Brass Cabinet Pulls | Buying And Maintaining Brass Cabinet Pulls

Brass cabinet pulls are very popular in today’s kitchens. You will be able to find many different styles and kinds of brass cabinet pulls that will help to make your kitchen cabinets look classy and stylish.

The best place to shop for brass cabinet pulls in on Amazon. You will find that Amazon not only has the largest selection of cabinet knobs and pulls but also they have the lowest prices on the Internet!

Once you have brought the perfect kitchen brass cabinet pulls for your kitchen your attention will turn to how do you maintain them.

Click Image Below To See The Largest Selection Of Brass Cabinet Pulls At The Lowest Prices!

What Are Brass Cabinet Pulls Made From?

True brass cabinet pulls and knobs are made from an alloy of zinc and copper. Because brass generally has a tendency to oxidize or tarnish very quickly when it is exposed to air, this is the reason why brass kitchen cabinet pulls and handles are given clear coats of lacquer. The lacquer coat prevents tarnishing, ensuring that brass pulls last for a long time.
 
A lot of the conventional polishes you'll find in the market today work by coating the raw metal with a thin layer of oil to prevent tarnishing in the future. In addition, most metal polishes also function doubly to not only protect brass cabinet hardware but to remove existing tarnishing as well with the help of detergents and solvents, mild abrasives for polishing metal, and oils that work to create barriers between the air and the raw metal. 

Why Do Brass Pulls Turn Black?

A brass cabinet pull turn black after being cleaned due to misuse and overuse of polish. The biggest challenge in keeping metals pristine is to remove and inhibit tarnishing, after all.
 
Unfortunately, some people have the tendency to be a little bit more zealous when it comes to cleaning that they don't realize that they had already scrubbed away clean the lacquer coat that was put there in the first place to protect the metal.
 
All substances, particularly metals, start oxidizing when exposed to air. Once the tarnish is removed, chemical barriers between the air and bare metal will have to be created in order to prevent the process of tarnishing from re-occurring.

Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Bad!

When people flood metal surfaces and overuse polishes, the idea is that they are aiming to overprotect their brass cabinet pulls handles. The more polish used after all, the more protected a brass pull is, right?

Unfortunately, no.
 
Using more polish than you have to create a problem with smudging since fingerprints contribute bodily oils to the polished surface, where these oils dissolve the metal polish's solvency.

Additionally, using too much polish tends to discolor brass surfaces, hiding the natural color of the metal. As such, only a thin film of polish needs to be applied. Refer to the adequate amount of polish required to cover a piece of brass cabinet pull, spreading the polish thinly and thoroughly with a rag.
 
To ensure only the littlest amount of polish gets onto the brass pull, put the polish into a rag and let the rag dry out for at least 24 hours. Use whatever polish remains on the rag to cover your brass cabinet pulls and handles. Buff out the metal with a rag using rapid motion to create friction, hardening the polish to give the brass a surface that is difficult to discolor or smudge.

Taking Care Of Raw Brass

It's typical for brass drawer pulls or brass cabinet knobs to be already coated with lacquer when you get your hands on them. However, should you find yourself in possession of raw brass, here's what you should do:

A. Cleaning - use rubbing alcohol applied with a sponge against the grain of the metal. Should you need to clean out scuff marks and other tougher dirt, use the rough side of a scrubbing sponge. Again, go against the grain of the metal.

For even more stubborn dirt, dampen a sponge partly in water and apply a low-abrasion scouring cream to your sponge. Work the cream into the sponge and then wipe over against the grain of the brass pull. Once clean, wipe the surface thoroughly dry with a soft rag.
 
B. Polishing - after cleaning, it is important that you apply polish in order to prevent re-tarnishing. To get started, use a yellow treated rag. Apply just the right amount of polish on the rag and wipe down the brass pull and then buff. Remember, just a small amount of polish is enough. No need to be overprotective of your brass cabinet pulls or brass cabinet knobs. 

Giving Brass A New Coat

The lacquer coat of a brass pull will eventually wear out so you will have to apply a new coat. However, keep in mind that all of the old coating must first all be removed and that your brass pull must be completely clean before you start applying lacquer.
 
To help keep the lacquer coat last for a long time, don't use hot water in cleaning your brass pulls. Lukewarm, sudsy water is fine but anything hotter and the lacquer will loosen, slowly peeling away the protection you placed on your brass pulls. 

A Quick Tip On Polishing Brass Cabinet Pulls And Knobs

To space polishing sessions apart farther, wipe your brass cabinet pulls with a soft cloth moistened with some olive oil after every polishing. Olive oil slows down tarnishing so you won't have to worry about cleaning and re-polishing as often. For those little spots of tarnish, you can use a little ammonia to take care of the problem.

Now that you know how to maintain brass cabinet pulls you can start shopping for them on Amazon. You will find the largest selection of brass cabinet knobs and pulls on Amazon and also you will be able to buy them at discount prices!

Click Image Below To See The Largest Selection Of Brass Cabinet Pulls At The Lowest Prices!

Click Here To Return To Kitchen Cabinet Knobs And Pulls Home Page