budget question - brass kickplate on front door - how to clean it?

[Grumpy's Gal]

ok - you all know those brass kickplates on the front door? I don't know if it's real brass or not but ours has gotten "dulled" and I'd like to clean it and spruce it up a bit. Any ideas? I'm trying to avoid replacing or spending $50 on some fancy kickplate cleaner.

 

[mtblujeans]

I don't know too much about those. Does it have a film protector on it? If not, you might try Brasso. My ex used it to clean up any brass stuff on his uniform. It is like a silver polish/cream. You smear it on and wipe it off and the brass is shiney. You might try it on a corner of the kickplate and give it a couple of days to make sure it isn't going to damage it (although I don't think it will) before using it on the entire surface.

Here is a link as to what the can looks like: http://www.officeworld.com/Worlds-Biggest-Selection/RAC76523EA/06Q3/

I imagine you could find it at Walmart.....?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Also, if you can't get it shiny again...look to see if the other side is not tarnished yet and just flip it over.

 

[MayMom]

If Brasso doesn't work it probably isn't real brass - I would buy the brass look" spray paint from Lowes and spray paint it. I did this to some copper lights in my front yard and they turned out great!

 

[ducklite]

I was going to suggest Brasso as well. Be careful, it's not as thick as silver polish and comes out fast and messy. My son uses it to polish his Civil War reenactment stuff.

Anne

 

[KingTryton]

You probably will not believe this but, try using ketchup. I have cleaned brass / copper pipes with it before in a restaurant. We were not allowed to use toxic cleaners of any type. It really does work! Try not to laugh too much until you let it sit on there about ten minutes then wipe it off.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

All it is tarnish. If you regularly maintain it it isn't so bad--you just need to look for a specific brass cleaner that i think you can even get at Walmart. No idea what it is called though.

Just remember polishing the banisters in the Vero Beach Resort when I worked there.

 

[luvsgrumpy]

I use "Copper Glo" for my RevereWare pots and pans, the container says it works well on brass too. It comes in a powder, the container is just like "Ajax", just sprinkle it on a damp surface, etc.

Lisa

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for asking this question - we have this problem as well and I never thought to ask for advice here

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Thanks for asking this question - we have this problem as well and I never thought to ask for advice here

Oh BELIEVE ME when I say......there is someone on the budget board who knows the answer to every question.....I am sure of it! You just have to find the right person.

And often times if you ask the question at the hardware store, they will sell you a $100 solution when someone here could help you achieve the same result for $5.

 

[CarolA]

OK. If you have the "el cheapo" that was on my first front door it's not brass and the brasso may not work. It's cheap painted metal. I would think that the painting idea would work on it.... (I tried everything except the paint, finally just replaced the thing. El Cheapo doesn't flip over by the way. However, the new one really was not very costly)