How To Clean And Care For Brass

What is brass?

Brass is an alloy.  That means two metals are melted and blended together to make a unique new property.  In the case of brass, it's any alloy of copper and zinc.  On their own, copper will turn blue, green, or dark and tarnish rapidly.  Zinc will also turn very dark.  Together, they are much more resistant to tarnish, oxidation, and give very valuable properties.

What is bronze?

Bronze is very different.  Unfortunately, some folks call brass "bronze", probably because some alloys or textures of brass resemble bronze.  Bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin.  We do not recommend cleaning brass.  If a discoloration or something happens to the aesthetics consult your antique dealer, the artist, or a preservation consultant.  Keep free from dust by gently dusting.  Our Blitz 7808 will assist in this.

Brass Patina.

If you have brass that is a work of art, and you want to maintain a patina, do NOT clean it.  If a discoloration to the patina occurs, immediately consult your antique dealer, the artist, or a preservation consultant.

Why is brass important? 

Brass has a number of valuable properties.  It can be cast with the lost wax process.  Jewelry can be made this way.  It can be ground, sawn, cut, and polished.  It has a golden appearance that many people find pleasing in decorative items.  It is very strong, and hard so hinges and locks can be made of this.  Since it has copper, it's conductive to electricity so many appliances have brass parts.  When struck, it generates tones so music boxes and bells are made of brass.  Musical instruments are made of brass because they resist rain, weather, and vibrate to make beautiful music.

Brass tarnish.

Despite brass resistance to tarnish, we live in a world that has a lot of air pollution.  It does turn dark.  It needs to be polished periodically.

Lacquered (coated) Brass.

Many manufacturers have eliminated tarnish by adding a coating of some type to keep air from getting to the brass.  No air, no tarnish, usually.  Some manufacturers use a lacquer, or other polymer coating to keep the brass from tarnishing.  Some add a plastic coating.  If you have a piece of brass and it's coated, but you see tarnish, then there is a big issue.  It means that the coating has worn off, or worn through somehow, and air is leaking into the brass.  There are only two things that can happen at this point.  The entire coating has to be stripped, the item cleaned, and then a coating has to be reapplied.  Otherwise, once the coating has been removed, cleaning has to be done periodically.  Even a coated item gets dirty.  Blitz has cleaning items that will help you with this. 

Gold plated brass.

Often, a piece of brass jewelry or decorative item will be coated with gold.  Usually this is 24 K (pure) gold, but not always.  Be very careful cleaning these items.  The gold is layered very thinly – some thinner than others.  Once the gold flakes off, or rubs off, or is removed, only brass remains.  One thing that can often happen is that the gold plating is so thin, or has micro-fractures, so when the items is cleaned in water, or jewelry cleaner, the gold flakes off.  It is impossible to predict when this will happen, but you need to have your jeweler clean and replate the item if you begin to see your gold-plated item turn dark or see bubbles form under the surface.

Blitz Cleaning Products.

Blitz has several ways to clean brass.  All of these are non-toxic and have been used by consumers for generations.  They are all made in America's Heartland, in Indiana.  Our products are offered in print in many languages.  Ask us.

Blitz #105.  http://www.blitzinc.net/product/105/Industrial_Strength_Metal_Care_Cloth.html

In 1912, Blitz created the first metal care cleaner with "the polish is in the cloth".  Previous to this, a rag and a tin of brass polish had to be used.  With the "Blitz cloth" all you did was remove it from the package and clean.  The U.S. Army loved this idea and so from WWI, through war and peacetime, troops "Blitzed" their rifles, brass medals, and anything else that could be polished.  The still do.  You can see many versions of our historic packaging on our web site.  This cloth is non-toxic, oil based.  Not for coated items.

Blitz 109 Tarnish Eater 

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/109/Brass_Tarnish_Eater.html

This is our water-based version of brass polish.  It still has "the polish is in the cloth", but has extra ingredients to put a barrier on the brass to delay tarnish formation. Not for coated items.

Blitz 93109  Blitz Ultra Brass Polishing Cloth

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/93109/Brass_Polishing_Cloth.html

This is the same Tarnish Eater cloth in a more classic, decorative package.  Not for coated items.

Blitz 9609  Brass Care Cloth  http://www.blitzinc.net/product/9609/Brass_Care_Cloth.html

This is the same Tarnish Eater cloth in a designer carton. Not for coated items.

Blitz 609 Brass Care Polish 

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/609/Brass_Care_Polish.html

This is a water-based formula that polishes, and adds a barrier that resists tarnish.  Has a paste-consistency.  Not for coated items.

Blitz 20609

This is the same Tarnish Eater cloth in a dazzling, modern POP designer carton.  Not for coated items.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/20609/Brass_Shine_Polishing_Cloth__20609.html

Blitz 20636 

For house ware brass, this is our classic Tarnish Eater formula.  It's water-based, and has a very fluid consistency.  Not for coated items.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/20636/Brass_Shine_Liquid_Polish__20636.html

Blitz 336

For cymbal care, this is the polish that's been used for generations.  Not for coated items.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/336/Cymbal_Care_Polish.html

Blitz 312

Blitz Cymbal Care cloth.  Used by musicians for decades.  Not for coated items.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/312/Blitz_Cymbal_Care_Cloth.html

Blitz 306

Perfect for your lacquer-coated brass band instruments.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/306/Blitz_Gloss_Care_Cloth_for_Band_Instruments.html

Blitz 303

Blitz Metal Care Cloth for Instruments is great for all soft metal band and musical instruments, including brass.  Not for coated items.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/303/Blitz_Metal_Care_Cloth_for_Instruments.html

Blitz 20610

Lacquered Brass Shine Polishing Cloth is great for general coated house ware brass  items.  Is presented in a dazzling, POP designer carton.

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/20610/Lacquered_Brass_Shine_Polishing_Cloth.html

Blitz 122

Lacquered Metal Care Cloth is great for your coated items.  (Same item as 20122.)

http://www.blitzinc.net/product/122/Lacquered_Metal_Care_Cloth.html