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How to Refinish a Brass Plate

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that is is generally golden in appearance. Brass is distinguished from bronze, which is copper and tin. Polishing and refinishing brass is similar to cleaning and refinishing other metals. The key principles involve testing an area first to make sure that you don't damage your brass plate and to use a gentle touch.

Things You'll Need

Cotton towel
Cotton swab
Brass polish
Toothpick

Instructions

- 1
  Clean dust and dirt from the surface of the brass plate. Use a clean cotton cloth dampened with water to remove accumulated grime. Use a cotton swab for the details, using a toothpick if there are recessed areas. Gently dab the surface to remove excess moisture.
- 2
  Use a brass cleaner. Apply a brass cleaner to another clean cotton cloth cloth. Gently rub the cloth over the brass plate. Take care to not be too aggressive. Use a toothpick to clean out crevices.
- 3
  Rub and buff. Remove excess polish using another clean and dry cloth. Buff the plate to a brilliant finish. Use a cotton swab to fully dry out the affected areas.

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