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Metal Cleaners and Polishers

ALUMINUM

• Cream of Tartar: To remove stains and discoloration from aluminum cookware, fill cookware with hot water and add 2 tablespoons cream of tartar to each quart of water.  Bring solution to a boil and simmer ten minutes.  Wash as usual and dry.
• Vinegar: To clean an aluminum coffeepot and remove lime deposits, boil equal parts water and white vinegar.  Boiling time depends upon how heavy deposits are.

BRASS

• Olive Oil: Brass will look brighter and require less polishing if rubbed with a cloth moistened with olive oil after each polishing.  Olive oil retards tarnish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Clean and polish unlacquered brass to a shine with a soft cloth dampened with Worcestershire Sauce.  The acid-salt combination in the Sauce eats away the tarnish.
• Salt, Vinegar, and Flour: Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar.  Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply paste to brass and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour.  Rinse with clean warm water and polish dry.
• Lemon and Salt or Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Make a paste of lemon juice and salt and rub with soft cloth, rinse with water and dry. Or use a slice of lemon sprinkled with baking soda.  Rub brass with the lemon slice, rinse with water, and dry.
• Vinegar and Salt: Pour vinegar over the surface.  Sprinkle salt over the acid and rub in the mixture. Rinse with warm water and polish dry.
• Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar: Make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar.  Apply, leave for 5 minutes and then wash in warm water.  Dry with a soft cloth.

BRONZE

•  Salt, Vinegar, and Flour: Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar.  Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply paste to bronze and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour.  Rinse with clean, warm water and polish dry.

CHROME

• Vinegar: To clean chrome, wipe with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white or cider vinegar.
• Baby Oil: Apply baby oil with a soft cloth and polish to remove stains from chrome trim on faucets, kitchen appliances, vehicles, etc.
• Newspaper: To make chrome fixtures shine brightly, rub them with a newspaper after they have been wet.  Wear gloves.
• Aluminum Foil: Rub chrome with foil, shiny side out.

COPPER

• Vinegar & Salt: If copper is tarnished, boil article in a pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar for several hours.  Wash with soap in hot water.  Rinse and dry.
• Salt, Vinegar and Flour: Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar.  Add enough flour to make a paste.  Apply paste to copper and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour.  Rinse with clean, warm water and polish dry.
• Lemon and Salt or Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Make a paste of lemon juice and salt and rub with soft cloth, rinse with water and dry.  Or use a slice of lemon sprinkled with baking soda.  Rub copper with the lemon slice, rinse with water, and dry.
• Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar: Make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar.  Apply, leave for 5 minutes and then wash in warm water.  Dry with a soft cloth.
• Sour Milk: Copper bottom pans can be cleaned with sour milk poured into a flat dish or bowl.  Soak copper bottom for approximately 1 hour.  Rinse and dry.

GOLD

• Soapy Water: Wash in lukewarm soapy water and dry with a cotton cloth. Polish with a chamois cloth. 
• Toothpaste: Clean with toothpaste and a soft tooth toothbrush.

PEWTER

• Salt, Vinegar and Flour: Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar.  Add enough flour to make a paste.  Apply paste to pewter and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour.  Rinse with clean, warm water and polish dry.

SILVER

*Polishing silver while wearing rubber gloves promotes tarnish.  Instead, choose plastic or cotton gloves.

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Apply a paste of baking soda and water.  Rub, rinse and polish dry with a soft cloth.  To remove tarnish from silverware, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and rub it on the silverware until tarnish is gone.  Rinse and dry well.
• Sour Milk or Buttermilk: Place silver in a pan.  Cover with sour milk or buttermilk.  Let stand overnight, and in the morning rinse with cold water and polish dry with a soft cloth.
• Aluminum Foil & Rock Salt: Fill a glass jar ½ full with strips of aluminum foil, then add 1 tablespoon rock salt and enough cold water to fill the jar.  Keep covered.  Dip silver items into the jar and leave for two minutes.  Rinse and dry well.
• Aluminum Foil, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, and Salt: Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a pan, add 2-3 inches of water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil.  Add silver pieces, boil 2-3 minutes, making sure the water covers the silver pieces.  Remove silver, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth.  This method cleans the design and crevices of silver pieces.
• Toothpaste: To clean off tarnish, coat the silver with toothpaste, then run it under warm water, work into a foam, and rinse it off.  For stubborn stains or intricate grooves, use an old soft-bristled toothbrush.

STAINLESS STEEL

• Olive Oil: Rub stainless steel sinks with olive oil to remove streaks. 
• Vinegar: To clean and polish stainless steel, simply moisten a cloth with undiluted white or cider vinegar and wipe clean.  Can also be used to remove heat stains on stainless steel cutlery.
• Club Soda: Remove streaks or heat stains from stainless steel by rubbing with club soda.