for privacy] - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada ++++ Thank-you for the information on cleaning brass, it works great. It's something everyone has around the house. Melinda F [name deleted for privacy] house wife - ST.Catharines, Canada

I've a brass ship's "stern" lantern made in Peterhead, Scotland, that is badly tarnished and needs cleaning. Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] isn't strong enough. Would you give me your advice as to how I can clean the lamp and bring it back to it's original luster.

Dr. Steve A
cleaning a brass lamp - Ashburnham, Massachusetts

Dr. Steve,

I don't know if you found an answer to brass cleaning but I would like to tell you about a product that I found that you don't need a lot of muscle to get it to work.

Brass Guard-brass polishing paste ( comes in a small tube in a white box). The cream is pink but works better then other brass cleaners that I could find. I know because I clean brass in my church. The company on the box is
Monarch International, Inc.
4471 E. Santa Anna #A
Ontario, CA 91761

God Bless You....Hope this works for you.

Mrs. Maynard
- Monroe, MI, USA

Thank you for the tip, it really works, cuts out all the hard work, thanks again.

Janet C
- Folkestone, Kent, England

Thanks for the info on flour vinegar and salt It has worked a treat on my very tarnished brass clocks and bell. I have tried them all and this simple treatment is the best.

Thanks again

Ken U
- Gold Coast, Australia

I tried the vinegar, flour and water it worked beautifully. I had a door knocker that was black and nothing I tried worked. Then I thought "google". The internet is a wonderful tool and thanks to the lovely person who put the tip here.

Jennifer C
- Augusta, West Australia, Australia

I just used the salt/vinegar/flour concoction on a large brass bucket that has sat outside for several years and it worked like magic. This bucket was so tarnished, I wasn't sure it was actually brass until I applied the paste and the effect was instantaneous. I followed up with a good cream polish (Maas Metal Polish [link is to product info at Amazon]) and the bucket is now truly as good as new. Thank you!

Helen S
- Woody Creek, CO, USA

Wow, that is amazing, I have just cleaned all my brasses and I am not filthy, It is the best I have Ever seen them.

Thank you, I will never use brass polish again, Pat, UK.

Patricia Sharp
- Sunderland, England.

I like the idea of the vinegar, flour and water but I am not sure which vinegar to use apple cider or distilled?
sss in OKC a homeowner

Shirley Swaim
homeowner - Warr Acres, Oklahoma