Who doesn’t love the appeal that chrome, stainless steel, and polished brass add to your home? Talk about a serious wow factor. But here’s the rough side of having metal be the star of the show: that shine doesn’t last forever. Unless…you take care of it properly.
Before tarnish, rust, and streaks are set into your outdoor furniture or the oven, you’re going to want to know the basics. There are different cleaning methods for different metals, so don’t start shining your kitchen with a one-size-fits-all approach! You’ll also want to study up on how often each metal needs to be cleaned, overdoing it is never good. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a breath—here are all the cleaning solutions you need to keep your metal surfaces looking perfect.
Tools and Materials
You’ll need some tools and materials before you start cleaning your metal. Make sure you have the following:
- Soft cloths
- Soft-bristled brush or toothbrush
- Microfiber cloth
- Dishwashing liquid
- Commercial metal polishes
- Lemons or lemon juice
- Distilled white vinegar
- Table salt
- Baking soda
Things to Know Before Cleaning Metal
There are a few things you should know before cleaning your metal objects. The first step in your cleaning process is to take a look at the metal items’ care instructions—you want to make sure to follow the proper cleaning method. Once you do that, always test your product on a small space that’s not easy to spot. (You want to be 100% certain that it won’t harm the metal!) If your metal is precious, like a piece of jewelry or an antique item, talk to an expert first. And finally, don’t forget: Metals may seem tough, but they’re more sensitive than you’d expect. So, always opt for the softer cleaning tool to prevent scratches.
Different Metal Cleaning Materials
If you want to know the best way to clean metal, then you first have to consider what metal you’re cleaning. Here are different types of home metal cleaners and what they’re used for:
- Lemon juice: Surprise, lemons aren’t just for adding acid to your favorite dish! Lemon juice is also super effective when it comes to cleaning brass, copper, and bronze.
- Vinegar: Copper, brass, and stainless steel will look brand new when you use this pantry staple.
- Bicarbonate: You may know it as baking soda, and it’s a hero when it comes to shining up copper, brass, gold, and silver.
- Olive oil: Not only is olive oil delicious, but it’s also one of the best things you can use when you’re cleaning bronze.
- Beeswax: The stuff that’s in your chapstick doubles as a bronze cleaning pro!
- Natural soap: There’s nothing that some natural soap can’t do for your precious gold pieces.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Some EVOO is your best bet when it comes to getting your stainless steel to look sparkly.
How to Clean Different Types of Metal
How to Clean Aluminum
Your best bet when it comes to cleaning aluminum cookware is washing it with warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. For things like window frames and outdoor furniture, you can use mild soap and then dry it well so you don’t have any streaks!
How to Clean Brass
Nothing looks worse than when your brass tarnishes! Whether it’s a decorative item or a drawer knob, your plan of action here is to use a commercial cleaning product and a soft-bristled brush. Apply the cleaner to the entire surface and then buff it off with your brush and voila!
How to Clean Cast Iron
You want to wash your iron cookware by hand. Use a small amount of dish soap and water to remove food buildup. Dry with a cloth or paper towel and then rub a light layer of cooking oil on the surface to prevent rust. Wipe it off with a towel until no oil remains.
How to Clean Chrome
Chrome faucets or appliances are easily cleaned with a 50/50 solution of distilled vinegar and water. This will keep it super shiny and streak-free. But if you’re looking to help loosen some grime, dip a soft-bristled brush in some baking soda and work it into the surface.
How to Clean Copper
If you’re into the patina look, then just maintain your copper with soap and water. Easy! On the other hand, if you want it to look bright and new, you’re going to want to reach for the acid. You can grab half a lemon, dip it in some salt, and then rub it onto the surface in circular motions. That should do the trick!
How to Clean Gold
You’d think that gold is high-maintenance to clean, but it’s actually pretty simple! All you need to do is give it a nice bath. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid and then drop in your precious jewels. After it soaks, rinse it with clean water and dry it off with a soft cloth.
How to Clean Stainless Steel
The thing about stainless steel is that it can scratch easily. Even worse, water and food leave streaks, which make things annoying if you have a lot of stainless steel appliances in your kitchen. The best way to keep it streak-free without scratching is to clean it with dish soap and then use a microfiber cloth to dry it.
People Also Ask
We’ve gathered some common questions people ask about cleaning metal and provided you with expert answers.
How do you make metal shiny again?
While you’ll want to tailor your cleaning methods to the type of metal you’re working with, a 50-50 solution of distilled white vinegar and water is effective for most tarnished metals.
How do you get stains out of metal?
Again, it’ll depend on the type of stain you’re trying to get out. But baking soda is always a good option for getting rid of pesky stains.
What not to clean metal with?
You should stay far away from anything abrasive (think: steel wool)! It can scratch, dull, or even stain the finish, and you certainly don’t want that.
What are the hacks for cleaning metal?
The best hack for cleaning metal is to take a look inside your pantry. With the help of common household staples like olive oil, lemons, and vinegar, your metal will look sparkly in no time.
As you can see, there are lots of rules when it comes to cleaning metals, like using a soft cloth to prevent scratches and reaching for olive oil when dealing with bronze. If you don’t have the time or patience (totally understandable!) to waste on a DIY job, hire Taskrabbit’s deep cleaning service to help!
