TOP 15 remedies, how and how to clean bronze at home quickly and effectively
Bronze is a material from which both large figurines and small decorative elements are excellent. Objects made in ancient times are particularly popular. If there are bronze objects in the house, the person must know how to clean them.
The reasons for the appearance of plaque
If the statuette was cast recently, it is dark yellow in color. The longer the product is stored, the more intensely it changes color. At first, the surface fades and the figurine becomes dark. A kind of plaque appears as a result of reactions that occur when the metal comes into contact with air.
Professionals distinguish another type of patina - wild. It is a plate with a greenish tint. It occurs after exposure to water vapor on the metal.
The characteristic plate of a green patina is not protective.Being on the surface, it penetrates deep into the metal layer, slowly destroying its structure. Minor depressions turn into depressions over time, spoiling the appearance of the figure.
There is also a black patina. She is also called noble. They are in no hurry to get rid of it, because the products containing it look elegant and antique.
What you might need
Before moving on to metal cleaning, you need to get the necessary tools and devices.
latex gloves
Protects the skin of the hands from the effects of cleaning agents. They are especially relevant when a person deals with chemical compounds.
Paper napkins
Necessary to remove pasty compounds from the surface of the product. They also wick away excess moisture, helping figures dry faster. There should be plenty of towels on hand so you don't have to interrupt work.
Wool and cotton fabric
It will be needed at the very end of the cleaning. With its help, statuettes are rubbed. The delicate material restores radiance.
Container for liquids
No cleaning procedure can do without this device. Depending on the number of products and their volume, a container of the appropriate size is selected.
Small bowls are needed to make pasta. Huge pots are needed to boil bronze objects in different compositions.
Cleaning methods
You don't have to get carried away with the overall cleaning and polishing. Aggressive compounds are used in special cases, since they damage the metal in large quantities.
It is easy to restore the old look of bronze products. The kitchen has a ton of tools that will come in handy in this matter.And we are talking about affordable products.
Chicory powder
Cleaning is done using an instant mix used to prepare drinks. Chicory can be purchased at any convenience store or supermarket. Cleaning is carried out as follows:
- The purchased powder is poured into a bowl.
- Gradually adding water, the mixture is stirred. The resulting mass should resemble dough in appearance.
- Bronze objects are treated with this composition.
- Residues are removed with a brush.
- At the end of the cleaning, the articles are rinsed with water, dried with a towel and dried.
The method is suitable for cleaning small objects.
Lemon juice and soda
Cleaning steps with this method:
- Dust and foreign particles are washed off with warm water.
- In a container, mix the juice of half a lemon and 2 tbsp. I. a soda.
- A homogeneous mass is applied to the product.
- Using a cloth, make circular movements until the stains disappear.
- After that, the gruel is left for 15-20 minutes.
- At the end, it is washed off with warm water and the item is wiped with a cloth.
With this recipe you can restore the lost shine. The procedure is repeated if necessary.
Pea
An excellent method for removing a layer of dust that has remained on the surface of the product for a long time. Cleaning steps:
- The peas are poured into a large pot, and the items that need to be cleaned are sent there.
- The container is filled with water so that the products are completely covered.
- The pan should be on fire for several hours.
- After that, the items are moved into hot water.
- The remnants of peas are removed with a soft brush.
As soon as the surface has been treated, the products are removed from the water. Use a soft cloth to remove moisture.
Pea paste
You will need yellow peas to cook it.It is boiled until cooked, at the end, rubbing until it becomes a thick gruel. Problem areas are covered with paste.
As soon as the pea mass is dry, they begin to clean. Products are washed in boiled water, using a brush if necessary. The figures are wiped with a piece of cloth.
Soap and boiling water
The following method allows you to remove dirt from bronze objects and restore their previous appearance. As soon as the water boils in the pan, bronze objects are placed there. After 3 minutes, liquid soap is added to the water.
The sides of the product should be well covered with foam. After the performed manipulations, the surface is cleaned of soap and dirt. This is where flannel fabric comes in handy.
Citric acid solution
The powder is mixed with baking soda. Warm water is added to the mixture and mixed well. If there are no grains left in the liquid, the solution is ready for use.
Vinegar dough
To prepare an unusual cleaning product, you will need wheat flour, salt and vinegar. Cleaning with vinegar paste begins after pre-washing and drying the product.
Cleaning method:
- Prepared ingredients are mixed in equal quantities, except for vinegar.
- Add liquid at the end. The mixture should resemble the consistency of a thick paste.
- The finished composition is applied to problem areas and carefully rubbed in.
- The actions are repeated three times.
- The agent must remain on the surface until the patina is removed. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
The mixture is removed from the figurines with warm water.Products are wiped with paper towels, paying great attention to depressions and depressions. Not a drop of moisture should remain on bronze objects.
Paste the GOI
If there is no desire or time to prepare cleaning products yourself, you can buy a ready-made composition.
GOI paste - a composition based on chromium oxide, intended for this purpose. It is used according to the instructions.
Sawdust
The method looks exotic, but was popular in ancient times. Sawdust is mixed with vinegar in a glass container. Bronze objects are rubbed with swollen shavings.
For convenience, sawdust is collected in the fabric, and in this form the products are processed. The dirty mix is discarded and a new batch is taken for effective cleaning. The last step is to wash with warm water and towel dry.
Household chemicals
It is not recommended to start cleaning with these products. Suitable only in cases where natural products have not given the desired result. Household chemicals clean heavy dirt on metal.
Acetone
Suitable for wiping products. The cottons are soaked in a liquid, after which the surface of the figurines is treated. The actions are repeated until the discs, after contact with the bronze, are clean.
oxalic acid
The composition is applicable for deep cleaning. A solution is made of water and oxalic acid. For 5 liters of water you will need 100 ml of acid. The products are soaked in a ready-to-use solution.
Ammonia
The liquid is poured into a container, after which the objects to be cleaned are thrown into the same place. The liquid should completely cover the product.After 5-15 minutes, the bronze objects are removed, washed with water and dried.
The method is suitable for cleaning small objects such as jewelry and the like.
Sulfuric acid and potassium
If there is a lot of patina, a potassium/sulphuric acid cleaner will help. The components are miscible with water. After soaking the products in solution, they are placed in ammonia. Then comes rinsing with water and drying.
"Trilon-B" for cleaning parts
Specialized cleaning agent for bronze objects. On its basis, a solution is prepared in which dirty things are immersed. One part of "Trilon-B" is diluted in 10 parts of water. After soaking, they are washed in water and dried.
Useful tips
Experienced antique collectors pay particular attention to bronze objects. It helps to maintain the appearance of objects for a long time.
Paraffin after cleaning
Treating items with paraffin after cleaning will prevent future patina from appearing. In addition, this technique gives the items an extra shine. Wax or alcohol is used instead of paraffin.
Toothpaste for polishing
Toothpaste, without additives or colorants, suitable for prophylactic polishing. Toothpaste is applied to the product and rubbed with a brush. Can be applied with a soft, lint-free cloth or fabric.
Velvet and suede storage
Valuables are separated from each other, wrapped in velvet or suede. In places with high humidity, it is recommended to use silica gel bags. The substance absorbs excess moisture.
Rules of care
Although bronze is considered an unpretentious material, it requires careful and regular maintenance. A person should periodically clean the products from dust. A soft cloth is perfect for this.
Particular attention is paid to curves and grooves, as these are the places where the most dust and dirt accumulate. Following simple tips will help you keep your product in good condition.