Bronze is a combination of copper and tin. This is the reason why it is prone to developing an undesirable coating in time. While some may find this darker, sometimes greenish patina charming and a true testament of history and use, others may prefer the original look of bronze: shiny, polished and flawless. If you are in the latter team, then you will be pleased to know that one of the main reasons why bronze is a popular metal is that you don’t have to exert a lot of effort cleaning it.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Bronze
When talking about items made out of bronze bars or bronze sheet metal, what not to do is equally important as what to do, so the first thing you need to avoid in order to preserve its shiny aspect and glow is to avoid aggressive scrubbing. Secondly, avoid heavy polishing your bronze pieces, as well as using cloths that are too abrasive, as they could damage the shiny finish of your items.
What to Use in Order to Maintain the Shiny Properties of Bronze
Specialized commercial polishing products are potent enough to treat bronze. Use them with cotton, as its softness and non-abrasiveness make it the top choice when cleaning most metals. In addition, you can opt for various homemade solutions out there as well, including the classic paste made of lemon juice and baking soda, as well as vinegar combined with flour and salt.
Additional Cleaning and Waxing
You need to dust your metal if you want to maintain its appeal for a long time. In case you are dealing with small bronze items with intricate layers, additional smaller tools might come in handy as well. For starters, you can use a soft toothbrush in order to get into those stubborn spots.
In addition to regular cleaning, you might need to wax your items made of bronze bars every two years in order to assure their lustrous, shiny properties. Make sure, however, that you do not over-polish your bronze items; this can actually do more harm than good to you metal.
Whether you are a fabricator, a sculptor, or a contractor, teaching your clients how to take care of brass is important. Maintaining bronze is easy as long as you follow these simple tips.
Sources:
How to Clean Bronze, howtocleanstuff.net
Cleaning of Indoor Bronze Sculptures, largeart.com
