Polishing Tips for Different Types of Metals

A lot of things that we use at home are made of metals such as stainless steel, aluminum and copper. These metal products need to be regularly polished to maintain a nice appearance. Polishing is a process that can create a smooth and shiny surface in metals. Different metals require different materials and ways to polish them.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a popular material for kitchen sink, utensils, furniture and other appliances.

Tips in Polishing Stainless Steel:

• Before you polish, clean first your stainless steel product with a soft cloth and dish soap to remove dirt, dust and debris. Rinse and dry.
• Apply a small amount of olive oil in a clean and dry dish towel.
• Wipe surface (apply pressure) and make sure that everything is covered.
• For a shinier finish, use the other side of the towel to rebuff the surface. Keep on wiping in a circular motion until you get the shiny finish that you want.

Aluminum

Aluminum products such as cookware require special care in polishing to maintain their luster while also removing tarnish and rust. Although you can easily buy aluminum polisher in the supermarket, you can also use homemade material to get the same effect.

Tips in Polishing Aluminum:

• Lemons make an effective material for polishing aluminum surface. Apply lemon juice to a damp cloth and wipe on the aluminum surface. Lemon juice is effective in cutting grease and removing stains on aluminum.
• For hard-to-remove stains, you can partner lemon juice with baking soda paste.
• Wipe clean your aluminum product. Rinse then dry with a clean towel.
• Apply pressure when wiping the surface dry for a shinier effect.

Brass

Brass is a popular material for some cookware, jewelry, home décor and musical instruments. Brass is a beautiful metal especially if it maintains its original luster.

Tips in Polishing Brass:

• To polish brass products, make a baking soda paste consisting of 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. You can increase the amount of each material depending on how much you need.
• Apply the paste into the damp cloth and rub gently onto the brass surface. Apply more paste if needed.
• Rinse and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Copper

Copper is a popular material for fine household items including kitchen utensils, jewelry and house décor. Copper can tarnish overtime especially if it is not properly maintained.

Tips in Polishing Copper:

• There are several natural materials that you can use to polish copper surfaces.
• To polish copper surfaces with vinegar and salt, mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon of salt. Using a soft cloth, rub the mixture onto the copper surface.
• You can also rub it with a baking soda paste consisting of equal amounts of lemon juice and baking soda.
• Rinse then wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Silver

Silverwares, silver decors and silver jewelries are just some of the things we really treasure at home. Silver products are really beautiful especially if they are well polished.

Tips in Polishing Silver:

• Silver is quite easy to polish. Just use a baking soda paste consisting of equal parts baking soda and water and rub gently onto the silver surface.
• Rinse then wipe dry.
• To prevent tarnishing, do not store it with anything rubber as it can corrode silver.

Maintaining and polishing your metal products can greatly help in maintaining its original appearance. Make sure to observe the polishing tips for each type of metal to ensure good results.