Brass

Currently most of my jewelry is handmade with brass. Brass is a durable and strong metal that is an alloy of copper and zinc. It will naturally oxidise when exposed to oxygen. The natural patina will make your piece color darker and though I love the look of the patina it can be easily removed to restore the shine of your piece. Here I will discuss three easy methods that you can try on your pieces. 

Polishing Cloth or Pad

The first method is to use a polishing pad or cloth. Your piece will come with a square pad, don't toss it because it will help you clean your jewelry. We also offer a full size Sunshine polishing cloth, here. These are my favorite cloths and the ones we use at our Studio to easily retouch the pieces. Both the Sunshine cloths and the pad your piece includes have polishing compound impregnated and will only require some rubbing and you will easily see how it polishes the piece. This can be used with gold, silver, brass and other metals. Don't water it because that will remove the polishing compounds from it. Store it in a zip lock bag and use it until it gets completely black.

Ketchup

The second method I tried features one thing you probably have in your kitchen, ketchup. Yes, just ketchup! Cover your piece completely and let it sit for about 8-10 minutes. Wash your piece with warm water to remove any residue and dry with your blower to make sure it is completely dry. 

Salt, Vinegar, Flour

The third method includes some other ingredients you can find in the kitchen. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1/2 cup of vinegar and add flour until it feels like a paste. Cover your piece with the mixture and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Remove with warm water and dry with a blower to make sure it is completely dry. 

You can repeat these methods on your piece if you are not pleased with the result.

In this photo you can see the before (left) and after (right) of the pieces. All methods work great! Now that your jewelry is shiny and clean remember to store it in an airtight place. I always recommend to avoid wearing your jewelry to the beach or pools and do not store your pieces in the bathroom, those will accelerate the tarnishing process. Have you ever tried any of these methods?