How to Clean the Frame of a Brass Icon at Home • Folk Methods

Brass rightfully occupies a significant place in the life of a modern person. Due to its physical properties, the alloy is used in many industries: mechanical engineering, production of sanitary products, jewelry. Many household items are also made from brass. However, not all housewives know how to properly care for it. The article discusses how to clean brass from oxide at home.

Before moving on to considering the means that can be used to clean brass products, let’s briefly look at the main characteristics of the alloy. It is based on metals - zinc and copper.

They can be contained in the material in different proportions, which affects its properties and cost. The more zinc contained in brass, the more accessible it is.

Depending on the qualitative composition, there are two main types of brass:

Simple. Such alloys contain only two components - zinc and copper; the proportions of these metals may vary.
Special. In addition to the above metals, additional elements are included in the composition of the material. The most common additives are iron, lead, manganese and aluminum.

The physical properties of brass depend on impurities. However, regardless of the added substances, the alloy has the following advantages:

Due to the listed properties, brass is actively used in the following industries:

How to clean a bronze cross?

Cleaning procedure:

Chicory powder is poured into a dry container.
Add water to the container with the powder and mix with it until a mass is obtained that resembles the consistency of dough.
The surface of a bronze object is treated with the resulting mixture and then cleaned with a brush.
After cleaning is completed, the product is rinsed with water and dried.

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Common problems

It would seem that keeping sacred relics at home is very simple and nothing will happen to them, but this is not so. A hot or humid indoor climate can damage icons. Following gradual corrosion, the image of God or other saints will deteriorate, and the family value will fall into disrepair. Therefore, it is important not only to pray before the face, but also to properly care for it.

Common problems:

in an excessively hot place, the plywood on which the image is written may become distorted;
growing layers of dust;
candles next to the icon can smoke it;
cracking and falling off of the paint coating;
High humidity can cause mold and mildew to appear.

Minor damage to the relic can be repaired with your own hands at home. But the peeling paint and deformation of the plywood are difficult to correct, so special restoration will be required in the church.

Storage rules

Proper care will ensure long-term storage of family value. Therefore, in order to avoid having to restore the paintwork and wipe off soot from the icon, it is recommended to store relics only in the appropriate places and follow simple rules. Recommendations from experts on caring for icons:

Lighted candles should be placed only at a distance of 20 cm from the image.
As a rule, icons are installed in the corners of the room and far from radiators, window openings, and so on. In this case, mold will not occur, since air circulation will be constant.
All churches have stained glass windows because the sun's rays slowly destroy the icons. Therefore, family valuables should be kept away from windows.
Also, there must be a minimum concentration of moisture in the house or apartment. If it is high, then after a while a fungus will appear on the face.
The paint coating on the front side cannot be treated with alcohol varnish.
Lye and washing powders are not suitable for washing church supplies, especially for icons.
Washing with water can lead to the destruction of the icon. In this case, the paintwork will appear with whitish spots. Such care will not lead to anything good.
Dust is removed with a brush or soft cloth.
If there are frequent temperature changes in the room where the icons are located, the paint on the icon will crack and the wood will swell. Loss of original appearance is guaranteed. Therefore, it is better to install the icons in another room or fix the problem.
Flies crawling along the surface of the face leave “spots” (bulges) on it. They cannot be scraped off because they are partially absorbed into the paint layer and can fly off with the paint during mechanical cleaning. In this situation, only a restorer can help.

By following simple rules, the icon can be preserved not only by children, but also by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If small cracks have formed in the image, you should urgently go to a church restorer or other experienced specialist. To get detailed advice, you should visit a church and get advice from experienced people. One of the duties of true believers is not only keeping the commandments, but also carefully storing icons and other sacred church utensils.

Source of the article: https://nashdom.life/mojka/kak-myt-ikony-v-domashnix-usloviyax

What is brass and where is it used?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The material contains elements such as manganese, tin, aluminum and lead particles, which change the characteristics and color shades of the metal. Zinc was discovered in the 16th century, but brass was discovered in ancient times. The metal was obtained by melting copper and zinc-containing ore.

When making the alloy, up to 30% zinc is added to the composition, but to improve technical characteristics, up to 50% metal is added. Brass practically does not wear out and is used in the manufacture of automotive spare parts, serpentine elements, heating radiators, as well as stamped parts and various accessories. Alloy brass is used for the production of aircraft, ships, watch parts and main pipes.

Acetone

Using soap. Soap solution removes soot well. But frequent use can lead to the face being partially or completely erased. As a result, the most valuable icons are lost.
The yolk of a chicken egg, boiled chilled water, turpentine, and alcohol in a ratio of 1:5:2:2 will help get rid of soot. Mix the composition well and apply with a soft brush or cotton swab. Then wipe the paint layer with a dry cloth.
How to properly restore an icon yourself if the paint layer begins to peel off? To do this, use 1 chicken egg yolk and 5 parts water. The emulsion is applied to the damaged areas and dried for 1 hour. This manipulation is repeated several times. Then you need to moisten the damaged areas with the same solution and press them against the board.
Vegetable oil will help return the color to the icon. In the old days they used olive oil. They wipe the face with it once a month. Apply a thin layer.

Aerator key.

Cleaning icons made of different metals

Repairing an icon is not an easy task, but it is doable. To minimize the risk of new damage, home restoration should be carried out with the utmost care.

How to clean copper icons, as well as silver, gold and bronze:

Tooth powder is great for cleaning copper coins and relics. Copper, gold and silver heirlooms are difficult to clean, especially if they have carved textures. For proper washing, special products are sold that are used to treat jewelry made of all kinds of metals. To clean copper products, use Goya tooth powder or paste.
To make silver and gold images shine, you need to use alcohol and vodka, previously diluted. Specialists clean the icons with cotton swabs soaked in a solution. To check whether the prepared mixture will harm the relic, it is recommended to coat the area that is almost invisible. If the varnish or paint has not come off, you can safely wipe the product.
There are combined icons, for example: wood and metal. In this case, barrel tomatoes and cranberries will help. In order not to spoil the image, washing should be done without haste and carefully. First, cranberries and sour tomatoes are applied to the metal, then the dirt begins to come off from the metal surface, and then it is wiped with a dry cloth. The procedure is carried out over and over again until all the dirt is washed away and the metal becomes light.
The surface of the relic is well cleaned with ammonia. Take a regular brush, which is used by artists, and then the solution is applied to the entire surface of the icon. Its owner must wait some time and wipe the church item with a dry cloth. When finished, use a hairdryer to dry, but at the lowest power, since the flow of hot air can damage the image.
Gold items are cleaned with acetic and citric acid. If the icons are made of bronze or copper, then the acid is slightly diluted with water. After cleaning the surface, you will need a dry cloth.

Experts categorically do not recommend washing church items with kitchen detergents. You should not use hard powders and so on, since the surface may be scratched during the washing process.

Restoring an icon at home: various methods

Take a fresh lemon and cut it into two halves. Take one of them and sprinkle it well with salt. Now we apply it to the product and carefully and slowly clean it until it shines. We rinse with water and wash off the remaining lemon, now dry. The method will cope with even the most difficult cases.
Fresh oxide can be easily removed with hot vinegar. To do this, put it on the fire and bring it to a boil. We wet a cloth and rub it into the product. As a rule, all the dirt literally disappears before our eyes.
How to clean brass at home if it is invisible due to plaque? Take 3 liters of water, add half a glass of table vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, gently immerse the brass object there. Leave for 3 hours and watch from time to time to control the water level, top up if necessary. Leave to cool slightly and remove the product and wipe with a soft cloth. If necessary, you can polish it now; the item will easily succumb to this.

Some improvised means can restore the shine and luster of darkened brass products quickly, efficiently and, importantly, with minimal financial costs.

How and with what to clean brass at home from oxide to shine |

in a small bowl, mix equal amounts of clean water and baking soda;
immerse decorations in the prepared liquid for fifteen to twenty minutes;
remove and transfer the products to another bowl with pre-prepared lemon juice;
wait about forty minutes;
rinse with clean water and dry using dry wipes.

Such preliminary preparation will help to better clean stubborn dirt in hard-to-reach places.

Colorful coating

Images should be washed only with soft cloths: napkins and rags without coarse lint. Church experts advise washing icons in the following ways:

A soap solution helps remove soot. But often such a procedure is not recommended; repeated wiping can damage the holy face. And this is the most valuable part of the icon.
There is another recipe that perfectly removes soot: alcohol, egg yolk, turpentine ointment and cool water with a ratio of 2:1:2:5. The mixture is stirred until smooth. A cotton swab is soaked in it and the cleaning procedure is performed. When finished, the solution is wiped off with a dry cloth.
To prevent paint peeling, you should use a simple recipe: take chicken yolk and boiled chilled water in a ratio of 1 to 5. Apply the mixture to the damaged layer with a cotton swab, wait 60 minutes, and then wipe the coating with a cloth. The process is repeated several times to bring the paint to a shiny state.
Vegetable oil restores the color of the heirloom. You can use olive oil. It is enough to wipe your face monthly to form a thin protective layer on it. If this does not work, a church restorer will help.

Important! The water used to wash the icons is not poured into the sink or onto the paths. It should only be poured into the garden - in a place where people do not go. If you do otherwise, then, as the clergy say, it is a sin.

If cleaning icons on your own at home scares the owner, then it is better for him to resort to professional services. Incorrect procedures can further damage the coating.

Basic rules for caring for brass products

By following these simple recommendations, you can maintain the shine of brass items and avoid serious contamination:

If the product is often used at home, try to maintain constant cleanliness . Regularly wipe things with a damp cloth or rinse them under running water.
After washing, it is better not to leave items to dry naturally. This can cause unsightly cloudy spots to appear on the surface of the metal. Be sure to wipe the products dry with any material, preferably with a natural composition.
Try not to touch metal with dirty, greasy hands . Fingerprints may not be immediately noticeable, but if you do not adhere to this rule, in the future the marks may become more obvious and will be much more difficult to clean.
If you wear brass jewelry, we recommend storing it in a closed box and occasionally wiping it with a soft cloth such as velvet or suede. a special cloth for silver objects , which can be easily purchased at a jewelry store, is ideal for cleaning and polishing
, ammonia-based compounds or other aggressive agents for cleaning
Caring for a brass chandelier is also easy. Remove dust regularly with a clean, dry cloth. For more intense contamination, wipe the brass elements of the chandelier with soapy water. At the end of the procedure, do not forget to wipe the product dry.
Brass door handles are the most susceptible to stains. Street dust, dirty hands - all this negatively affects the appearance of the product. In order to avoid heavy contamination and make it easier to care for the metal, it is recommended to coat the surface of the handles with a special varnish . Please note that over time, the varnish may begin to wear off - do not allow this to happen, check regularly and, if necessary, renew the coating layer.

If you follow these rules and inspect your products regularly, you can avoid most problems. If contamination does appear, we recommend the best methods for cleaning brass.

Mold and mildew removal

The sacred image on the tree can be destroyed due to mold, which spreads very quickly. If mold has formed on the front of the icon, in order to avoid damage to the face, you should take the icon to a restorer. Removing mold in a visible place yourself is very difficult and can do more harm than good.

If the fungus has spread to the back of the heirloom, you can remove it yourself. You will need a brush whose bristles are made of nylon.

How to remove mold from wooden surfaces of icons:

You need a piece of cotton wool and hydrogen peroxide. The material is dipped into the solution and applied to the damaged area. If the procedure helps, the area is treated again.
Only vinegar and soda will remove a large amount of mold. It is not recommended to use this method very often, since this is an emergency measure for cleaning the surface from fungus and mold. The infected area of the icon is wiped with a piece of cotton wool previously soaked in vinegar.
This method involves wetting baking soda, making a paste of it, and applying it to the damaged part of the heirloom. Wait for some time, and then the applied paste is removed with a dry cloth.

Under no circumstances should you wash icons with water, otherwise it will seep into more difficult places, and therefore, within a short period of time, the face and paint coating will be damaged.

Traditional methods

The aerator consists of a rubber gasket, a mesh filter and a clamp with which the structure is attached to the tap. This fastener is unscrewed with a key for aerators. This must be done carefully, since at this stage the filter may break, especially if it is made of plastic. If there is no special key, this can be done using pliers, having first wrapped the aerator in a piece of cloth so as not to damage the surface.

To preserve the relic in its pristine beauty for a long time, follow simple rules: