How to quickly and efficiently clean bronze at home?

Bronze products are found in many homes. Such objects look beautiful, create a pleasant retro atmosphere. However, over time, the metal becomes covered with an ugly coating. It can be just pollution or a signal that the object has oxidized. The most unpleasant moment is the appearance of rust. Nevertheless, you should not immediately throw away a thing that seems to you spoiled.

There are many popular and professional ways to get rid of stains, tarnishing and even rusty coating. If the process is not too started, it may even be possible to return the product to its original appearance and attractive shine. The article will tell you how to quickly and efficiently clean bronze at home.

There are many ways to get rid of green plaque, blackness, oxide or rust.

First of all, you can clean bronze with the help of chemicals. The main thing is to observe safety measures, because most of these substances are very aggressive.

Also worth watching after the exposure time of the product. Otherwise, instead of a decor that will shine beautifully, you will get metal covered with spots of a different kind. If caustic chemicals can damage the surface, it will be impossible to restore it.

So, we will consider the most effective options for purifying bronze with the help of chemicals.

1. Ammonia. With it, you can clean small items, such as coins, jewelry. The product is poured into a prepared container, where metal products are then immersed.After 10-13 minutes, they are removed with tweezers and washed thoroughly with clean water. After that, the bronze gizmos are laid out on a soft cloth for complete drying.
2. Acetone. This tool can be used for objects of any size, for example, figurines, candlesticks, and other similar things. To clean, you should take a cotton pad. On it you need to drip the active substance. Then carefully wipe the areas that require processing. When the cotton pad begins to darken, it is replaced with a new one. After this, the products are rinsed with water and wiped. This option requires not only the use of gloves, but also thorough ventilation of the room.
3. Oxalic acid. This is the most aggressive method of exposure to metal, requiring great care. It is used only in cases of very severe pollution. The solution is made at the rate of 30 ml of acid per 1 liter of water. Items requiring updating are immersed in it until slightly darkened. Then they are removed, washed thoroughly and wiped with a dry, clean cloth. The use of tweezers and gloves is mandatory in this case.
4. Laundry soap. This method is more gentle, although care must be taken anyway. Soap is added to boiling water and stirred until a homogeneous composition is obtained. It is desirable to achieve the formation of foam. Metal products requiring cleaning are immersed in hot soapy water. After 10 minutes, items are removed, washed thoroughly and wiped with a clean cloth.

It is possible to remove a small plaque from old bronze things in more safe ways. These include the use of products that are in almost every kitchen.

1. Soda and lemon juice. The good cleansing properties of soda are known to many. But not everyone knows that in combination with lemon juice it gives an even more impressive result. To return the metal to its original form, you need to mix these two components in equal proportions. The resulting slurry should be carefully applied to contaminated areas. After half an hour, the products are washed under the tap. Then they are wiped dry.
2. Vinegar, salt and flour. In this recipe, salt and flour are mixed in equal parts. 2 tablespoons of vinegar are added to the resulting composition. Everything mixes well. After that, the composition is applied to the darkened places of bronze objects. Wait 30-40 minutes. Then the products are washed and wiped.
3. Chicory. This method of metal purification may seem unexpected to many, however, it is very effective. In this case, chicory is ground. Then it is slightly diluted with warm water. It should be a mixture resembling thick sour cream. As in previous versions, the composition is applied to the surface of contaminated objects. At the same time, you can gently rub them with a non-rigid brush. After half an hour, the mixture is washed off, and the bronze is wiped with a clean cloth.
4. Peas. This product is able to handle even rust. To do this, make pea porridge. Water is poured into a large pot into which metal objects are placed. Then peas are poured and the liquid is brought to a boil. After that, the composition is “cooked” over low heat for a couple of hours. After turning off the stove, the product is removed from the porridge and transferred to another container filled with clean warm water. Using a brush or foam sponge, remove the remaining peas along with dirt. In conclusion, things are washed with cool water and wiped dry.

There are unexpected methods for cleaning bronze decor items.

• Sawdust. In this case, a little acetic acid is added to the sawdust. The ingredients mix well and wait a while. When the resulting mixture begins to swell, it is applied to a piece of woolen cloth. An item requiring cleaning is gently rubbed with this compound. Then it is rinsed and dried.
• a piece of chalk. You can simply rub the problem areas with chalk. This method works with minor contamination. After application, wait a few minutes.Then the metal should be washed and wiped with a soft cloth.

Before starting work, you should prepare everything that may be needed in the process. As already mentioned, with chemical compounds should only be worn with rubber gloves. To immerse bronze in chemicals and extract it large tweezers. It’s also worth cooking capacity of suitable size. If you plan to cook pasta, a small bowl will be enough. If the method of immersing the metal in some substance will be used, it is better to take a saucepan.

You can flush compositions with objects using soft sponge. To clean the washed bronze things may come in handy paper napkins. At the very end, the item is wiped with a soft cloth. It can be a flannel or a cotton fabric. Such materials not only remove water from the surface, but also help to rub the metal to a shine.

When all the materials and utensils are ready, the method of purification is selected. Usually small items (coins, jewelry) are completely immersed in the compositions. Large items are often returned to their original appearance by applying pastes to their surface.

For greater efficiency it is recommended that you first rinse the metal with clean water or at least wipe it with a damp cloth to remove dust. Only then do they use cleansing agents, acting on the chosen technology. Items are either omitted or rubbed with them, depending on the type of product used. Then they are washed and wiped or dried, laying out on the fabric in a well-ventilated place.

In order for bronze objects to retain their beauty as long as possible, you should follow the simple rules for caring for them. These tips can also be applied to aluminum products.

1. Do not keep objects made of metal in high humidity. Moreover, frequent and prolonged contact with water should not be allowed. For example, if you decide to wash a bronze thing, then you need to immediately wipe it and put it in an open place so that it completely dries out.
2. Hard tissues should not be used to wipe bronze objects. This will not add shine to the metal, but, on the contrary, can scratch it, leading to the appearance of scuffs. Such sites will be more vulnerable to external negative impact. They will accumulate dirt faster. They will also be oxidized at a higher rate. If you want to grate a bronze decor to give it a gloss, it is better to use suede or wool.
3. To prevent oxidation and the appearance of pollution, you can use a saline solution. It also eliminates slight tarnishing from the surface of products. In addition, experts sometimes recommend wiping products with a slice of lemon.
4. Another preventative cleaning option that you can use regularly is use of regular toothpaste. The composition is applied to a cloth used to rub the product. Then the item is rinsed and wiped dry.
5. Helps reduce the likelihood of the rapid appearance of dirt and rust on bronze and paraffin. They rub the products to create a protective layer. Flushing paraffin from the surface is not necessary. It will prevent the start of the oxidation process even in high humidity conditions.
6. A special relationship is required for small items from the metal in question. If you have rare bronze coins or jewelry, store them in special bags made of velor, and not just in a box.

See how to clean bronze properly in the next video.