Home cleaning - how to clean brass and remove wax from glass?

Effective and tested ways to clean brass

Brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc and has a characteristic golden or orange-yellow colour, is a material that is still fashionable and reigns in many interiors. No wonder, after all, brass elements delight with their stylish and elegant look and durability. Unfortunately, although metal candlesticks placed on a fireplace, table or window sill, as well as other brass decorations and home furnishings made of brass look very impressive, over time there is patina on them, i.e. green-grey thin layer, which is created by oxidation of copper. And while some people think that patina on brass objects gives them charm, many people are looking for quick and reliable ways to remove it. Fortunately, there are many tested, home-made and, most importantly, effective methods for cleaning brass wall candlesticks, chandeliers, door knobs, picture frames, kitchen utensils, fittings, cabinet and drawer knobs and other accessories made of this material.

• Cleaning brass with baking soda

Cleaning with baking soda is a method that works especially well with quite small brass accessories such as coins, earrings, necklaces or small tealight candlesticks. How to clean brass with soda? First, prepare a mix of water with baking soda: use 70 grams of baking soda per 1 litre of hot water. Place a dish (not a metal one!) with aluminium foil, put brass objects in it and pour the previously prepared mixture over it. Leave the accessories in for about 15 minutes, then wipe them dry with a soft cotton cloth.

• Cleaning with vinegar and baking soda

You can prepare an extremely effective cleaning paste made of baking soda and vinegar, which can be applied to brass surfaces. Mix 0.5 glass of vinegar, ¼ glass of water and ¼ glass of baking soda, apply the paste to a brass candlestick and collect the dirt with a soft toothbrush, then wipe the item with a cotton cloth. Remember, however, that all acids including vinegar are highly corrosive, so pay special attention to the proportions when preparing the paste, as too much vinegar can discolour the brass.

• Brass cleaning mask based on flour, vinegar and salt

The flour, vinegar and salt cleaning mask is just as good with dirty brass. To prepare it, just mix together ¼ cup of vinegar, ¼ cup of wheat flour and 1.5 teaspoons of salt. Put the mask prepared in this way on a brass candlestick and leave it for 15 minutes. After this time, rinse the mask with warm water and wipe the item dry.

• Cleaning brass with ketchup

Ketchup or tomato sauce are products that can handle even heavy dirt. Simply put a tomato-based product on a brass candlestick or figurine, wait about 1 hour, then rinse it with warm water and soap. After cleaning, remember to clean dry the candlestick with a soft cloth, as moisture has adverse effects both on the appearance and condition of the brass.

• How to clean the brass with lemon juice and citric acid?

A popular method of cleaning long brass candlesticks is with the use of lemon. Simply squeeze the juice from half of the lemon and combine it with a small amount of fine salt. Rub the candlestick with the paste prepared in this way, remove the dirt and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. In order to get rid of more dirt, it is advisable to prepare a mixture in the following ratio of 25 grams of citric acid to 3 litres of hot water. Put the brass accessories into the ready solution, wait five minutes, then remove them from the mixture and dry thoroughly.

• Cleaning brass with toothpaste

Toothpaste is a product that is perfect for cleaning silver, gold, but also brass. Simply apply a thick layer of toothpaste on a cotton swab or a cloth and rub vigorously until the dirt is removed. Then rinse the object with soap and water and dry it. For cleaning brass, choose a uniform, white paste without any additives.

After cleaning the brass decorations it is worth to polish them additionally. Then they will regain their lost shine. You can use soft cloths or crushed newspapers for this. How to polish brass? Use a circular motion to polish a candlestick or other piece of brass to achieve the desired effect.

How to remove wax from glass?

Lamps and lanterns placed on the terrace, balcony and in different corners of the house or candles placed in elegant, decorative crystal candlesticks bring a unique, pleasant and cosy ambience into the interior, but they can also be the cause of some troubles, as it is difficult to eliminate wax stains from them. How do you clean wax from a glass candlestick and other glass surfaces? Don't worry, there are many ways to remove this type of dirt.

• Removing the wax with a wooden spatula

This is quite a time consuming but effective way to gently lever the wax from the candlestick with a wooden stick or spatula. When cleaning the wax in this way, be very careful not to scratch the candlestick glass. This method works best when removing soft natural waxes.

• Put a glass candlestick with dried wax into the freezer

Putting a candlestick with dried wax on the glass into the freezer for about 1 hour will make it easier for us to clean it using the method described above, because under the influence of low temperature, the wax begins to shrink, crumble and tear itself off the glass surface. Unfortunately, if you decide to clean with this method, there is a risk that the glass candlestick will break, so be careful. If there is still wax residue on the glass, wipe the candlestick with a cotton swab or a cloth soaked in vinegar or baby olive.

• Dissolve the wax in a pot of water

This is a way to soften the wax, transforming it into a semi-liquid or even liquid form, making it much easier to remove it from the candlestick. However, it is important to remember to put a candlestick in a pot with cold water and heat it up with a small burner power. Putting a multi-armed candlestick directly into the boiling water could cause the candlestick to break due to the large temperature difference.

• Put the candlestick into the hot water

Another way to clean the wax from glass is to put the candlestick into warm water and leave it for several hours. After this time, the wax should separate from the glass and flow on top of it. Then just take it out and wash the candlestick with soap and water. This is the safest, but most time-consuming method.

Glass and metal, single or multi-armed, silver and gold candlesticks placed on the chest of drawers, cupboards, coffee tables, windowsills or other places in the house are an elegant and an eye-catching decoration, introducing a climatic, warm and unique ambience into our interiors.

We are convinced that with our simple, practical and homely ways you will never again have a problem with restoring the shine of brass decorations and cleaning wax from candlesticks and other glass surfaces.