Tips on Cleaning Metal Surfaces

When we clean our home we have many things to take care of – dishes, surfaces, the oven and so on. One thing we can really find daunting is cleaning metal pans and other surfaces from buildup or tarnish.  These can be very annoying to deal with as most of the stains are very resistant to most of what we use to clean. Here we have a few tips which will help you deal with these a little easier next time you do your cleaning routine:

1.    Copper-bottomed pans and pots
Tarnish can appear on those as a result of water stains and a number of other reasons. Have no fear though, it can be easily remedied by using the correct cleaning technique. Just turn the pan upside-down and pour some white vinegar on the surface, sprinkle some salt on that and scrub away with a paper towel or a soft cloth. If it doesn’t work the first time around try again until all traces of the spots are gone.

2.    Cleaning copper and brass
You might have a lot of copper or brass trinkets and things like handles for example which give your kitchen a nice old-time feeling to it with their wonderful, warm colors. Those can get dirty as well and the only way for them to regain their shine is to clean them up using the right products. This can be done easily by cutting up a lemon in half and using said half with a bit of salt sprinkled on. Just rub the affected surface and lo and behold the brass and copper will shine like new again in no time.

3.    Cleaning silver items
Most often these are silver candlesticks and we all know how much fun it is to have those around the house if the reason for that is romantic dinners or simply the more practical need in case you’re having power failures. Regardless these often get enough patina and grime on them in time that dulls their shine. Wax drippings can also be a real bane to their looks, but fear not – you can easily rid them of that by placing them in the freezer. The cold will make the wax brittle and weak and you’ll be able to quickly break it off. Apart from commercial silver cleaners you can use white toothpaste or baking soda to clean the grime off silver surfaces.

4.    Metal faucets
If you see caulk buildup around the faucets know that you can rid yourself of them by simply using lemon juice to dissolve the annoying rings forming around them. Much like using it with copper and brass you can do the same with half a lemon – just rub the surface until the acid dissolves the buildup.

5.    Cleaning up rust
Some instruments or places get rusty as a result of moisture and so on, so in these cases there are some simple steps one can take:

•    Scrub off the rust by using a scrubbing pad or some steel wool.
•    Use some rust remover with a steel wool pad and rub it into the surface.
•    Leave it on there for up to 20 minutes depending on the damage.
•    Wipe it off with paper towels or a soft cloth.
•    Apply a rust-proof coating – some can be water-resistant and capable of protecting even against heavy moisture.

Grace is an expert in the field of home improvement and organizing. Read more at http://www.0800housecleaning.co.uk/ .