Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Separate your button collection into types of buttons -- metal, glass, ceramic, fabric, etc.
Polish the metal buttons with the jeweler's polishing cloth. Use water only on the one-piece metal buttons. Do not use water on iron or steel buttons as it will cause rusting. For brass or copper buttons that have a painted or enameled surface, clean by gently pressing and lifting the kneaded eraser across the surface. Then rub and polish with cloth. For nickel composition buttons that have inset plastic or rhinestones, clean and polish with the jeweler's cloth. Reglue any loose rhinestones.
Clean molded glass buttons with a solution of mild soap and water. Polish gently.
Brush plastic Bakelite (plastic) buttons with the toothbrush and polish surfaces. Do not use any chemicals with Bakelite buttons as they will melt through the surface. Never expose celluloid plastic buttons to water as it will damage them because of interior metal parts the water will undermine.
Clean Mother of Pearl shell buttons gently with the terry-cloth towel. These buttons can be damaged if washed and dried often over a period of time because the layers of the shell begin to deteriorate and chip. If the terry cloth doesn't clean the surfaces properly, use the toothbrush dipped in a soap solution and dry immediately. Too much water can damage the nacre (opalescent iridescent glow) of Mother of Pearl buttons. Do not wash hand-painted or dyed buttons of this type.
Brush the embossed detailed surfaces of rubber buttons (made by B.F. Goodrich during World War II for the military) with the fine makeup brush. Apply a small dot of furniture polish or mineral oil to the surface and polish with soft cloth or cotton swab. Do not use shoe polish as it may discolor the rubber.
Handle wood buttons, especially those with inlaid wood, shells or bones, gently. Water on wood buttons can cause warpage and ruin them. Use baby oil, or mineral oil. Do not use furniture polish on inlaid wood buttons. Carefully clamp and glue pieces that are broken or cracked. Vegetable ivory or Tagua nut buttons made from nuts from the carazo palm tree in South America should be cleaned and polished gently with soft cloth because the material is very soft and impressionable.
Rub a salted slice of lemon over the surface of bone and ivory buttons. Wipe with a damp cloth and polish with a separate dry cloth.
Clean ceramic buttons with a damp cloth and polish. If the button is cracked or needs coloring, take the button to a professional ceramic craftsman for restoration. China porcelain buttons with transfer designs can be cleaned with a toothbrush and mild soap. Tarnishing is not an issue with glass buttons with trim pieces.
Gently clean composition buttons (made from various powdered materials) by wiping them with a clean cloth. Apply a small amount of baby oil, furniture polish and buff out for a shine. Repeat with a second polish for more glow..
Clean the surface of pewter buttons with the outer leaf of a head of cabbage, followed by a gentle polish. Auto wax or chrome polish will also work on pewter buttons.
Massage leather buttons gently with saddle oil or neetsfoot oil. Polish out when dry. Repeat the process for a more brilliant sheen.
Clean fabric buttons with spots on them by soaking them in a glass jar with button cleaning fluid. Stir for two minutes, remove the buttons and place them on an absorbent cloth. Allow them to air-dry. Do not rub or brush fabric buttons as it may break the threads.