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Refinishing polished brass faucet that turned silver

We are remodeling our bathroom and we tried cleaning our polished brass faucet; well we cleaned it with vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] and now we have a silver faucet. How can we or what can we do, to get our polished brass faucet back? is there a way to refinish our faucet in polish brass?

Simon Heridis
homeowner - Los Angeles, California U.S.A.
2004

It sounds like you managed to induce a chemical reaction on the metal that was plated over the faucet, you have either removed the coating or changed it's color. Try using Brasso [on eBay or Amazon] or Nevr-Dull [affil links] to restore the original color, if that doesn't work you will need to get it replated by a professional plating company.

Marc Banks
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2004

What you are looking at is not silver but probably the nickel underplate over which a thin brass plate had been. You can not get the brass back, it is gone. Depending on the cost of the fixture it would probably be best to get a new fixture, one of the ones which is protected by a "plastic" layer (generally have a long term tarnish warranty)

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York
2004

I have used a stripper for removing lacquer from the faucet but it does not touch it. What can I use to strip the old lacquer finish? Also what is the best lacquer to use?

Mike Thompson
handyman - Mobile, Alabama
2005

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Is there a good reason for confidence that the faucet is brass? The newer "lifetime" finishes are zirconium nitride or other PVD processes. And some faucets that look like brass are a brass-tinted electrophoretic lacquer on top of nickel plating--remove the 'lacquer' and you've removed the brass color.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

Hi, with regard to the brass colour being gone as you stated, I have the same kind of fittings and they are scratched, is there anything I can do?

Michael Leahy
- Ireland
May 8, 2008

My brass kitchen faucets from Chicago Faucet need refinishing. How do I remove "plastic finish" and what do I use for the new lacquer finish?

Janice mickelson
- Fergus Falls, Minnesota
August 15, 2008