Unlacquered brass is brass that does not have a transparent lacquer layer on top to prevent it from oxidisation. Unlacquered brass is a living finish that is constantly undergoing an aging process.

During this aging process, unlacquered brass can appear blotchy as some spots oxidise more than others. Therefore, to clean and maintain a more consistent finish for your unlacquered brass hardware, you can use one of the following methods. 

1. Lemon and baking soda

Lemon and baking soda are very effective cleaning agents. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a bowl, add enough baking soda so that it forms a paste. Use a cloth to rub this paste onto the brass and buff. 

Once you are done, wipe off the residue and dry the brass handle or hardware with a soft towel. 

2. Flour and vinegar 

Similar to method 1, mix flour and vinegar so that they form a paste. Repeat the same process until the shine in your brass is restored. 

3. Ketchup 

Not many people know that this popular household ingredient could be used as a brass cleaner. Squirt some ketchup over your brass and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth. 

4. Toothpaste

Another surprising brass cleaning agent is toothpaste. Similar to the first two methods, apply a small amount of toothpaste and rub it onto your brass until you see the shine. The tiny abrasives in toothpaste can work wonder on restoring your brass hardwares. 

5. Yogurt

It gets even more unexpected but yes you can use yogurt to clean your brass hardware. Rub a layer of yogurt onto the brass and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse and rub it dry. 

There you have it. Give these a try and let us know how you go.