Cleaning the brass

Mix lemon juice and salt, apply with an old toothbrush or cloth and rub well. You can wipe or wash it off, very messy but effective!

That's one of DH's jobs
He uses Duraglit. If you've not tried it the tin contains waddling impregnated with the cleaner which you use to rub the brass. Intricate bits are done with an old toothbrush.

Brasso wadding

That brings back memories of cleaning my form prefect badge with Duraglit on a Sunday night.

Thank you for the replies. Duraglit/Brasso wadding is what I usually use, and end up with black hands. It eats away at rubber gloves. I have tried lemon juice with washing up liquid which takes off the tarnish and is nicer to use but I don't think it gives a bright shine like the mucky old wadding does, though it doesn't get right into the fiddly bits even with the aid of a toothbrush. Maybe it's time the brass went to the charity shop.

Life's too short to be cleaning brass - take it all to a charity shop.

I possibly will but I can't get rid of the pair of very old candlesticks which I inherited from my parents.

Cleaning the brasses was one of the (few) jobs I volunteered for when I was a kid. I could sit down and take my time without being hassled. I haven't thought about Duraglit or Brasso in years! Happy memories!

Wear cotton gloves when you're cleaning brass. They protect your hands and you don't mess up the shine with finger prints. When you've finished just pop the gloves in the wash.

I've only just seen this thread, maybe I was too busy cleaning the brass.
I have brass door knobs and window catches, keyholes and hinges on old furniture and pedals on the piano.
I also have lots of brass which my parents collected in Japan just after the war, pots and bowls, dogs and butterflies, mirrors and vases. I clean them all about 3 times a year. My mother gave me all the Japanese stuff when she got old and couldn't be bothered to clean it any longer. One day I'll pass it down to my daughters. Will they want it?

The brass ornaments I inherited from my mother are in a drawer- I keep meaning to take them to a charity shop, I could not be bothered cleaning them.

I have my fathers horse brasses they are in a box in the garage and I know no one will want them just can't bring myself to give them away..

Cleaning the piano pedals - I've heard everything now!!!

I clean the piano pedals too ! Only once a year or so. And I'm a lazy "housewife", to use a word I never use. But just have.