How to quickly and effectively clean bronze at home?

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

There are many popular and professional ways to get rid of stains, tarnishing and even rusty deposits. 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 effectively clean bronze at home.

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

First of all, you can clean the bronze using chemicals. The main thing is to take precautions, because most of these substances are very aggressive.

And also worth watching over the time of exposure of the agent to the subject... Otherwise, instead of a decor that will shine beautifully, you will end up with a different kind of stained metal. If caustic chemicals are able to damage the surface, it will no longer be possible to restore it.

So, let's consider the most effective options for cleaning bronze using chemicals.

1. Ammonia... It can be used to 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 taken out with tweezers and thoroughly washed with clean water. After that, the bronze gizmos are laid out on a soft cloth to dry completely.
2. Acetone... This tool can be used on objects of any size, for example, figurines, candlesticks, and other similar things. To cleanse, take a cotton pad. You need to drop an active substance on it. Then you need to gently wipe the areas requiring processing. When the cotton pad begins to darken, replace it with a new one. After that, the products are rinsed with water and wiped off. This option requires not only the use of gloves, but also careful ventilation of the room.
3. Oxalic acid... This is the most aggressive method of attack on metal and requires great care. It is used only in cases of very heavy pollution. The solution is made at the rate of 30 ml of acid per 1 liter of water. Items requiring renewal are immersed in it until it darkens slightly. Then they are taken out, 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 you still need to be careful. The soap is added to boiling water and stirred until a homogeneous composition is obtained. Foaming is desirable. Metal products that require cleaning are immersed in a hot soapy solution. After 10 minutes, the items are removed, washed thoroughly and wiped with a clean cloth.

It is possible to remove small deposits from old bronze things in safer ways. These include the use of foods that are found in almost every kitchen.

1. Soda and lemon juice... The good cleansing properties of baking 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 appearance, you need to mix these two components in equal proportions. The resulting gruel should be carefully applied to areas with contamination. 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 off.
3. Chicory. This method of metal purification may seem unexpected to many, but nevertheless it is very effective. In this case, the chicory is crushed. Then it is slightly diluted with warm water. You should get a mixture that resembles thick sour cream. As in the previous versions, the composition is applied to the surface of contaminated objects. In doing so, you can gently rub them with a soft brush. After half an hour, the mixture is washed off, and the bronze is wiped off with a clean cloth.
4. Peas... This product can even deal with rust. To do this, you need to make pea porridge. Water is poured into a large saucepan, 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 products are removed from the porridge and transferred to another container filled with clean warm water. Using a brush or foam sponge, remove pea residues along with dirt. In conclusion, things are washed with cool water and wiped dry.

There are also unexpected methods of cleaning bronze decor items.

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

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

You can wash off the compositions from objects using soft sponge... For wiping washed bronze items may come in handy paper napkins. At the very end, wipe the object with a soft cloth. It can be flannel or cotton fabric. Such materials not only remove water from the surface, but also help to rub the metal to a shine.

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

For greater efficiency it is recommended to first rinse the metal with clean water or at least wipe it with a damp cloth to remove dust. Only then are cleansing agents applied, acting according to the selected technology. Items are either dipped into the composition or rubbed with it, depending on the type of product used. Then they are washed and wiped or dried by laying them on a cloth in a well-ventilated place.

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

1. Do not keep metal objects in high humidity conditions. Moreover, frequent and long contact with water should not be allowed. For example, if you decide to wash a bronze item, then wipe it immediately and put it in an open place so that it dries completely.
2. Do not use hard fabrics to wipe bronze items. This will not add shine to the metal, but, on the contrary, can scratch it and lead to abrasions. Such areas will be more vulnerable to external negative impact. Dirt will accumulate on them faster. They will also oxidize at a higher rate. If you want to rub down the bronze decor to give it a shine, it is better to use suede or wool.
3. A saline solution can be used to prevent oxidation and fouling. It also removes slight tarnishing from the surface of products well. In addition, experts recommend sometimes wiping products with a lemon wedge.
4. Another preventive cleaning option that you can use regularly is applying regular toothpaste. The composition is applied to a rag with which the product is rubbed. Then the item is rinsed and wiped dry.
5. Helps reduce the likelihood of rapid build-up of dirt and rust on bronze and paraffin... The products are rubbed with it to create a protective layer. It is not necessary to wash off the paraffin from the surface. It will prevent the onset of the oxidation process even in high humidity conditions.
6. Small objects made of the metal in question require special treatment. If you have rare bronze coins or jewelry, store them in special velor pouches, not just in a drawer.

For information on how to properly clean bronze, see the next video.