Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Bronze is a durable metal, but only if it is carefully and constantly cared for. Any changes in temperature, high humidity and other negative factors lead to the formation of an unaesthetic greenish coating on the bronze surface. This is the result of metal oxidation – the situation is not uncommon, but correctable. True, removing such pollution is not so simple. We have collected for you the most effective and affordable tools that will help you to clean bronze products with high quality.
Effective Home Remedies
Potassium sulfur solution
This is a powerful tool for fast and effective cleaning of heavily oxidized metal. To prepare the solution, you will need 1 liter of purified water, 20 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid, 10 mg of potassium dichromate. First you need to pour potassium into the water, then carefully, gradually pour in the acid.
Pour the prepared solution into a glass container. Lower the product covered with a layer of green patina there. Follow the process of removing oxides. After their disappearance, immediately remove the bronze and immerse it in an ammonia solution (if the product is too large, wash it with ammonia). After that, be sure to rinse under running warm water and wipe dry.
Vinegar wood solution
This option is relevant for minor contamination of bronze: the solution is suitable for removing small stains, updating the appearance of the metal. Step one is to degrease the surface. To do this, use a soda solution. Dissolve some soda ash in warm water. Put the bronze in there and rub gently. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Wipe dry.
Step two is to soak the sawdust with enough acetic acid to make the wood swell properly. With the resulting mass, rub the surface of the product (apply the mixture and wipe the metal comfortably with a woolen rag). At the end of the process, rinse the bronze under running water. Wipe dry.
Pea decoction
If not a green coating appears on the bronze surface, but a thick, old layer of dust, possibly infested with flies, boiling in pea broth will help. Put the product in a suitable container, place the contaminated bronze object there, fill it all with water and put it on the stove. Cook over low heat for a couple of hours. Then you need to remove the product from the broth, place it in a container with clean warm water for several minutes and wipe it with a soft brush. Remove from water and dry thoroughly.
If rust is suddenly found on a bronze figurine, dishes, coins and other products, peas will also help solve the problem. Only in this case, you will need not a decoction, but a slurry prepared from yellow peas boiled until cooked (you need to knead it in mashed potatoes hot). Thickly cover the rusty parts of the product with the resulting pea mass and leave until the product cools completely. Then thoroughly wash the bronze with boiling water, gently brushing off the rust with an old toothbrush. Finally dry the metal.
Tsikoriy
The active ingredient in this recipe is a regular instant drink – chicory powder. Pour the required amount of chicory into any convenient container. Add enough water there to get a thick mixture, resembling something like dough in consistency. Cover the bronze surface with a thick layer of chicory and clean thoroughly using a brush or an old toothbrush. After washing the product with clean warm water and dry with a woolen or cotton cloth.
lemon solution
Lemon juice in combination with baking soda can work wonders – a mixture of these components restores the bronze to its former brilliance. The first step is to wash the metal with clean warm water. This will remove dust and coarse dirt. Pour 50 g of soda into a suitable container, squeeze a little lemon juice into the same place to get a fairly thick mass.
Apply the resulting mixture in any convenient way (you can use an old toothbrush or a dry cloth). You need to work exclusively with gloves. Movements should be accurate, quite intense. Wipe the surface of the product as much as necessary to remove traces of dirt. Then leave the composition on the metal for another 15 minutes. Wash off the mixture with a stream of warm water. Wipe the item dry.
Vinegar-salt solution
The first step is to wash the bronze in warm water without the addition of detergents. Then mix the flour and table salt finely ground, taken in equal proportions. Pour a little table vinegar into it to make a paste-like mixture. Apply the resulting composition to the surface of the metal and carefully rub it with a dry cloth. Repeat the steps several times (apply the mixture, wipe with a cloth, etc.). Apply the paste for the last time and leave it for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse under running warm water. Wipe bronze dry.
We use household chemicals
Ammonia
Ideal for cleaning small bronze items (eg coins). Pour a small amount of ammonia solution into a deep container. Immerse a plaque-covered bronze object there. After 5-7 minutes, remove using tweezers (you can do it with your hands, after putting on gloves) and rinse under running warm water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. If necessary, the steps can be repeated.
Oxalic acid
Best Bronze Deep Cleaner: Oxalic acid can easily remove not only stains and tarnish, but also severe patina marks. We proceed from the calculation that 1 g of oxalic acid in powder is required for 20 liter of water. The contaminated bronze product must be lowered into the resulting solution. Closely monitor the process of its darkening. Remove the metal from the solution, immediately rinse thoroughly with cool water. Wipe dry with a woolen cloth.
Acetone
An easy and reliable way to give your bronze a new-metal shine. Soak a cotton pad in acetone. Wipe the metal surface, paying particular attention to heavily soiled areas. Then be sure to rinse the product with clean water, wipe dry and polish with a woolen cloth.
Valuable tips
To prolong the life of bronze products, regular and proper care is important. A few simple and valuable tips will help you do this:
To prevent the appearance of a patina on the metal surface, the bronze product must be rubbed with paraffin or alcohol, using a soft cloth for polishing. This is an easy and effective way to add shine to bronze and create a protective layer that will prevent the formation of blue-green deposits.
If the surface of the bronze is tarnished, a saline solution will quickly solve the problem. It is enough to briefly lower the product into the prepared composition, and then carefully rub it with a slice of fresh lemon.
To prevent bronze from oxidizing, it is important to maintain the optimum temperature and humidity levels in the room where it is stored.
Corrosive chemicals can only be used if there is a complete understanding of how to properly mix such components with other reagents.
Intensive methods of influencing bronze are admissible only in case of strong oxidation of the metal. Regular care of this metal (to avoid damage to the glossy finish) involves the use of only a cloth (wet for cleaning and dry for polishing).
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.