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Lemon and Ketchup Clean Brass
by The Editors of Yankee Magazine
Old-time homemakers and military men were often faced with discolored brass objects in need of a good cleaning. A method from Mary Anna Clement's handwritten Receipt Book (circa 1840) was to rub the discolored brass with a cut lemon and then wash with a weak solution of ammonia and water. To make this cleaning solution, try adding a few drops of ammonia to 1 quart water. Caution: Do not allow the ammonia to drip directly on the brass or on your skin.
Former U.S. Marine Corps second lieutenant William H. Carroll, of Haddonfield, New Jersey, says that a great way to clean brass or any metal that oxidizes is by covering it with ketchup. "When I was a U.S. Marine, we used ketchup to clean everything from brass buckles to lieutenant's bars. Just lay the pieces side by side without letting them touch each other. Paint on a good layer of ketchup and let them sit overnight. Then rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly for a nice shine." Bill notes that he recently used ketchup to clean dingy brass hinges and doorknobs from a door he was repainting, letting the hardware sit in a coating of ketchup for a few days before rinsing it and rehanging the door. "The door looked like new!" Bill says.
Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing
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