Brass is one of my favorites. Its deep, yellow warmth is versatile and it has a satisfying heft that adds a sophisticated accent to almost any outfit. As brass ages, however, it will tarnish. The good news is that you can always return brass to a high shine.
Brass will tarnish over time, so it’s important to polish it regularly using a polishing cloth embedded with a polish compound. Store it in an air-tight pouch to prevent tarnishing. Remember, tarnish won't permanently damage your jewelry; it can always be restored to a high shine through polishing. Every order comes with a small polishing cloth!
Water won't permanently damage your jewelry, but its pH level, along with soap, might accelerate tarnishing.Simply wipe it with a polishing cloth to remove tarnish and restore its brilliant shine.
Try a more affordable brass cleaner.Can’t justify the pricey stuff? There’s a less expensive alternative. Drop by your local hardware store and ask for a brass cleaner. Though not specifically a jewelry cleaner, it will clean your earrings as well as it does candlesticks or cabinet hardware.
Follow the safety precautions on the label and use only on the portions of your jewelry that are not in continuous contact with your skin. Avoid using on ear posts, the inner surface of a ring or bracelet, necklace chains, and the like. If you have sensitive skin, use one of the other cleaning methods.
A bottle typically runs about $6.00. Invest in a high-quality wax polish.For stubborn bits of tarnish, I like Renaissance Wax. This professional-grade polishing wax cleans away the spots and leaves a thin protective coating behind that prevents the formation of tarnish. Museums and other institutions use it to clean and preserve fine articles around the world. It will work beautifully for your jewelry, too.
One little jar, which runs about $16.00, will last for years.
DIY your brass care.Materials that you already have at home can shine your brass jewelry, too.
Here are my favorite natural cleaning methods:
1. Scrub your brass jewelry with warm soapy water and a toothbrush to remove dirt and oils. Dry with a soft towel and buff with a microfiber polishing cloth.
2. If there's still tarnish, coat brass pieces with thin layer of a tomato-based product, such as ketchup or tomato sauce. (The acid in tomatoes helps loosen tarnish.) Allow it to sit for at least an hour. Clean with hot, soapy water.
3. Grab a lemon, cut it in half, and sprinkle salt over the cut surface. Rub the salted surface directly on the jewelry. Re-salt the lemon and repeat as necessary. When the tarnish has lifted, buff with a soft dry cloth.