My latest project was the buffet chest, or some would call it a dresser. I think it is versatile enough for either purpose. We found it along the road FREE, and I insisted on adopting it. So SO and the kids helped me hauled it home about two years ago. I wanted to do something fantastic with it since it had this awesome hardware and curves. I have a lot of ideas in mind - always do, you know that. The photos are from the results of my experimenting with the homemade paste for removing tarnish.
I like the hardware brighter now, they go well with how my cabinet turned out. This is the type of hardware you can use on any type of doors, as such, Absolute doors have great products for garage doors, in South Africa. (I haven't posted the pictures of the cabinet, buffet, dresser yet. I am slow on uploading.) Before the hardware was cleaned, you couldn't see much of the details, but now, they look like gems to me. Don't you think so? It always amazes me how beautiful things are when they are taken care of. TLC, that was all it took.
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Hardware Cleaning Recipe for Brass or Metal:
1. Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 tsp. salt in a small bowl.
2. Stir until a consistent paste develops.
3. Dip a cleaning rag in the paste mixture, and wipe a thin layer over the tarnished.
Note from experience: Instead of dipping a rag hauling the paste out and polishing the hardware, I dropped all the hardware in the jar Hardware Cleaning Recipe for Brass or Metal and went to bed. The next day I took the hardware out, rinsed and wiped off the paste, and the hardware looked magnificent.
Here are Self Sagacity's Thursday Two Questions #130
1) Did you ever remove tarnish or try to clean any hardware before?
2) Do you have a special formula or technique that you could share?
21 Comments
Amanda, that is so good to know. Great cleaning recipe.
ReplyDeleteI have only polished some silver and brass in the past but always used a store bought product.
I still have the silver polisher. It works on silver great but not on brass.
DeleteI love your homemade remedy. I have switched out hardware on furniture before and loved the new look. It gives it such an awesome new look. I love natural looking wood grains so sometimes I only add some polyurethane. I love the shine, plus the way it makes the furniture more durable and easier to wash.
ReplyDeleteI thought about buying new hardware for my kitchen, but it can be costly. Still there is not way around it, since it doesn't even have any right now. smiles.
DeleteI have usually used barkeeper's friend, but will have to try your mixture.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of people claiming barkeeper's friend works great!
Delete1) Did you ever remove tarnish or try to clean any hardware before?
ReplyDeleteEvery day I had to clean and polish my brass belt buckle when I was in basic trainings (two) for twelve weeks. Lacquering them was against the rules.
2) Do you have a special formula or technique that you could share?
Brasso, sold in the PX.
3) Did you ever rescue any furniture from along the roadside?
I rescued a three legged couch for my apartment when I was in another life. Putting a paint bucket under the left rear corner kept it from tilting.
Right now the printer stand for my computer is an abandoned beside night stand. I painted it brown and removed the doors and added a shelf so as to have an open shelving at the bottom for extra paper, books, program disks, etc.
Nice write up and nice two questions. I hope you mind me having a bonus # 3 question.
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What is Brasso and sold in the PX? Where is PX?
DeleteAs for your third volunteered question, that was awesome! Man, why couldn't I have thought of that? Sounds like you were very good at revamping furniture. I like people who are creative as well.
There are some pieces of brass that are antique and those I don't clean to preserve the patina. I have cleaned my kitchen and bathroom hardware.
ReplyDeleteThere is a product I like called Mothers. It is actually used for the metal on autos but I like it for household hardware as well.
Thanks Judy! I should look for Mothers one of these days. I don't really like the mess this paste makes, but that is the reason it adheres to the pieces.
DeleteTrue that some pieces are meant to be tarnished and not cleaned. Another point that SO made to me that it could be that is the way it is supposed to be?
Oh boy, you're becoming an expert in DIY projects!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your questions: No, I haven't tried removing tarnish on anything..and No, no technique or formula to share. I am not as handy as I thought :-)
What can I say. I am creative at heart, and a saver at soul. I like to save things and make them pretty.
DeleteI haven't done anything like this before. Painting yes, but brass cleaning, no.
ReplyDeleteHowever I might so it would be nice to remember this information.
I can't wait to see the finish!
Happy Thursday Amanda!
You cleaned those up really nice! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'll have to save it for the next time I take on a project like this!
ReplyDeletePowerfull hardware cleaning recipe for brass & Metal! I know what I have to do this week-end.
ReplyDeleteI have never cleaned them! This seems all so novel to me. Thanks for sharing Amanda :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm going to pin this and try on a piece I'm getting ready to work on.
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting today from Crafty Blog Stalker. I hope you can stop by my blog and leave a comment, too!
~ Megin of VMG206
www.vmg206.blogspot.com
And... where did you find the darling Pin It button with the heart?
ReplyDelete~ Megin of VMG206
I searched it in Google. smiles. I don't remember the exact url, but I can send you the image if you like. LMK>
DeleteThanks--I am going to have to try this on my hardware. It is old and needs it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference, I love reading all your hints and tips. Going to pin the post so I can refer back x
ReplyDeleteHave a thought? Please leave a comment here, and I will return as soon as possible. Thanks - If you have a minute, why not check-out the sibbling of Self Sagacity.com Blogger Broadcast. Extra Links = Spam = Delete.