Brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc.
Therefore, various colors exist depending on the mixing ratio.
Because it is resistant to corrosion and easy to process, it has long been a popular material used in a variety of fields, not just accessories.
Brass is also called "brass," and this is where the term "brass band" comes from, referring to an orchestra consisting only of brass instruments.
To give you a familiar example, the 5 yen coin is made of brass. Is the 5 yen coin in your wallet shiny and bright? Or has it become black and shiny over the years?
As you can see from this , brass has the property of discoloring over time .
However, it can be disappointing if the sparkling jewelry you bought after falling in love with it at first sight ends up discoloring. Is there any way to continue using it while keeping the same shine as when you first bought it?
How to restore the shine of brass accessories?
Like leather products, brass discolors with use, developing a rich, antique feel.
The ability to enjoy changes in brass is one of its charms, and many people enjoy this, with comments such as "I like it now, after years of use, more than when it was new, and I look forward to it continuing to grow."
However, many people would like to restore the shine it had when they first bought it.
This time, we will introduce how to restore the original shine and how to care for it on a daily basis to prevent discoloration.
How to care for brass easily at home!
Brass is weak against water , so if you wear accessories for a long time, sweat and water will get on it, and if left as is, it can rust, discolor, and deteriorate.
It might be easier to understand if we use a five yen coin as an example.
The difference between the old Showa-era 5 yen coin and the shiny Reiwa-era 5 yen coin is obvious. The discoloration has progressed considerably.
This is caused by fingerprints and water stains on the 5 yen coin, and what happened to the dull Showa era 5 yen coins is " oxidation ."
You can restore the original shine by polishing the brass .
You could polish it using commercially available metal polishing cloths or abrasives, but this time we'll be showing you a simple ``care method you can do with things you have at home.''
The key to restoring shine is vinegar!
To restore the shine of tarnished brass accessories, all you need is vinegar !
If you are afraid to try it with your favorite accessories right away, you can try it with a 5 yen coin.
Some of you may have experimented with this as a child.
First, prepare a small bowl or small dish or other deep container.
Add the vinegar and accessories.
Add enough vinegar so that all of the jewelry is submerged.
Within a few minutes, you will notice the color change dramatically.
After removing it, be sure to rinse it with water and remove all moisture using a towel or paper towel.
It will be incredibly clean and will look as good as new again.
In addition to vinegar, other ingredients such as Tabasco and lemon juice are also said to be effective.
Be careful not to soak it for too long, as it may turn reddish! Depending on the degree of dirt, soaking it for around 3 minutes will be sufficient to get the desired effect.
Easy to care for, just soak it! Just be careful about the soaking time!
The only ingredient is vinegar, which is convenient and easy to try. I highly recommend it.
How to make your car sparkle with baking soda
Baking soda is now known as a versatile cleaning item, but it is also useful for maintaining brass accessories.
The method is simple!
Mix baking soda and water in a 2:1 ratio to form a paste .
At this time, add water little by little to prevent the mixture from becoming too thin.
Apply the baking soda paste evenly to the brass and rub gently .
For indentations caused by the fine design, we carefully polish them using a cotton swab or similar tool.
After a while, the baking soda will turn dull and you will notice that the dirt is being removed.
Finally, rinse with water and wipe off the water thoroughly!
It removes dullness beautifully and restores shine. If you scrub too hard, it can cause scratches, so be gentle and careful! That's the key.
Cleaning with baking soda is not as simple as soaking it in vinegar, but it's still an easy method to try, as you only need one ingredient: baking soda .
For those who are concerned about the smell of vinegar, we recommend this "baking soda cleaning" method.
Prevent discoloration! Correct storage method!
We have talked about how to care for brass accessories when they have tarnished, but in order to prevent tarnish from occurring in the first place, it is important to review your daily care and storage methods.
What do you do with the accessories you've been wearing all day after you take them off?
Remove rings, necklaces, etc. and return them to their designated place...and then put them back on the next day when you go out.
Isn't that the same thing happening every day?
Accessories often come into direct contact with the skin, and if you wear them all day, they will become covered in sweat, sebum, and other substances.
To maintain the beauty of the brass, wipe it with a cloth when you remove it .
Taking this little step will make a huge difference.
If you will not be using it for a long time, we recommend storing it in a bag to prevent oxidation .
Do not place near water or in a humid place!
Leaving it in the bath or washroom can cause rust! Be careful.
Finally.
What did you think?We have introduced how to care for brass accessories.
All of these are simple and easy to implement.
I hope you will give it a try.
We hope that with daily care, you will be able to enjoy using your favorite brass accessories for a long time.