If your brass faucet has seen better days, you may be wondering how to restore an old brass kitchen faucet so it shines again. While it’s not the most common material in kitchens, brass is a great choice for faucet construction because of its high corrosion resistance, and its durability under frequent use. However, just like any other metal, even brass can become coated with nasty mineral deposits over time. Fortunately, restoring your old faucet isn’t nearly as hard as you might think! In this article, we give you tips on how to clean and polish an old best brass kitchen faucets so it shines again.
Cleaning Your Brass Faucet
The very first step in how to restore an old brass kitchen faucet is to clean off all the gunk that’s built up on the surface. This is especially important if you want to restore a faucet that’s been in your home for a long time. If you don’t want to be scrubbing mineral deposits off your faucet every week, it’s best to clean off any built-up grime, soap scum, and hard water stains before trying to polish the faucet.
Your first step in how to clean a brass kitchen faucet is to grab a bucket or bowl and fill it with warm water. Then add a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid or another mild liquid cleaner. Clean your faucet by using a sponge or rag, along with the cleaning solution, and gently scrub away any built-up crud.
Polish Your Brass Faucet
Once you’ve cleaned off all the loose grime and built-up mineral deposits on your brass faucet, it’s time to start polishing. For polishing your brass kitchen faucet, the first thing you need is to pick the right polish for your faucet. If you’re not sure what kind of polish to use, you can always reach out to the manufacturer and ask for advice. Most manufacturers are happy to help their customers out. However, there are a few different types of polishes that are commonly used for brass faucets, including:
– Brass/Copper Cream – If you want to remove tarnish from your faucet and restore its shine, a brass/copper cream is a good choice. This cream is usually meant to be used on fixtures that are made of brass or copper, like faucets.
– Brass Polish – If you want to bring back the shine to your brass faucet, a brass polish is a way to go. You can find brass polishes in both liquid and paste form. For the best results, you’ll want to use a brass polish made with beeswax.
– Brass/Copper Cleaner – If you’re looking for a product that can both remove tarnish and clean off mildew and dirt, you may want to try a brass/copper cleaner. These cleaners should be non-toxic and mild enough that you can use them on your faucets.
– Natural Cleaning Solutions – Some people avoid using chemicals on their brass fittings and faucets, so they may choose to use a cleaning solution made from natural ingredients instead. One example of a natural cleaning solution is a mixture of white vinegar and water.
Re-Coating Your Faucet
If your brass faucet was particularly tarnished or dirty before you started the cleaning process, it’s possible that you stripped off the original coating. If this is the case, you may need to re-coat your faucet. Brass is an alloy that contains zinc. Since zinc is not very corrosion-resistant, brass faucets are often plated with a protective coating made from a different metal.
If you’re not sure how your brass faucet is coated, it’s best to reach out to the manufacturer for advice. If your faucet is simply dirty, but not stripped, you can clean it as described above. If it is stripped, you can use a brush to remove loose deposits, then brush on a thin coat of silver (or another coating) paint. Let the paint dry, then use a high-quality varnish, and let that dry.
How to Re-coat a Brass Faucet
If your faucet is not currently plated, or if you want to change the look of your faucet with a different finish, you can re-plate your faucet. To re-plate a brass faucet, you first need to clean off the faucet to remove any loose deposits and grime. Then, you can begin applying the finish of your choice.
If you’ve stripped the finish from your faucet, you can apply a new finish by painting your faucet with a brush, letting it dry, and then applying a top coat of varnish. If your faucet is not stripped of its original finish, you can apply a different finish to your faucet by sanding the existing finish off, cleaning the faucet, and then applying the new finish to the faucet.
Conclusion
Brass may not be the most common material for kitchen faucets, but it’s a great choice for its durability and resistance to corrosion. However, all that time in water and other chemicals will leave your faucet looking dull and dirty. Luckily, it’s easy to clean and polish your brass faucet so it shines again.
To restore your brass faucet, start by cleaning off any built-up grime and mineral deposits, and then use brass polish to bring back the shine. If your faucet is stripped of its original finish, you can re-coat it with a new finish by sanding the finish off, cleaning the faucet, and then applying a new finish.
