Make your own brass cleaner by mixing three tablespoons of flour, six tablespoons of salt, the white of an egg and some vinegar to a soft paste. After cleaning the brass with this mixture, wash the article in hot soapy water, rinse, dry and shine it with soft cloth. This mixture can be stored in an airtight tin or jar for the next time.

Old varnish on brass can be removed with the fine steel wool dipped in acetone or paint remover, or any methylated spirit. Then wash the brass in water and household ammonia (two tablespoons to one litre of water) or in mild soapy water; rinse and dry. If any corrosion shows up after the removal of the varnish rub it with brass polish.