How to Clean a Bronze Plate

Bronze is very commonly used in everyday items you will find around your house. And this includes your bronze plates. 

If your bronze has started to tarnish or turn green, don’t fret. There are a couple of easy steps you can take to clean your bronze plate and have it shining like new once again. 

What Causes Bronze to Tarnish? 

Many metals will corrode when they come into contact with certain substances - especially if it is over an extended period of time. Other metals, such as bronze, form a protective layer to cover them and prevent any further corrosion. 

Bronze is an alloy that has a composition consisting of a high level of copper. And copper is known for turning green over time. This outer layer of protection, known as patina, occurs when the metal’s molecules are exposed to air, liquid, or other elements. 

Long before you ever have a plate fully covered in patina, it is going to tarnish. Here’s how to clean it and keep it from making that change. 

How to Clean a Bronze Plate

Are you ready to know what the secret is to keeping your bronze plates clean and shining beautifully? You may be surprised, but it is just dish soap and water. Stick to basic dish soap without any extra frills. Wash your plate with soapy water and rinse it well. This will remove any excess dirt, debris, or grease. 

Let it dry completely.

Next, you are going to create a paste-like solution of baking soda and lemon juice. The idea is to drizzle on a small amount of lemon juice at a time until you form a paste. Then, when the bronze plate is dry, you are going to rub this mixture all over it. Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Use a clean cloth to gently remove the paste from the bronze plate. This will leave it with a perfect shine. 

If you aren’t too keen on the baking soda and lemon idea, you can always place a couple of drops of olive oil on a soft rag and buff it into your plate to release its shine. 

Dangers to Avoid

For the most part, taking care of bronze plates is rather simple - but there are a couple of dangers you will want to avoid. Chloride is something found around pools and even in some popular cleaners. And while it may work beautifully for cleaning some things, it can be disastrous for bronze. It even has the capability of destroying the metal entirely. 

Metal polish and solvents can even lead to very terrible results. They don’t give you the results you are looking for and, in fact, can cause more harm than good. 

Stick to the easy bronze plate cleaning method above and you will maintain them for years to come. 

Atlas Bronze for Your Bronze Metal Needs

If you are looking for bronze to meet the metal needs of your next project, Atlas Bronze has just what you are looking for. Our team of highly-skilled experts is available to help you with your purchase and answer any questions you may have. 

Contact us today at (800) 478-0887.