Repairing and Polishing Tarnished Brass

Combine 3 tsp. of mild liquid dish soap with 1 gallon of warm water. Soak a cleaning rag in the soapy water.

Wipe dust and dirt from the surface of lacquered and unlacquered brass with the soapy rag. Rinse with clear water. Polish lacquered brass dry immediately with a soft, clean cloth. Avoid soaking lacquered brass, as prolonged water exposure causes the lacquer to peel.

Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol. Rub away the tarnished areas on unlacquered brass with the alcohol, moistening the cotton ball as necessary. Use a cotton swab and alcohol to repair tarnish and corrosion in crevices in the surface.

Combine 2 parts distilled water and 2 parts denatured alcohol with enough powdered whiting to create a thin paste. Coat badly oxidized parts of unlacquered brass item with the paste. Buff the paste from the brass with a soft cloth after the paste dries. The paste repairs and removes the oxidation, but know that it will also remove any patina caused by natural aging.

Dip a clean polishing cloth in mineral oil. Buff the surface of the unlacquered brass with the mineral oil until the item shines. Rub excess mineral oil from the brass surface.