How to Clean Antique Bronze
Antique bronze items are common
Today you may find antique bronze statues in many people’s houses. Antique bronze items such as statues add elegance to a room and are great to look at as long as they are kept in good condition. Antique bronze tends to fade and becomes dull with the passage of time. Therefore, antique bronze should be maintained and cleaned regularly.
Regularly check your bronze items
You should regularly check the surface of your bronze item for any settled dust. If dust has accumulated, then you should immediately remove it with a soft cloth. You can use the vacuum cleaner. Use a nozzle attachment with a brush that will suck in all the dust with ease. Using a toothbrush is also effective as it helps to remove dust from the crevices.
Removing grime with soap and water
If there is grime on the surface, it can be removed with soap and water. Plain soap and water will work well. Do not use hard water. Instead, use distilled water to clean the bronze item. You can use mineral spirits that are commercially available at local stores. It is also necessary to remove all polish residue, which may appear grey, white or dark green. Residue tends to gather in the cracks.
How to treat corrosion?
Corrosion may develop on the bronze item over a period of time. This may be because of degraded oils and grime. You should remove all corrosion from the item with a solvent. Once the solvent evaporates, you should check for any residue dust. You can then continue using cloths dampened with mineral spirits to wipe away the grime.
Polishing solutions
If the above methods are not helpful in removing the grime, you can use Vulpex 1% solution mixed in with the mineral spirits. However, do not use this solution for copper items. If the bronze item has corroded to a large extent, then you might need the assistance of an expert. Attempting to remove the thick corrosion with scrapers may end up scratching and damaging the surface. There are some good polishing solutions available for achieving a bright shine. However, keep I mind that the historical value of the object may diminish because of the bright shine. Therefore, the bronze collector should be aware of the special finishes or patinas that determine the actual color of the metal. You should be aware of the degree to which the bronze surface should be cleaned with the appropriate solution.
Polishing compound
A good polishing compound will work very well for returning the bronze item to its original shine. You can use a mild abrasive as a polishing compound. Do not use commercially available dips that contain hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. These may act too strongly and remove more metal than necessary.