Green patina copper how to#

Your choice of cleaner depends on what you are trying to remove from your metal. JAX manufactures metal cleaners that are optimal for prepping your metal, but there is no one cleaner that will guarantee perfection. To ensure the best results, clean your metal of all lacquer, oil, grease and wax. Prepare and clean the surface to be treated.

Never wear your bronze jewelry into a swimming pool, as the chlorine wears at the metal.JAX Green Patina for Brass, Bronze and Copper.

Rub your bronze jewelry with a soft cloth after each wear to remove body oils.

Apply moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup, and other skincare products before putting on bronze jewelry.

It’s this process of oxidation that creates patina.

Store your bronze jewelry, coins, and valuables that aren’t on display in airtight plastic bags to reduce exposure to oxygen.

If the dust is thick, rinse the piece in warm water to remove it, and then dry the metal thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Regularly dust bronze statues and décor.

Green patina copper how to#

Keep Your Bronze Looking Its BestĪfter you’ve followed either set of steps for how to clean bronze, you can maintain its shine following these tips: STEP 8Īpply one or two drops of olive oil to the rag, and then burnish the metal to bring out its shine. STEP 7ĭry the bronze with a soft, clean rag. Use warm water to rinse away the paste, rubbing gently to remove any residue. Let the paste remain on the bronze for an hour or more. Rub in small circles to work the paste over the entire surface of the metal, including any crevices. Protect your hands with thin rubber work gloves and use your fingers or a clean rag to rub the paste onto the bronze. Slowly drip white vinegar into the bowl, mixing until the cleaner has the consistency of thick paste. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of table salt and two tablespoons of white flour. Rinse your bronze jewelry or décor under warm water to remove dust, and then dry the piece with a clean, soft rag. This plan takes a bit longer, but you won’t have to rub as hard. Photo: Method 2: Cleaning Bronze with Salt STEP 9Īpply two or three drops of olive oil to your rag and gently burnish the clean bronze to bring out its muted shine. If patina still remains, repeat the above steps. Gently dry your bronze with a second soft cloth. Rinse the bronze thoroughly under warm water, rubbing with your fingers to remove all of the paste. Let the paste dwell on the bronze for half an hour. Continue to rub until you don’t see any more obvious spots. Focus on any especially heavy areas of patina. With a polishing cloth, soft rag, or scrap of an old T-shirt, work the paste into the metal with small, circular motions. If the piece has many nooks and crannies or ornate trim, use an old toothbrush to work the paste into the crevices. Protect your hands with lightweight household work gloves, and then smear the cleaning paste over your bronze piece, using your fingers if the piece is small or a rag if it is large. You might see a little bubbling or some fizzing for a minute or two this is normal. STEP 3ĭrip lemon juice-either fresh or concentrate-very slowly over the baking soda until the mixture is just wet enough to create a paste similar in consistency to toothpaste. Pour two tablespoons of baking soda into a small bowl. Wipe the metal dry with a soft, clean towel or rag. This first option is fast-working but requires ample elbow grease.įirst, rinse your bronze jewelry or décor in warm water to remove dust.

Here are two easy and effective methods for how to clean bronze. Luckily, you don’t need smelly or potentially caustic chemicals to clean bronze and polish the metal in fact, you can easily get the job done with just a few household ingredients. While some people appreciate the patina-it does impart an air of great age, even if it’s actually a fairly new piece-most prefer to restore bronze to its original glow.