2 years ago Pour white or apple cider vinegar that is 5% acidity into the sink with the fixtures. You will have to use some judgment on your particular pieces, but assuming they’re in otherwise good … But this wasn’t a party—just an easy-peasy way to clean gunk and grime off of metal drawer handles. Start by mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water with a spoon in a small bowl. . The problem with vintage enamel, however, is that it’s often disgusting. Add several drops of dish-washing soap and a gallon of warm water to a bucket. Store your piece in a low-humidity environment to help ensure it doesn't develop rust, even if you have waxed it. Luckily, cleaning old cast iron is easy as long as you use the right materials and follow the correct techniques. All repairs must be made prior to cleaning. Make a paste by mixing the baking soda with water. Have you ever been given or purchased an antique that has metal fixtures that are rusty and tarnished? How To Clean Up Vintage Metal Hardware—The Easy-Peasy Way. Wash the pieces in hot soapy water using a stiff brush; on no account use caustic or any soda. Steps. Scrub your piece with some steel wool and bit of mineral oil and the last of the rust will pretty much disappear. Wearing gloves, take each fixture and put some extra ketchup on them and scrub them using an old tooth brush. How to Clean Old, Vintage Hardware I'm remodeling my kitchen & bringing it from a dated cluttered space to a vintage, open & inviting place. An old T-shirt cut into around 6"x 6" pads works great, and Mothers works great on plastic, antler, bone, all metals and really just about any hard, mostly smooth material. soak painted hinges and hardware in a crockpot with a small bit of detergent over night and the paint will peel off like an old glove. Just wash them and don’t put fabric softener in the wash, as t… Abrasive: Artist's brush Cotton swabs etc. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Rinse the buttons clean with warm water. Give them a whirl round will your hand or rock the container they're in and the shine is nearly automatic :), Reply You could use Brillo pads also. I have polished many, many things with that jar of Mothers. Then, use your steel wool to burnish away any pitted or rusty areas. Whether it’s a silver picture frame or just an old spoon, you’re going to need to clean it. You can see in this photo how badly the paint was chipping and peeling away. Leave the item for an hour or so, then scour with steel wool or a metal brush, removing the rust down to the metal. There should be a small screw at the base of the knob holding it to a central rod that runs through the mortise mechanism inside the door. Test your sewing skills by making small repairs on the lining or on fabric bags, and don't forget to polish any metal … Use a clear enamel spray to seal your fixture, or they will continue to rust and tarnish with time. Working in the laundry tub, I scrubbed the vintage galvanized metal with soapy, blue-foaming S.O.S. NOTE: Dry the water off (before it can rust the metal) with a hair dryer. For a doorknob, the first thing you’ll need to do is remove the knob. Other metals, including metal blends and metallic accents, may require special cleaners or may need to be handled in a particular manner. After the screw is removed, it should be easy to slide off the knob. Then scrub off with the scrubbing pad. Whether using Metal Rescue BATH to soak a rusty item or Metal Rescue GEL to treat just a spot of rust, Metal Rescue is non-toxic rust removal that is clean, safe and easy. Take your paint brush and scrub it onto each fixture. Movements & Motors I found this old hardware in my mother-in-laws clutter & I knew they'd be perfect to re-use! NOTE: Apply a thin coat of light-oil spray to the toy and then apply gentle pressure with a lint-free cloth to clean the toy. I’m working on this awesome vintage buffet right now. 2 years ago, About: My name is Kellie and I'm a physicist with a passion for crafting! In most cases, antique metal was not made with protective coating to prevent rust. How do you clean old metal things? Once your sealant has properly dried, put your fixtures back onto your antique and admire your work. Cleaning vintage can be a real pain in the ass. About a year and a half ago, our van came to a screeching halt. Buff the wax in the same way, using a different cloth than the one for applying the wax. I didn’t remove the legs for cleaning because I didn’t know what other issues I might have. I’m working on this awesome vintage buffet right now. Combine more if necessary. Scrub Galvanized Metal with a Steel Wool Cleaning Pad. Place in the kitchen sink or large bowl. Remove the old needle, the needle clamp, the foot and thread guide, carefully lay them to one side and clean and polish the needle bar, wrap the cotton string … The ketchup helps make a paste to scrub the extra rust off. Today I’m sharing a metal cleaning process that I’ve mentioned in the past (Desk Makeover), but now it will be part of my “Clean & Care for Vintage” series and is easily accessible on my navigation bar (up top) under that heading. More on cleaning vintage metal hardware after the jump . The porcelain on the underside cleaned up pretty well. Take a clean terry cloth and gently rub the polish off. Mix a small amount, no more than a teaspoon, of a mild dish soap or a natural, plant-based cleaner, with a gallon of water. Method: Rinse the metal item and shake dry. Signs must be regularly maintained to keep them looking their best. If you have a bunch of buttons, you can rinse them all at once in a strainer. on Step 5, Try soaking then in 50/50 salt and vinegar. Whenever you use light-oil spray, test a few drops of oil on an inconspicuous area to ensure the metal does not react adversely to the oil. This means that when the antique metal is exposed to a lot of moisture, rust may develop. pads (get them HERE). 3) Never immerse wood jewelry in water. I have the same small jar of Mothers I bought almost 20 years ago for around $3.50, and it is still about 1/2 full. Serving dishes, jewelry, toys, tea sets, furniture and other items both large and small. Clean it with … White vinegar is a safe home cleaner. Take a clean terry cloth and gently rub the polish off. Get a step ladder and remove the hinges with a screwdriver. (See Vintage Plastic below.) The ascetic acid in the vinegar helps to break down the rust on the antique metal. Leave the item for an hour or so, then scour with steel wool or a metal brush, removing the rust down to the metal. The inside of my tin is a bit wrecked and ravaged by time so I will be aiming to remove any of the rust and dirt that might damage any item I put inside the tin. I didn’t want one of the legs to split for sure.… An article published by HowToCleanStuff.net reminds us that "antique metals develop a certain look over time due to patina and oxidation [and] it would be detrimental to the value to try an alter the color in any way." For this reason, only gentle methods are recommended for cleaning an antique metal sign. Bring those fixtures back to life with these simple instructions. Unfortunately, old and neglected components are often found in pretty rough shape, which means you'll need to learn how to clean vintage stereo equipment before use. Wipe the fixtures clean with a cloth. 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