Brass fixtures can be a unique and unexpected feature in various rooms in the home, but exposure to oxygen, water, and other elements can cause the metal to tarnish over time. Since things like kitchen and bathroom faucets are exposed to moisture and oils from hands every day, it's important to clean brass regularly to ensure it looks its best.

Tarnish is only the first stage of corrosion. If a tarnished piece of brass is left for too long, the layer can eventually thicken up until it can't be wiped away to reveal the original shiny surface underneath.

The first thing you need to determine before cleaning a brass faucet or fixture is whether it's solid brass or brass plated. To do this, grab a magnet and see if it sticks to the surface. If it does, the piece is brass-plated. Be careful not to rub or polish brass-plated items too aggressively, as doing so can remove the plating.

Plated or not, it's important that you avoid cleaning brass objects with abrasive scrubbing cloths, metal-bristle brushes, or steel wool.

Simple Green Pro HD Heavy-Duty Cleaner quickly removes the oils and everyday dirt that may expedite brass tarnishing. The concentrated formula can be diluted to best suit your specific metal cleaning needs in and around your home.

Lastly, if you have heavy tarnish on lacquered brass pieces, you will need to remove the lacquer with a paint or varnish remover to clean them. After the pieces are cleaned and polished, you can then re-lacquer.

Directions for Cleaning Brass Fixtures and Faucets:

1. Mix your Simple Green solution. Dilute ½ a cup of Simple Green Pro HD Heavy-Duty Cleaner with 2 ½ cups of water in an empty spray bottle.
2. Apply Simple Green Pro HD. Spray your Simple Green Pro HD solution onto the surface.
3. Scrub. Use a wet, soft toothbrush to scrub, paying close attention to the crevices.
4. Rinse. Rinse the surface with clean water or thoroughly wipe down with a damp cleaning cloth.
5. Dry. Buff with a dry cloth.
6. Polish. Simple Green Pro HD is not a polish, so follow up with a polishing compound to make the fixture shine.

Do not soak brass items in Simple Green Pro HD. Long soak times in any alkaline, water-based cleaner can cause dingy, grey discoloration.