Cleaning Old Window Hardware

More on cleaning vintage metal hardware after the jump.

Cleaning old window hardware. Proper cleaning is. Whether you have metal cabinet hardware made of antique brass modern stainless steel or something in between it requires regular cleaning. Cleaning old and antique brass can be a very frustrating endeavor because over time the brass oxidizes and becomes covered in tarnish. The dirt and.

Don t use your favorite pan it s going to get disgusting 0 comment comment. Cooking the hardware may stain or contaminate the pot so use an old one or buy a new one for less than 20. Place the hardware in the crockpot. Particular attention should be given to cleaning dirt from slides in window hinges and from the track where the patio door rollers glide.

Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the water too. Clean water should be used when possible to flush the hardware clean. These are pretty disgusting. I prefer an old school method that i know some folks will disagree with but it works fine for me.

Bring to a boil. Simply rub a thin coat onto the brass let sit for an hour or so and then clean the piece with hot soapy water. This how to remove paint from metal method won t harm hardware made of non rusting metals like copper brass or aluminum. For tougher cleaning jobs pull out the ketchup tomato sauce or tomato paste.

Put on the lid and let the contents of the pot cook all night. Instructions for cleaning old brass. Every couple years they will. The next day the paint will be soft and ready to fall off the metal.

Cover with water add a couple of tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent and turn the heat to medium. Place the old hardware and enough water to completely cover them and a generous squirt of dish soap in a pan. After cleaning i like to give the hardware a good soak in boiled linseed oil. If you are using vinegar and baking soda first brush the hardware with a layer of vinegar then sprinkle on baking soda.

If you use this method you need to wipe the hardware down very well otherwise you ll have a gummed up piece of hardware once it dries. We recommend the hardware be inspected once a year more if necessary and cleared of dirt and grime build up. The mild chemical reaction of vinegar combined with baking soda is what loosens the tarnish. 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.

How to clean metal cabinet hardware.