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Oxidisation
occurs on bronze, copper, brass, aluminium and other metals, while
rust usually attacks iron and steel. There are many ancient recipes
for cleaning metal, and many new polishes, liquids and appliances
you can buy. Read the label if you are unsure which cleaner to use
on which metal. They should not be used on surfaces, which have
been lacquered to prevent tarnish unless the lacquer is stripped
off first. Keeping metal surfaces free of excess moisture is the
best way to prevent corrosion. Metals exposed to humidity should
be coated with a protective lubricant or bare metals coated with
clear plastic or lacquer.
Brass
and copper.
An
economical cleaner for brass and copper is made by cutting a lemon
in half, salting it and using to clean the surface then wash and
dry. Stubborn stains can often be removed from tarnished copper
by rubbing with a mixture of salt and vinegar. Abrasive glass cleaner
may also be used and the items polished afterwards. Rubbing with
a tablespoon each of kerosene and soda bicarbonate can treat green
verdigris stains.
Chrome.
Chrome
taps will stay gleaming if rubbed with a handful of flour then polished
with a soft cloth. To make your own chrome polish, moisten a soft
cloth with methylated spirits or soda water then rub well and polish
with a clean cloth.
Aluminium.
As
soon as you see pitting - a sign of oxidisation, remove by rubbing
with fine steel wool, either dry or with a metal cleaner. When clean,
coat with wax polish or lacquer.
Silver.
Badly
tarnished silver can be rejuvenated this way:
Fill
an aluminium saucepan with water to cover article and add a teaspoon
of cream of tartar. Boil item for 10 minutes or more for bad tarnishing,
then rinse and polish with a silver polishing cloth. An easy way
to apply silver polish to carved or embossed items is by using an
old toothbrush.
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