Bronze, with a basic composition of copper and tin, is one of the oldest materials in the world (hence the Bronze Age, between 3300 and 1200 BC), as well as one of the most traded globally for its high potential for thermal and electrical conductivity, for being resistant to wear and corrosion and for its economical price.
Jewelry, musical instruments, decorative objects, coins, doorknobs, trophies, pots, bells, sculptures, tools, pieces of mechanical and electrical equipment, wiring… We live surrounded by objects made of this material. In this way, sooner or later anyone may have a question about how to clean bronze.
It is possible to restore all the splendor to bronze. The first step is to remove the dust and traces of dirt that have accumulated on the object, for which all you have to do is rub it gently with the help of a cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth.
Before polishing, it is recommended to carry out a cleaning test on a small, inconspicuous area of ??the object to check that the product we are going to use is not going to be harmful.
One of the simplest and most popular methods to clean bronze is to dilute a little neutral soap in warm water. Some people replace soap with multipurpose cleaner or neutral dish soap. Whatever the cleaning product chosen, the next step is to wet a cloth with the mixture and wring it well before going over the bronze object with it.
All that remains is to rinse the object well with water so that there is no trace of the cleaning product and dry with a clean cloth. And for those looking to add a protective layer, linseed oil or a mineral oil often works very well.
Now, sometimes soap and water is not enough, especially if the bronze has blackened. For these cases, and once it has been cleaned as explained above, you can carry out different homemade tricks:
1. FLOUR, SALT, SOAP AND VINEGAR. Mix flour, salt and soap in equal parts in a container (a tablespoon of each ingredient) and add vinegar until you get a dense paste. All that remains is to cover the surface of the object with the mixture, leave it to act for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water and dry with a cloth.
2. KETCHUP. This sauce helps remove rust. All you have to do is apply ketchup directly on the brush, rubbing it in circular movements with the help of a cloth, let it sit for a few minutes, rinse with warm water and dry. The only thing you have to be careful about is not to exceed the exposure time of this tomato sauce seasoned with vinegar and sugar with the metal, since the acids can go from helping to remove dirt to damaging the element in question. .
3. COCA COLA. The specialized store Masferreteria points out this drink as another bronze cleaning method: “Let screws or coins sit in Coca Cola for a few hours and watch how the dirt comes off.” You can also use a sponge to moisten it with the famous soda and then go over the object with it.
4. TOOTHPASTE. Toothpaste is another ally for all types of metal cleaning. In this case you should rub the paste on the jewelry with a toothbrush. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe with a dry cloth until the piece regains its shine.
5. BAKING CARBONATE AND LEMON. A paste is made by mixing lemon juice with baking soda, and then applying it directly to the bronze piece. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes, rinse with warm water and dry. And ready.
6. AMMONIA. Immerse the object in a mixture of equal parts ammonia and water for about 10 minutes. Next, rinse with plenty of water and dry. It is worth remembering that extreme caution must be taken when handling this chemical product.
In all this, the type of object must always be taken into account. For example, to clean a bronze watch it is advisable to use a cotton ball soaked in a solution of water and vinegar.
