People who are looking for something vintage but not as heavy as silver or gold will love brass jewelry. Brass is a durable and cost-effective choice for jewelry due to its affordability. This shiny metal is susceptible to tarnish and can look dull. Don’t worry! You can polish and clean your brass jewelry at-home and make it look as good as new. These are the steps to follow. Scroll down!

How to Clean Brass Jewelry: Easy and Effective Methods

1. Ketchup

You can revive most brass items with regular ketchup. Rubber gloves and an apron are recommended to protect your hands from ketchup spillage while cleaning. Use a paper towel to absorb as much ketchup from the jewelry.

• Turn the item over and apply ketchup to the other side.
• If your piece is very tarnished, you can leave the ketchup on for 4-6 minutes.
• Sponge any excess ketchup off and rinse with warm, soapy water.
• Allow your jewelry to dry overnight so that it doesn’t get ruined when you wear it.

2. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a great cleaner for brass and requires little effort.

• Use regular toothpaste to clean your brass jewelry.
• Continue to remove dirt and grime.
• To make your brass jewelry shine, rinse it and then wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.

Notice: Toothpaste is mildly abrasive so it should only be used for occasional cleaning.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can be used to clean red and yellow brass jewelry.

• For delicate jewelry that has multiple pieces, soak it in a glass bowl of lemon juice. Alternately, soak cotton swabs with fresh lemon juice and rub them on the jewelry for five to ten minutes.
• Make sure to rinse your jewelry well and dry it with a clean towel until it shines.
• To clean difficult-to-reach areas and get rid of any dirt or grime quickly, you can also use your toothbrush.

4. Vinegar

Vinegar is a household cleaner that has been around for a while. It can also be used to clean your brass jewelry. With a little apple cider vinegar, you can make sparkling brass jewelry in no matter how short it takes. You should wear gloves before you apply the vinegar to your hands and wrists.

• For several hours, or even overnight, submerge your jewelry into a bowl of vinegar. For better results, you can add salt to the vinegar.
• Take your jewelry out of the solution, and use a clean cloth to wipe off any vinegar left behind.
• Before you wear your items again, make sure to wash them.

5. Baking soda

To make your brass jewelry look new, you can use baking soda and salt. It is easy and you can retain some patina to add charm. This natural cleaning method preserves the brass’s shine. Baking soda won’t scratch or alter the color of metal, even though it is slightly rough.

• In a bowl, combine a little salt and baking powder with some water.
• Make a paste by blending the ingredients.
• Use the cleaning paste to scrub your jewelry for five minutes, then rinse it with warm water.

In no time, your brass jewelry piece will be restored to its original glory. For those difficult-to-reach places on your jewelry, you can use an old toothbrush. However, be careful not to scratch them.

6. You can clean brass jewelry without removing patina

Over time, brass can tarnish and develop a greenish patina. This patina is a beautiful addition to jewelry and adds elegance and color.

You can clean these pieces with warm water and soap if you want to preserve the patina. This will remove dirt, grime, and buildup without removing the patina.

To gently remove the patina, you can use a soft cloth instead of a polishing cloth. To avoid water stains, wipe your jewelry clean with a dry cloth.

Next, we will discuss how to clean and polish your brass jewelry so that it stays beautiful and shiny. Continue reading for more details.

How to Care for Brass Jewelry

Avoid using abrasive cleaners or polishes, as they can damage the protective, golden sheen of your jewelry and make it look dull.

Only use a polishing cloth on uncoated pieces. You should not use the polishing cloth on jewelry with engravings, paints, or etchings. The fabric’s abrasive surface can scratch anything that isn’t polished silver or gold.

Use a toothbrush to clean hard-to reach corners. As long as the bristles are not too stiff, any small bristles can be used.

To clean cast brass jewelry, you only need warm water. After scrubbing, lay them flat on a towel and dry them overnight.

Let’s now get to the at-home hacks that will prevent tarnish from your brass jewelry.

How to Prevent Brass Jewelry from Tarnish

1. Keep your brass jewelry in a dry, clean place.
2. Avoid using abrasive cleaning methods on brass jewelry. They can strip the patina, and could cause a dark-green or black patch.
3. To avoid water spots, dry your jewelry immediately after cleaning.
4. To prevent scratches, wipe off any excess cleaning agent from the jewelry.
5. Your jewelry’s ability to tarnish quickly will depend on the strength of alkaline and acidic solutions. Avoid using harsh chemicals for cleaning.
6. You can use a high-quality polish to rub the metal until it shines. This can be repeated if there is any visible tarnish. It will not work if you polish your jewelry too often.
7. Avoid wearing brass jewelry while you are swimming or showering. Avoid contact with harsh chemicals such as perfume, household cleaners and makeup remover.
8. Keep brass pieces out of direct sunlight.
9. Avoid rubbing your brass jewelry against other pieces. This can cause scratches. To avoid scratching each other, place felt pads between the pieces if you store them for a long time.

These simple and easy ways to maintain your brass jewelry’s shine will last for many years. There are no rules or guidelines on how to care for brass jewelry. Just use common sense and safety.

Don’t get too much water on the metal. So that you don’t scratch your brass jewelry, make sure not to wear it during strenuous activities. Your beautiful piece of jewelry will last forever with a little love, care and cleaning.