Brass complements almost every design scheme as any household fixture, from modern lamps to antique doorknobs. Compared to other metal alloys, it’s relatively inexpensive, too.

However, brass can tarnish over time without proper maintenance. It'll stain if left too long, but fortunately, brass fixtures aren’t challenging to clean. You just need the right tools.

We’ve compiled a list of homemade brass cleaners and cleaning tips to save you spending on a true brass cleaner. We don’t blame you if you want to buy a product designed for the task, but here’s a list of how to clean brass with everyday household items.

1. What kind of brass items do you have?

First, figure out what type of brass objects you’re dealing with. It’ll determine your cleaning supplies and specific needs. 

• Lacquered brass looks shinier than regular brass. You’ll notice that it lacks tarnish, even if you haven’t cleaned it for some time.

• Brass-plated fixtures aren’t the same as solid brass. To figure out which one is which, place a magnet against the object’s surface. If the magnet sticks, it’s brass-plated. If it doesn’t, it’s solid brass. When polishing, you’ll need to use a gentler cleaning solution so you don’t remove the plating. A simple wash of warm water and dish soap will do. 

• Fake brass. It might seem silly to include this, but if you have an imposter on your hands, there’s no need to use a homemade brass cleaner! To check if it’s a fake, test the object’s weight (since brass should be heavy) or look for signs of spray-painted plastic. 

• Regular brass objects. If it’s not lacquered, fake, or plated, you’ll be following a standard cleaning procedure. 

Once you know what kind of brass you’re working with, purchase some relevant cleaning supplies. Some of these essential kitchen items you may already have on hand, but here’s a quick list:

• Ketchup.

• Lemon Juice.

• Baking soda.

• Mild dish soap.

• A soft cleaning cloth. (No steel wool required here; it might scratch the surfaces.) 

• A toothbrush.

• Professional brass polish.

You won’t be mixing all of these, but you may want to alternate between your options if you find one cleaning method works better. Make sure you have warm water on hand, too.

2. How to polish brass with warm water and soap

The first way to clean brass is with some warm water and soap. You can use this on all sorts of tarnished brass if the staining is light, but it also works incredibly well for anything plated. 

For this DIY method:

1. Fill up a bucket with warm, soapy water.

2. Grab your brass object and soak it in the mixture for a minute.

3. Next, scrub the brass stains with a soft cloth or a toothbrush to loosen them. You can dip the brass back into the soapy mixture to loosen up stains further if they’re particularly stubborn.

4. After the stains are gone, remove the brass from the soap bath.

5. Rinse with clean water and dry with a damp cloth.

This method requires a lot of elbow grease, but it remains one of the best ways to clean brass. Plus, it’s inexpensive. 

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3.  How to clean brass with vinegar

White vinegar is a favorite, all-natural brass cleaner, and with good reason. It’s easy to buy, easy to use, and highly effective because of its acidic properties. This mixture is especially great if you’re trying to figure out how to remove green oxidation from brass.

To use a vinegar mix:

1. Combine 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ cup of vinegar in a bowl. Stir until dissolved.

2. Once dissolved, add 2 tablespoons of flour to the mixture to turn it into a paste.

3. Rub the mixture all over the brass with a soft cloth, then let it sit for 10 minutes. This method works well for brass fixtures like doorknobs or handles that are difficult to remove. 

4. Rinse the mixture off, and dry the surface. It should work well to remove staining.

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4. How to clean brass with ketchup

What’s this? Using ketchup to clean brass? It sounds crazy, but it works. Ketchup is something you’re likely to have on hand, making this DIY method is easy. It’ll leave behind a much nicer scent than a vinegar solution, allowing you to forgo a heavy dose of air fresheners after cleaning.

With this solution:

1. Make sure to do a spot-test on the brass with the ketchup to make sure it works on your brass object without wasting your entire ketchup bottle. 

2. Let the ketchup sit for several seconds before wiping it away with a dry cloth. 

3. Do you see a noticeable difference in the grime without discoloration of the brass? If the answer is yes, we recommend applying the ketchup to the rest of the object in equal parts, following the same apply-then-rinse process as above.

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5. How to clean brass with lemon juice and baking soda

Lemon juice mixed with baking soda is another natural stain remover. 

To use this solution:

1. Combine ½ freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a bowl. Mix together until the solution is pasty. 

2. Use a soft cloth to apply this solution to the brass. 

3. Let the solution sit on the brass for up to half an hour. How long it should sit depends on the severity of the stain. 

4. Rinse the solution off with warm water when the stains are removed. Make sure the fixture is completely dry.

This method is excellent for learning how to clean heavily corroded brass. Like the other options on this list, it’s inexpensive and easy to make, and potentially more effective than other methods. 

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Regular brass or antique brass? You decide

Beyond this, you’ll find several other options for maintaining your brass fixtures. 

• Regularly cleaning the brass allows you to avoid less intensive scrubbing sessions.

• Applying a thin layer of mineral oil or linseed oil to the surface with a terry cloth can prevent tarnish from spreading.

• Learning how to clean brass with toothpaste is a popular alternative method. Simply rub some toothpaste on with a clean cloth and rinse it off with warm water. 

Sometimes, you can forgo the cleaning entirely. Instead of scrubbing, you can let the age of your fixtures show to give them a refined antique brass look. 

If you’re wondering how often you should clean your brass fixtures, we recommend waiting until you notice they’re tarnished. Brass door handles will tarnish quickly, so if you’d rather wait until you have a handful of brass pieces to polish, we don’t blame you. Add this to your cleaning schedule, but don’t worry if you don’t take this chore as seriously as the dishes or your pets.

For cleaning solutions, you should always avoid:

• Steel wool or another abrasive surface scrub. It can scratch the brass. Opt for a microfiber cloth or an old T-shirt. 

• Touching the surface of the brass. The oil on your hands can speed up the tarnishing process.

Do you need some of these cleaning supplies but don’t know where to buy them? Gopuff makes the process easier by pulling items that can be delivered straight to your door.