How to Clean Brass Door Hardware
Having brass hardware can bring a special charm to any home, particularly when it comes to your doors. Whether you are restoring a door with antique brass hardware, or just need to polish existing hardware, cleaning the brass is a chore that will need to be done periodically. Here is a quick guide to show you how to clean your brass door hardware.
Before you get started, here is a list of what you’ll need:
With that, follow the simple steps below to properly clean your brass door hardware.
Step #1
- Place masking tape around the outside edge of the door hinges.
- Tape around the hinges with the door closed, and then open the door and tape around the hinges on the other side.
Step #2
- Remove all remaining hardware from the door.
- In some cases, there may be a separate lock, such as a deadbolt, that needs to be removed, but most brass hardware consists only of knobs and hinges.
- To remove the doorknobs, there are usually two screws to remove, which you will need a Philips screwdriver to take out (a straightforward process of taking out the screws and then sliding the doorknobs out of their housing).
Step #3:
- Analyze how badly tarnished the hardware is.
- If it has been neglected for years and is excessively tarnished, soak the brass hardware in undiluted ammonia for an hour.
- If the tarnish is not overly excessive and you feel that a good hand polishing is all that is necessary, skip the ammonia and proceed to the next step.
Step #4
- Open the can of brass cleaner (most grocery stores or hardware stores will sell this).
- With the can open, hold a soft cloth over the opening and tilt the can so that a small amount gets onto the cloth.
Step #5
- With your cloth dampened, begin to rub the brass cleaner onto the hardware (don’t be afraid to rub it rigorously — you will not bend the metal, and force is usually necessary in order to clean brass hardware properly).
- It will take several applications, and probably several cloths, but it will begin to resemble a shiny new brass fixture.
Step #6
- After the hardware is cleaned, spray it with a clear lacquer finish (this will put a clear coating over the brass that will protect it from becoming tarnished again).
- The lacquer will eventually wear off, and you will eventually need to clean the brass door hardware again, but this will help make those cleanings less frequent.
Step #7
- Return the brass hardware to the door, and remove the masking tape from around the edge of your hinges.
You’ve now successfully cleaned your brass door hardware!
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* Manufacturers will change product lines periodically and some styles of doors may no longer be available.