Brass faucets can add a timeless, classic appeal to your bathroom, turning an ordinary sink area into a luxurious one. The downside is that brass is a soft metal, and thus highly susceptible to surface blemishes and even corrosion if not properly maintained.

Made from a combination of zinc and copper, brass is found in cookware, jewelry, musical instruments, and home decor. Exposure to oxygen, water, and other elements can cause this popular metal to corrode or tarnish over time.

The first thing you need to determine before cleaning is whether the item is solid brass, or brass-plated. Grab a magnet and see if it sticks to the item. If it does, the piece is brass-plated, as magnets will not stick to solid brass. Be careful not to rub or polish brass-plated items too aggressively, as doing so can remove the plating.

Plated or not, it's also important that you avoid using abrasive scrubbing cloths, metal-bristled brushes, or steel wool to clean your brass pieces.

Lastly, if you have lacquered brass fixtures that are heavily tarnished, you will need to remove the lacquer with a paint or varnish remover in order to clean them. After the pieces are cleaned and polished, you can then re-lacquer.

Directions for Cleaning Brass Faucets

1. Apply Simple Green Pro HD. Spray Simple Green Pro HD Heavy-Duty Cleaner onto the surface.
2. Scrub. Use a wet, soft toothbrush to scrub, paying close attention to crevices.
3. Rinse. Rinse the fixture with clean water or thoroughly wipe down with a damp cloth.
4. Dry. Buff dry with a microfiber cloth.
5. Polish. Simple Green Pro HD safely cleans brass but does not polish it, so follow up with a polishing compound to shine.

TIP: Try to avoid touching your brass items as much as possible, as the oils in your skin can hasten tarnishing.

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