How to Care for Brass (Without Ruining the Finish)

Brass is one of those materials that gets better with age, as long as you know what you're working with. Polish the wrong piece and you can strip away the very finish you chose it for. Leave a seaside door knocker alone for a year and it may turn a surprising shade of green.

Here's how to look after your brass, whether it lives in the bathroom, on the kitchen dresser or on your front door.

Why brass changes colour

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. When it meets air and moisture, the surface slowly oxidises and darkens. This is called tarnish, or patina.

Three things speed it up: humidity, salt air and the oils from our hands. So a hook by the beach shower will change faster than a knob in a dry hallway. In coastal homes you may also see verdigris, a blue-green crust that forms where salt and moisture sit for a while.

None of this damages the brass. It's a surface change, and you get to decide how much of it you like.

First, know your finish

Antique finish. This brass has been deliberately darkened to look aged, so the detail stands out in the recesses. Don't polish it. Brass polish will strip the darker tone back to bright metal, unevenly. Clean it with a soft, damp cloth and a drop of mild dish soap, then dry it well.

Gold or polished finish. This is bright, shiny brass. Some bright brass has a clear protective coating, and some is left raw.

• If it's coated, clean it only with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Polish and abrasives will scratch through the coating.
• If it's raw, it will slowly tarnish. You can polish it back to a shine whenever you like (see below), or let it age naturally.

Not sure which you have? Check the product description, or ask us.

Everyday cleaning (all brass)

1. Dust with a dry microfibre cloth.
2. Wipe with a cloth dampened in warm water and a drop of mild dish soap.
3. Dry thoroughly straight away. Water left sitting is what causes spotting.

Avoid bleach, ammonia-based sprays and abrasive scourers. They can pit and discolour brass.

Bringing raw brass back to a shine

For bright brass with no coating:

1. Mix the juice of half a lemon with a tablespoon of bicarb soda into a paste.
2. Rub it on gently with a soft cloth, following the shape of the piece.
3. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water.
4. Dry completely, then buff with a clean, dry cloth.

A commercial brass polish does the same job faster. Always test on the back or underside first.

Removing verdigris: make a paste of white vinegar, salt and a little plain flour. Apply it to the green patches, leave for 10–15 minutes, then scrub gently with a soft toothbrush. Rinse, dry and buff.

Brass outdoors and by the sea

House numbers, letters and door knockers face sun, rain and salt every day. Expect them to darken. Most people find a weathered brass number looks better in year three than on day one.

If you'd rather slow it down:

• Wax it. After cleaning and drying, apply a thin coat of microcrystalline or car wax and buff it off. It acts as a barrier against moisture and salt. Reapply every few months, more often on beachfront homes.
• Rinse after storms. A quick wipe with fresh water removes salt before it can build up.
• Mind the fixings. Use brass or stainless steel screws so you don't get rust streaks.

Brass in the kitchen and bathroom

• Toilet roll holders and towel hooks: wipe dry after showers, and keep spray cleaners off them.
• Cutlery and salad servers: hand wash in warm soapy water and dry immediately. Don't put brass in the dishwasher. Detergents will dull and spot it.

Patina or polish? Your call

There's no right answer. Some people polish their brass hooks every season. Others love the deep, lived-in tone that comes with time. That's the beauty of real brass: it changes with your home.

Explore the full LUXE Brass collection, including our brass house numbers, Palm Tree Brass Door Knocker and much-loved Pineapple Brass Hook. Free shipping on all LUXE Brass (WA & NT excluded).