To restore a brass lamp, you need to work on the inside and outside.
Brass lamps tend to deteriorate over time. As oxygen in the air reaches the brass, it oxidizes it, turning it a dark shade of brown. Parts of the brass may even look black, especially any decorations engraved or embossed into the brass. Cleaning the brass alone isn't enough to fully restore the lamp. You must also treat the other areas of the lamp, including the wiring inside the lamp and the shade, which is often made of glass.
Instructions
1. Combine the salt with one cup of distilled white vinegar in a small bowl. Add one tsp. flour to the mixture and stir. Keep adding a tsp. of flour to the mixture, until it forms a thick paste. Apply the paste directly to the brass, using your hands and patting it into place. Wipe off the mixture with a damp paper towel after 15 minutes.
2. Mix equal parts warm water and distilled white vinegar. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray at the glass shade of the lamp. Wipe the mixture off the shade with a dry paper towel. Rub the paper towel around the shade, to remove any smudges or spots.
3. Buff the brass areas of the lamp with a metal polisher. Turn the machine on and gently rub it across the surface of the brass, removing any leftover tarnish or smudges on the brass. If you can't find a metal polisher, buff the brass with a soft cloth.
4. Apply a layer of acrylic urethane to the brass surfaces by dipping a paintbrush in the urethane and painting it on any brass surfaces. Let the acrylic urethane dry overnight. This forms a protective layer over the brass and keeps it from tarnishing in the future.
5. Rewire the lamp, using the lamp repair kit. This kit includes new wiring, to replace the original wires in the lamp. It's attached to an electrical plug, which you plug directly in the outlet to power the light. You can skip this step if your lamp is in working condition.
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