How To Clean Bronze Finish Bathroom Fixtures

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Oil rubbed statuary is a cute finished metal used for many home fixtures and hardware. However, due to its nature as a "living" finish, it is susceptible to some natural change and wearable over fourth dimension, including hard h2o spots if the fixture is exposed to moisture. Learn how to properly make clean and intendance for oil rubbed bronze to proceed it looking skilful for generations.

one
Start with water. Wipe your oil rubbed statuary fixture with only water on a soft textile.^[one] Oftentimes water is all that is needed to clean this type of finish.
- Consider advisedly before you utilize some other cleaner besides water. Because of its changing color and quality, oil rubbed bronze needs as petty cleaning every bit possible to maintain its shined finish and natural patina with age.
- Endeavour water start, and always test another cleaner on a small-scale, camouflaged area of your fixture.^[2]
- Dry the fixture immediately with a clean, dry fabric.
two
Use a not-annoying sponge for calorie-free scrubbing. Dampen a soft sponge to remove hard water stains. Buff dry with a soft cloth.
- Don't utilize steel wool or very scratchy, annoying sponges or cloths. Also avoid bleach-based or other harsh cleaners.
- Observe your fixture later on you lot have rubbed gently with a damp sponge and dried information technology. If spots reappear, echo the procedure or consider a vinegar solution if the stains are very bad.
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3
Try a vinegar solution for stubborn stains. Mix one role vinegar with one role water for utilise on more than difficult marks on your bronze finish. Do this for any hard water deposits that merely h2o won't remove.^[3]
- Examination the vinegar mixture on your fixture first by dipping a q-tip into it and applying it to the metal to decide what effect it will have before y'all employ it on the entire surface.
- Gently rub the vinegar mixture onto your fixture with a soft fabric, or soak a paper towel in the mixture and leave information technology on the fixture for about xv minutes.^[4]
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1
Absorb h2o away when you see information technology. Prevent hard water stains from forming by blotting your fixture dry whenever you lot see drops of water. Allowing water to evaporate on the surface is what leaves mineral deposits behind.^[5]
- Use just a dry out material or towel to blot any moisture, without rubbing or buffing.
- Exercise this daily for faucets and other fixtures that are very frequently exposed to water.
ii
Apply a high quality wax. ^[6] Apply a very thin layer of wax intended for metals to your fixture. Do this to help maintain the smoothen and protect against h2o stains.
- Look for a high quality wax like Renaissance Wax, or another brand trusted for use on antiquarian furniture.
- Apply the wax using a soft cloth, ensuring to the all-time of your ability that no excess builds upwards in cracks or other areas of the fixture, leaving a balance.
- Do this maintenance rarely, simply when it appears your finish is wearing unusually thin from damage or overly abrasive cleaning.
three
Wipe downward with oil. Use a very small amount of vegetable oil on your fixture every so often. Don't use so much that it leaves a remainder that volition come off on your hands.
- Note that the oils from human being hands on frequently-touched areas volition naturally add shine and create a lighter coloring on the bronze over fourth dimension.^[vii]
- Practice this maintenance just when it appears your finish is losing shine, either from excessive wear or overly abrasive cleaning.
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1
Sand down your fixture to repaint. Sand down the finish on your fixture if information technology has become severely damaged and you lot decide to repaint it. Starting with sanding volition create an even surface, but isn't always necessary depending on the fixture and impairment.
- Retrieve carefully before you remove the existing oil rubbed terminate on a fixture, as information technology is has been carefully treated and aged over time, which you cannot hands replicate with simple spray pigment or crumbling materials.
- Use a high-grit automotive sandpaper or steel wool to sand down the metallic without unevenly scratching it.^[8]
two
Use a spray cease. ^[ix] Try a spray paint that mimics an oil rubbed bronze finish. Use this method for a quick update to a fixture.^[10]
- Apply a sparse coat of spray primer to your fixture after sanding and before painting. Y'all may find that your oil rubbed statuary spray paint has primer already included, in which instance y'all may skip this step.
- Spray several sparse coats of your spray pigment on rather than one thicker coat to help information technology bind and cure meliorate to the metallic.
- Remember to spray screws and any other related hardware with the same paint terminate. You lot tin insert a spare key into a doorknob you're painting and then that the paint doesn't clog up the keyhole.^[11]
3
Try an aging solution. Use an aging solution on brass to help achieve the same cured look created past oil rubbed bronze. Practise this just for very damaged oil rubbed statuary fixtures.
- Showtime remove existing lacquer using a lacquer thinner and fine-grade steel wool.
- Use an aging solution intended for bronze and brass. Don safety gloves and rubber glasses, as the chemical nature of these solutions can be dissentious or harmful.
- Soak your fixture in the solution as instructed by the specific production, and then rinse in cool water to halt the chemical reaction. You can rub some mineral or vegetable oil on after drying to add shine.^[12]
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Add New Question

Question

Can I soak my oil statuary shower heads in vinegar to clean?

Yes, but make sure it'southward not as well much vinegar otherwise, it will take away the color. Dilute the vinegar in water first.
Question

What can I employ to clean an oil rubbed bronze pelting shower caput to unclog the hose?

Toothpaste with fluoride will work. The chemical reaction volition polish argent, bronze and copper. It will not tarnish or get out a greasy residual. Use steel wool for scouring pad and so non to scratch.
Question

How do I clean a statuary cemetery marker that has turned black?

Apply Brillo pads with soap to scrub the surface, it will bring out the shine. Follow this by a sealer or oil to protect against the elements.

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True oil rubbed bronze is a delicate terminate that should by and large be allowed to historic period on its own without disruption for an authentically painted look. Let for natural discoloration and changes, cleaning as infrequently as possible.

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Commodity Summary 10

To rub downward oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, outset by wiping the fixture down with a damp, soft textile, then drying it with another cloth right away so y'all don't get out water spots. Alternatively, you lot can utilize a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub away whatsoever hard h2o stains. If you lot even so can't get rid of the water stains, make a mixture of equal parts vinegar and h2o and rub it onto the fixture with a soft cloth or paper towels.. Then, let information technology sit for 15 minutes earlier wiping it off and drying the fixture with a soft, dry cloth. For tips on how to refinish damaged oil-rubbed statuary fixtures, read on!

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