5 Natural Ways to Clean Brass Jewelry

Brass is a popular metal that can be found in items from cookware, musical instruments, to a ring on your finger. Many of your jewelry items could be made of brass, which also means they are likely to easily tarnish. There are many different natural and effective ways to take care of your brass jewelry that can eliminate any harsh effects of chemical cleaners. Often the tools needed for these remedies can be found right in your own home.

First and foremost, it is important that you are actually sure that your jewelry item is brass. A general rule of thumb is that if you hold a magnet against your jewelry and it sticks, then the item is not brass but simply brass-plated. It’s also good to know whether your item is lacquered or non-lacquered, which would simply be determining if it is coated with a protective finish or not. If it is lacquered, the jewelry item can generally be simply wiped with a damp cloth in order to clean it.

Regardless of the natural cleaning remedy you choose, always clean in the direction of the metal’s natural grain. Brass is also prone to retaining water spots, so dry immediately and thoroughly after cleaning.

Warm Water & Soap

This is one of the easiest methods for naturally cleaning brass jewelry. Starting off with warm water and a small amount of liquid dish soap, use your fingers or a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the surface of your item with soapy water. Once you have finished scrubbing off the grime, rinse the item thoroughly until the water runs smoothly over the surface. Be sure to dry the metal afterward.

If this approach doesn’t seem to make a difference, though, there are other natural techniques that could prove more effective.

Ketchup & Worcestershire

Ketchup isn’t only good for hamburgers, you know. In fact, both ketchup and Worcestershire sauce would do quite a number on the grime covering your jewelry. Use your fingers or a soft toothbrush to gently rub the sauce across the item. Once it is completely covered, let your jewelry sit for a minute. Rinse off all residue of the sauce, if the piece doesn’t look as clean as you would like it to, go ahead and try the process a second time. Once it has reached your desired cleanliness level, rinse and dry well.

Lemon Juice

There are two different techniques involving lemons, this one focuses on the juice of the lemon. First, pour one cup of water into a container. Squeeze half a lemon and pour the lemon juice into the water. Then add and stir in a teaspoon of salt until dissolved. Place your jewelry in the mixture and keep an eye on it until it has reached cleanliness. Wash off the item and dry completely.

Salted Lemon

This is similar to the lemon juice technique, but rather than draining the juice you will be utilizing the lemon itself. Sprinkle some salt on the open side of a lemon half (not the skin) and rub it over the brass. You may also use a soft toothbrush to further rub the lemon juice into the jewelry item. Once this has completed, wash and dry the brass thoroughly.

Vinegar, Salt, and Flour

Combine 1 teaspoon of salt into ½ cup of vinegar. Then add flour until the mixture becomes a paste-like substance. Rub into the brass and leave for around 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, rinse the brass with warm water and dry thoroughly.

Using natural cleaning remedies is a cost-effective and safe alternative to harsh chemical cleansers that are available. Just be sure the jewelry item is brass and non-lacquered before continuing with any of the techniques listed above.

Thank you to Jewelry Making Journal and Mother Nature Network for the information regarding natural ways to take care of brass jewelry.