It’s common to see bronze metal sheet incorporated into home décor. After all, bronze pieces have a luster that stands out. Sadly, over time bronze’s luster fades as a result of exposure to moisture and air. A greenish and dull-looking layer develops on the metal’s surface.
To remove the tarnish and restore the sheen of bronze, you typically need to use a commercial chemical cleaner or polisher. Although this is the easiest option, commercial cleaners may not always be available. If you can find one, there are alternative solutions you can try, and you can actually make them in your own pantry.
The Magic of Lemon
Some commercial polishers are lemon-scented, and for good reasons. Lemon is an effective tarnish remover. The acidic extract from lemon can melt tough stains and expose the shiny layer of bronze. These are the ingredients needed to create a lemon-based polisher:
- Lemon
- Baking soda
- Soft and clean cloth
- Gloves
- Small container
Gather all the bronze pieces that need cleaning. Mix the lemon juice with baking soda in the container until it turns into a paste. Rub the paste on the bronze sheet using the clean cloth until you achieve the cleanliness you desire. Leave the mixture on while cleaning the other pieces. Finally, wash every piece you finished cleaning with running water, dry it thoroughly, and buff it using a dry clean and soft cloth.
The Sourness of Vinegar
Another pantry staple that also doubles as a natural cleaning agent is white vinegar. It has the right amount of antiseptic abilities for cleaning metals sheets until they gleam once more. Here’s what you’ll need to clean bronze sheets using vinegar:
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Flour
- Soft clean cloth
- Small container
The process of making a vinegar-based cleaning solution is virtually similar to that of making lemon-based cleaner. You also need to apply the paste on all areas of the bronze pieces you are cleaning and thoroughly wash, buff, and dry them until the sheen surfaces again.
Using natural ingredients for cleaning is effective, but take note that these solutions will not have the same results as compared to using commercial cleaners. They are less harsh and safer for bronze sheets and other delicate metals but produce less shine as well. If you want bronze materials that don’t easily succumb to tarnish, better go to a trusted supplier like Rotax Metals.
Sources:
How to Clean Copper & Brass Without Chemicals, Dengarden.com
How to Simply Clean and Polish Bronze, Ebay.com
