The brass handle is the perfect way to add a touch of 20th Century elegance to your kitchen renovation. They invoke a sense of opulence that is perfect for homeowners looking to invigorate their kitchen. What’s more, they are made from top quality materials that ensure their strength and longevity.
However, like all home hardware, your kitchen handles require the occasional clean and a bit of maintenance to retain their golden aesthetic. But don’t stress, as cleaning them is a truly simple process, that whilst easy will add plenty of longevity to your hardware!
Here, we are going to list five essential tips for cleaning your brass hardware, just to ensure that they are always fresh, clean and aesthetically-brilliant!
- Clean them regularly
Yes, it’s that simple – you really just have to clean your beautiful antique brass cabinet handles regularly! Because, after all, any kitchen hardware that is allowed to accumulate endless amounts of dust, dirt, grime and muck is sure to depreciate somewhat. And, of course, what’s the point of renovating the entire space if you’re only going to allow the kitchen muck to get the best over time?
To clean: Just give them the occasional wipe with a soft cloth and mild soap solution – it will get that unwanted muck right off!
- Polish occasionally
Of course, this material is one that enjoys the occasional polish to maintain its sparkling aesthetic. Brass is synonymous with polishing, and your hardware will enjoy the occasion polish/buffing combination to ensure they always look fresh and shining. What’s more, polishing is super easy, and only takes a few minutes once you’ve got the polishing manufacturer’s instructions down pat.
To polish: Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply the polish and buff it down with a soft cloth (as rough cloths can potentially scratch the material!).
- Ensure they are dry
Water can have an unfortunate corrosive effect on this material. And, we know that drying your hardware after cleaning can be a little tedious, but it’s an imperative step to ensuring your stunning hardware maintains their original, sophisticated aesthetic.
To dry: Simply grab a dry, soft cloth (separate from the one you cleaned them with) and give them a quick wipe down.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals
You should always avoid exposing your stunning new kitchen hardware to abrasive or corrosive chemicals like bleach or ammonia. These chemicals aren’t made for your handles and can have a very negative impact on what is typically a very strong and sturdy material.
Instead: Stick to the aforementioned soft soap and polish solution to ensure your hardware receives an efficiently-safe clean.
- Consider a protective coating
Like other metals, this is one that enjoys a protective coating to ensure it remains of the highest quality. And, given that you’ve put in the effort and finances to renovate your kitchen, you want kitchen designs and its hardware to last longer. As such, the protective coating is the best way to ensure your hardware will remain largely risk-free from abrasions and corrosion.
To protect: Apply a simple solution of wax or lacquer to your hardware to ensure it retains its stunning aesthetic.
It’s really all that simple. You don’t have to go to cleaning extremes to ensure your beautiful and brilliant hardware stays that way. Instead, you just have to give it the occasional wipe down, polish and maybe a protective coating to ensue it retains its sophisticated brilliance!
