To polish or not to polish?

Brass is bright and shiny, but only for a time. Though most brass-aficionados polish their wares, the natural patina that comes with aging is admired by some. If the object is indeed brass-plate, then polishing could wear down the brass plate and expose the metal. The thought of having a brass bed with both nice, shiny areas and dull, metal-exposed parts is not appealing. The natural patina that comes with aging is a protective layer in itself. So if one decides to polish, it should not be done too frequently. Brass cleaners can be bought just about anywhere, but a homemade mixture with one tablespoon of vinegar per cup of hot water should do the trick: use fine steel wool dipped in the hot water and vinegar mixture and scrub gently. The area should be cleaned with fresh water and dried completely with a soft towel. As previously mentioned, some brass beds are finished with a clear acrylic lacquer or epoxy to prevent tarnishing all together. This practice is debated among brass-bed lovers because the lacquer can begin to peel. The old lacquer can be removed by being submerged in acetone, but imagine the difficulty of the task with a large object like a bed. Nevertheless, professional brass restorers will gladly do this for you, but it is not cheap.  Perhaps the best avoidance of the lacquer debacle on your bed would be to use a wax polish to slow the tarnish instead of lacquer.

 

 

Sources:

 

Brickandbrass.com

Find-Tv.com

Brassbedfactory.com

Brassbedshoppe.com

Brass-beds.com

Cat-housebeds.com

Charlesprogers.com