Caring for brass jewelry

Brass accessories have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Although they are inexpensive to purchase, non-gold-plated brass accessories can get dirty quickly if you don't take care of them.

However, taking care of brass is not difficult if you keep points in mind.

If you are considering purchasing brass accessories, please be aware of the important points to take care of before purchasing.

This time, we will explain how to easily care for brass accessories and what to do if patina (blue rust) occurs.

 

Brass jewelry requires frequent care.

Unlike silver or gold, unplated brass accessories will quickly develop blue rust (patina) and deteriorate if not taken care of frequently, so be careful.

Once patina appears, it cannot be easily removed with polishing cloths sold at home centers.

Patina is not toxic, but if you wear it while the patina is present, it will stick to your clothes, hands, and fingers and will be difficult to remove.

*The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) announced in 1981 that patina is non-toxic.

 

Reasons why brass gets dirty and blue rust (patina) appears

This is true not only for jewelry made of brass but also for jewelry made of any material, but basically anything that is worn is caused by human sebum and sweat.

Therefore, always wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing it before storing it.

If there are sticky fingerprints that cannot be removed by wiping them lightly with a cloth, you can clean them by wiping them with an alcohol tissue or a tissue moistened with nail polish remover.

If you leave it unattended, it will get dirty all at once from the dirt that has adhered to it.

 

How to care for brass accessories

Here's what you need to take care of.

• baking soda
• Tap water
• Cotton (if you don’t have it, use kitchen paper or tissue)
• Toothbrush (soft)
• cotton swab
• toothpick

You can clean brass accessories with at least baking soda, water, and tissues.

 

How to care for brass jewelry and remove blue rust

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of tap water.

The quantities are approximate, so it's okay. As a guideline, the baking soda dissolved in water should be damp.

2. Place it on the brass and rub it gently.

Place baking soda dissolved in water on the brass and rub gently using cotton or a cotton swab. Use a toothbrush or toothpick to clean the small parts of the pattern that the cotton swab cannot penetrate.

If the rust is just starting to appear on the surface, it can be easily removed by rubbing it lightly with a cotton swab soaked in baking soda.

If there are Swarovski or other parts attached, be careful as the parts may come off if you apply the wrong amount of pressure.

3. Wipe off moisture and dry thoroughly

Rinse with water, wipe off any moisture, and dry thoroughly with cold air from a hair dryer to ensure that no moisture remains.

 

If there is patina on gold-plated brass accessories, the plating is peeling off, so if you rub it too hard, there is a risk that the plating will come off even more.

If the plating on your brass accessories has peeled off, ask a professional to re-plate them after cleaning them.

A cotton swab is sufficient for the size of brass jewelry, but when the size is about the size of a bangle, you can use a melamine sponge or kitchen sponge to clean it more efficiently.

 

If the product is dirty (blue rust) and left for a long time

If there is a lot of patina on the entire surface and it has been left for a long time, soak kitchen paper or cotton with a cleaning solution containing water and baking soda, place it on the rusted area, and then carefully remove the patina. Wipe it off.

This method is similar to the method used to remove oil stains from the kitchen by soaking kitchen paper in detergent and applying it to stubborn areas.

Blue rust (patina) itself is not that bad because it floats to protect the copper. But since brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, even if the copper is protected, the zinc component may corrode and become loose.

In extreme terms, even if the surface looks fine, there is a possibility that the inside is hollow and its strength has decreased.

With that in mind, after removing the dirt, absorb the dirt with cotton and gently wipe it, which will reduce the burden on the brass accessories themselves.

When you have stubborn stains, you may want to use force to wipe them, but there is a risk of damage if you wipe too forcefully.

Antique brass items in particular are often delicately made, so instead of scrubbing them with too much force, soak them repeatedly to allow the patina to break down naturally before wiping them off. It takes time, but it is the most reliable and safe method.

Since baking soda is edible, it is naturally harmless to the human body, and it does not damage the metal itself, so you can use it with confidence.

 

How to use liquid compound

The main method is to use something larger than brass accessories, but you can also use liquid car wash compound sold at home centers.

A liquid compound can be used to remove small scratches and restore the shine, while at the same time wiping it with a soft towel will create a protective film that will significantly reduce deterioration and make it surprisingly clean.

This is a powerful method that can even handle brass products that have become copper-colored.

However, although the liquid compound is thin, it scrapes and polishes the surface, so if you use it on plated brass, the plating may come off. 

 

If you do not dry the water thoroughly after cleaning, the blue rust (patina) will return.

Brass in particular gets dirty all at once from moisture, acid, and sebum, so if it gets wet, be sure to dry it thoroughly with a hair dryer.

Blue rust (patina) will quickly recover if there is even a slight amount of moisture.

Cleaning with baking soda also uses water, so be sure to dry it thoroughly after washing.

If you use hot air to dry accessories that have other parts attached with adhesive, the adhesive may loosen and come off, so dry them with cold air.

 

What not to do when cleaning brass

Do not clean with vinegar

Vinegar can also remove dirt and rust (patina), but we do not recommend it.

It's not a strong acid, so it won't dissolve, but it may change its color, and it will look like a stain, making it look dirty.

Discolored areas cannot be repaired by simply polishing them, and it is not clear whether or not they will be fixed even if you scrape the surface.

Even if the blue rust (patina) is removed , oxidation (corrosion) will not stop even after cleaning, and there is a risk that damage may remain to the brass itself.

 

Do not use boiling water

Do not use boiling water to clean brass accessories.

Some people may think that a little dirt or stickiness can be easily removed with boiling water, but unplated brass accessories will discolor (copper-colored) if left in boiling water for a long time.

If you keep it in boiling water for a long time, every corner will discolor, so if this happens, you'll have no choice but to consult a specialty store.

Even if you use hot water, we recommend that it be at the temperature of a bath (41℃).

After cleaning, dry it thoroughly and store it in a plastic zipper bag to prevent it from coming into contact with air.

 

If you take good care of your jewelry, you can use it for a long time.

Please take good care of it and take good care of it.