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How To Clean Metals

In amongst all the stuff accumulated over the years, we have found notes, articles, and clippings on how to clean metals.

Aluminum

To clean aluminum wash with a solution of hot soapy water and a little ammonia. Dry thoroughly and rub with dry table salt, then polish with a soft cloth.

Another method is to boil two teaspoons of cream of tartar mixed in a quart of water in the aluminum pan. Ten minutes will do it.

Brass

To clean very dirty brass, boil the article in a pan of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar for several hours.
Wash engraved and Indian brass in soapy water and polish with a chamois cloth. If it is stained, rub with lemon juice and salt, then wash immediately in hot soapy water. Rinse, dry and polish with a chamois cloth.
Never scour lacquered or varnished brass. Apply a paste made of lemon juice and cream of tartar, and leave on for five minutes. Then wash in warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
To remove lacquer, sponge the article with denatured alcohol. Lemon juice mixed with metal polish will help to keep the article clean longer.

Brass Monkey

Bronze

To clean bronze, dust well, then rub the surface with a little warmed linseed oil, and polish with a chamois cloth.

Copper

Wash in hot soapy water and rub dry with a soft chamois cloth, then air thoroughly. To clean very dirty copper, boil the article in a pan of water with salt and white vinegar for several hours.
If tarnished, rub with a mixture of salt and white vinegar of half a lemon dipped in salt. Rinse quickly and wash in hot soapy water. Then rinse again and dry well.
If the article is caked with grime and smoke, or corroded in areas, soak in a weak solution of ammonia and cold water and gently rub with steel wool (grade 000). Dry quickly and polish with a paste made from wood ash and denatured alcohol.

Door Plates

When cleaning door plates, cut the exact shape and size of the door plates out of thick cardboard. Place the template round the plate while cleaning to protect the surrounding surface.

Hazel

We all need a little help every now and then.

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Egg Stained Silver

Rub salt on egg-stained silver with the fingertips, then rinse well and clean as usual.

Enamel

Scrub enamelware with washing soda and hot water, then rinse and dry. If stained, rub with lemon juice and salt, then rinse and dry.

Gold

Wash plain gold articles in lukewarm soapy water and dry with a cotton cloth, then polish vigorously with a chamois cloth.
Wash filigree gold in lukewarm water and a little ammonia added, then dry and polish with a chamois cloth.

Iron and Steel

If the article is in good condition, gently rub with fine emery paper and wipe with a soft cloth dipped in olive oil.
If the article is rusty, soak in kerosene for one or two days to soften the rust, then gently rub the surface, while wet, with emery paper.
If the rust is very bad, flake it off with an old knife or chisel, then soak in kerosene and brush briskly with a wire brush. When clean, rub with emery powder.
In all cases, when clean, dry thoroughly and seal the surface from the air with petroleum jelly or a mineral oil.

Pewter

Mix a thick paste made of cigar ash or whiting and linseed oil. Wet a cloth in a mixture of equal parts of linseed oil and turpentine, and use this to apply the paste to the article. When clean, wash in hot soapy water, dry thoroughly and polish with a chamois cloth.

Silver Dip

Half fill a Mason jar with thin aluminum foil, then add 2 tablespoons kosher salt, and fill the jar with cold water. Cover the jar carefully and keep it near the kitchen sink. Dip stained cutlery in the mixture and leave for two minutes to remove the stains, then rinse thoroughly.

Silver Jewelry

Rub the article with toothpaste or damp tooth powder with a soft cloth. Rinse well in warm water and polish with a chamois cloth.

Silver Polishes

Dissolve 2 tablespoons powdered alum and 1/2 cup talcum powder in 1 cup cold water. When thoroughly mixed, add 4 tablespoons ammonia and 4 tablespoons turpentine, then shake the mixture well. Bottle and keep well corked. Shake before use.
Or make a paste of tailor's chalk and denatured alcohol, or water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Apply the paste to the silver as usual and rub clean with a soft cloth.

Rosie

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Silver Polishing Cloths

Mix 1 cup water with silver paste and soak old towels in the mixture. When saturated, hang the cloths up to dry without squeezing. Use these cloths to dry silver after washing.

Stainless Steel

Rub stains with a paste made of tailor's chalk and water, then wash in hot soapy water; rinse well and dry. Do not use chemical cleaners or silver polish.

Zinc

To clean zinc, rub with a mixture of salt and white vinegar, or half a lemon dipped in salt. Rinse well and dry thoroughly and polish with a soft cloth.

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