How do I care for brass fittings in my kitchen sink or bathroom sink or tub areas?

Lacquered brass fittings will last longer if you treat them with Faucet Brite. Although we love to use it on all our lacquered brass, Faucet Brite was invented for use on these products that come in contact with soap and water. Always wipe down the pieces with a soft cloth to prevent water spots, and to keep the water from sitting on the metal for any length of time. Ecpecially treat the drain well with a few applications of Faucet Brite, as this is the most likely place for water to collect. Its very important for you to teach your cleaning help how to care for brass. They love to scrub, scrub, scrub! Give them a bottle of Faucet Brite and they will have a procuct to use that will treat and protect the brass, not wear away the lacquer! Also, use no soap or cleaning product on these pieces stronger than hand soap. Try using Faucet-Brite to clean the sink in the powder room, too. It's easier than trying to use another cleaning product safely. The sink and faucets will sparkle. (The cleaning people will love that, too!)

Back To Top

What if my brass fittings are unlacquered?

If your fittings are not lacquered, simply use Wenol on them to polish and protect. Some of us love the look of the patina of old brass. In that case, use Wenol just once in awhile. You can safely use it along with 4-O or oooo Steel Wool. This will help cut through the tarnish and will not scratch the brass. Try a little light scrubbing with the Steel Wool first, just to see if you will be pleased with the results.

Back To Top

My brass fittings were lacquered, but now need cleaning in spots. What do I do?

If your fittings were lacquered and are now badly tarnished because of mis-use or age, use the Wenol and the Steel Wool, to remove the old laquer. (See above.) If that is too tedious, use a lacquer stripper to finish the job. Follow up with the Wenol.

Back To Top

How do I care for my brass bar sink?

Bar sinks are usually not lacquered because the coating would not hold up to the frequent cleaning and contact with water and alcoholic liquids; but since the sink shines brightly and its size makes cleaning manageable, it's easy to see why brass bar sinks are still in demand today. For them, it's the ol' Wenol and Faucet-Brite to the rescue! Use them in combination. First use the Wenol to remove tarnish and spotting, then follow up with the Faucet-Brite to shine and protect. (Wenol alone contains a polishing agent to protect the brass, but by adding the Faucet-Brite, the sink will be protected even more.) This will allow you to wipe down the sink with a soft cloth to dry it. It will also help keep the polishing to a minimum.

Back To Top

Do towel bars, switchplates, and other brass items need special care in the bath or kitchen?

It always helps to protect these pieces with Faucet-Brite. The polymers will add protection to the lacquer and keep the contact with water and humidity from becoming a problem. Treat them every few months, and they will look better much longer.