Friday, September 27, 2019

How to of the Day

How to of the Day


How to Make Fennel Tea

Posted: 27 Sep 2019 05:00 PM PDT

Fennel has been used as an herbal tea for centuries. It has a slightly sweet flavor and can improve your digestion, especially if you make it with peppermint and ginger. Studies have also shown that drinking fennel tea can suppress your appetite, which makes it helpful if you're trying to lose weight. Crush your fennel, boil some water, and enjoy your homemade herbal tea!

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Simple Fennel Tea

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons (6 to 12 g) of fennel seeds
  • of water
  • Honey or mint to serve

Makes 1 serving

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Ginger and Lemon Verbena

  • 2 heaping teaspoons (4 g) of fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) of freshly grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of dried lemon verbena
  • of water

Makes 2 servings

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Peppermint and Chamomile

  • 1 teaspoon (1 g) of dried chamomile flowers
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) of dried peppermint leaves
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) of fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of dried cut ginger pieces
  • of water

Makes 1 serving

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Simple Fennel Tea

  1. Bruise 1 to 2 tablespoons (6 to 12 g) of fennel seeds in a mortar. For lighter-tasting tea, use fewer seeds or use all of them for bold tasting tea. Put the seeds into a mortar and crush them gently with a pestle.[1]

    Make Fennel Tea Step 1.jpg
    • Pound the seeds until they crack open and become fragrant.
  2. Boil water in an electric kettle or on the stove. Fill a kettle with at least of water and put the lid on. If you're using an electric kettle, switch it on. If you're using the stove, place the kettle on a burner and turn it to high. Bring the water to a vigorous boil.[2]
    Make Fennel Tea Step 2.jpg
  3. Place the seeds into a teapot or infuser. If you'd like to use an infuser, pour the seeds into an infuser basket or ball that seals shut. Then, place the infuser into a large mug or teacup.[3]

  4. Pour of boiling water over the fennel and steep it for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully pour the water into the teapot or the mug that you're using. Cover the teapot or mug and let the tea steep until it's as strong as you want.[4]

    • You can cover your mug with a saucer or small plate.
  5. Strain the fennel tea and sip it slowly. If you used a teapot, place a strainer in your teacup and pour the tea into it. If you used an infuser, remove the basket or ball and enjoy your fennel tea![5]

    • You can sweeten the tea with your favorite sweetener, such as honey or agave.
    • If you have leftover tea, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it within 3 to 5 days.

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Ginger and Lemon Verbena

  1. Crush 2 teaspoons (4 g) of fennel seeds in a mortar. Put the seeds into a mortar and push down on them with a pestle until the seeds crack open. You should also smell a strong fennel fragrance.[6]

    • Crushing the fennel will release its oil and make your tea more flavorful.
  2. Put the crushed fennel into a pot with grated ginger, lemon verbena, and water. Transfer the crushed fennel to a small pot on the stove and add 1 teaspoon (2 g) of freshly grated ginger along with 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of dried lemon verbena. Then, pour in of water.[7]

    • Lemon verbena is sometimes sold as "vervain". Check local health stores or online to buy herbs for your tea.
  3. Bring the tea to a boil and simmer it over low for 10 minutes. Turn the burner to high so the water begins to boil vigorously. Then, turn the burner down to low and let it bubble gently for 10 minutes. The fennel, ginger, and lemon will flavor the tea.[8]

    Make Fennel Tea Step 8.jpg
    • You can leave the lid off of the pot. Some of the water will evaporate, but this will intensify the flavor of the tea.
  4. Strain the tea into serving cups and enjoy it hot. Place a tea strainer over a teacup and slowly pour or ladle the fennel tea into the cup. If you don't have a tea strainer, place a fine-mesh strainer over a teapot or jug and pour the tea through it. Then, pour the tea into teacups.

    • You can brew another batch of fennel tea with ginger and lemon verbena, but cut the steeping time down to 7 or 8 minutes.
    • Refrigerate leftover tea in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days. You can reheat the tea before serving it or pour it over ice for a cold drink.

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Peppermint and Chamomile

  1. Bring water to boil in an electric kettle or on the stove. Pour at least of water into the kettle and put the lid on. If you're using an electric kettle, switch it on. If you're using the stove, set the kettle on a burner and turn it to high. Heat the water until it boils vigorously.[9]

    Make Fennel Tea Step 10.jpg
    • You can put the dry tea ingredients into the teapot while you wait for the water to boil.
  2. Crush 1 teaspoon (2 g) of fennel seeds and put them into a teapot. Put the seeds into a mortar and pound them with the pestle until they crack. Then, transfer the seeds to a teapot or large mug.[10]

    • If you don't have a mortar and pestle put the seeds into a sealable bag and hit them with a rolling pin.
  3. Add the chamomile, peppermint, and ginger. Put 1 teaspoon (1 g) of dried chamomile flowers, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of dried peppermint leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of dried cut ginger pieces into the teapot with the crushed fennel.[11]

  4. Pour of boiling water into the pot and steep the tea for 10 minutes. Carefully pour the water into the teapot and put the lid on it to prevent steam from escaping. Set a timer for 10 minutes.[12]

    • If you're steeping the tea in a mug or large teacup, place a small dish or saucer over it.
  5. Strain the tea and sip it while it's hot. Set a tea strainer over your cup and slowly pour the hot tea through it. Put the strainer aside and enjoy the hot herbal tea. If you'd like to sweeten it, stir in a little honey or agave.[13]

    • You can refrigerate the cold tea in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days. Then, drink it chilled or reheat the tea before drinking it.

[Edit]Tips

  • To make refreshing fennel tea, brew the tea with twice as much fennel. Then, chill the tea and pour it over ice just before serving.[14]

[Edit]Warnings

  • If you're pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor before drinking fennel tea since more research is needed to determine if it's safe.[15]
  • Avoid drinking fennel tea if you have a blood-clotting disorder or are allergic to carrots, celery, or mugwort.[16]
  • Talk with your child's pediatrician before giving them fennel tea. Your doctor might recommend a safe dose to give your child if they're colicky.[17]

[Edit]Things You'll Need

[Edit]Simple Fennel Tea

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Teapot or mug
  • Tea infuser, optional

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Ginger and Lemon Verbena

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Small pot
  • Fine mesh or tea strainer
  • Teapot or small pot
  • Teacup

[Edit]Fennel Tea with Peppermint and Chamomile

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Fine mesh or tea strainer
  • Teapot
  • Teacup

[Edit]References

How to Market Yourself

Posted: 27 Sep 2019 09:00 AM PDT

You've likely heard that you need to be able to market yourself in today's job market, but actually doing it can feel overwhelming. Whether you're creating your own job or applying for one, knowing how to market yourself will help you be successful. Before you can start marketing yourself, you need to create your personal brand. Then, you can reach out to your audience to promote yourself as an entrepreneur or to apply for a job.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Getting a Job

  1. Present yourself as a professional in your area of expertise. Dress to fit the role you're trying to take, such as business casual. Additionally, make sure your hairstyle and grooming habits also fit the standard for your field. When you meet with a potential employer or client, don't wear too much fragrance because it may trigger allergies and is considered disrespectful.[1]
    Market Yourself Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • Professional attire can vary depending on what type of work you do. For instance, a consultant might wear a suit or sheath dress, while a freelance tattoo artist might prefer an outfit that shows off their tattoos and creativity.
    • Similarly, appropriate hairstyles can vary. For instance, you might be more likely to get a job with a Fortune 500 company if you have a conservative hairstyle. On the other hand, a hair stylist or muralist may attract more attention with a bold cut or hair color.
  2. Use a firm handshake and eye contact to convey confidence. Body language tells people a lot about how you're feeling, and you can use this to your advantage. When you're meeting with a client or potential employer, make eye contact as you approach them. Then, give a firm handshake. While you're talking, continue to make eye contact.[2]
    Market Yourself Step 2.jpg
    • This will make the person perceive you as confident and self-assured, even if you're actually nervous.
    • To get better at making eye contact, ask a friend to make sustained eye contact with you for 5-10 minutes. Repeat this exercise until you feel more comfortable staring into someone's eyes.
  3. Answer questions as though you're sure of yourself. It's normal to feel nervous when you're trying to sell yourself, and that can come through when you're answering questions. Be definitive about the answers you give. Keep your voice firm and assertive so that the person believes your responses. If you're completely stumped on a question, tell them that you'll check on it and get back to them within 24 hours.[3]
    Market Yourself Step 3.jpg
    • You might say, "That's a great question. Let me double check my numbers and I'll have an answer for you within 24 hours."
  4. Create a polished resume. Present your name and contact information at the top of your resume. Then, list your educational experience. Use the bulk of your resume to describe your work experience or skills. Update your resume at least once a month so you know it's accurate.[4]
    Market Yourself Step 4.jpg
    • Include keywords on your resume so that the employer knows that you fit what they're looking for. Whenever possible, use actual keywords from the job posting.
    • Use strong verbs to describe what you accomplished at your past jobs.
  5. Tell stories to demonstrate your strengths and skills. Talking about your skills is hard, but anecdotes might be the solution. To find an story, list the skills or strengths you want to present. Then, think about times in your career or life where you displayed those skills. Write about these experiences, then revise what you've written to create a short anecdote.[5]
    Market Yourself Step 5.jpg
    • For instance, let's say you want to show that you're innovative and great at collaboration. You might say, "The first website I designed was tricky because my client had built their original website. Since he was proud of his efforts, I wanted to keep what was working. For the first phase of the design, I worked closely with him so he still felt like the site belonged to him. Then, I created a unique format that won him a professional award."
  6. Focus on your actions and achievements rather than your talents. Listing off your talents can feel like bragging, but talking about your actions and achievements may feel more natural. Plus, this shows that you can produce results and aren't making empty promises. Sit down with your resume and identify actions or achievements from your work history and life that demonstrate your skills. Then, use them to impress a potential employer or client.[6]
    Market Yourself Step 6.jpg
    • For instance, instead of saying that you're creative, you could tell them about your special projects at your last job. Rather than saying you're accountable, you could talk about how you typically turn in projects before the deadline and have never been late.
  7. Ask questions about the job so you can get the interviewer talking. While you might think that talking about yourself is the best way to promote yourself, it's best to talk about the job and what the company needs. Create a list of questions ahead of time so you will be prepared during your interview. Listen intently to the answer so you can figure out what the company needs solved. Then, explain how you will help the company fix a problem they have.[7]
    Market Yourself Step 7.jpg
    • The interviewer will likely have a more positive view of your interview if they talked a lot. This is because people enjoy talking about themselves.
    • For instance, you might ask, "What does your current supply chain look like?" "How do you attract clients right now?" or "What grants have you already pursued?"
  8. Present yourself as a solution to the interviewer's problems. If a company is hiring, that means they have a role that needs filled. Focus on being the solution to what the company is missing. Your interviewer won't care about your skills and expertise if it doesn't help them solve their problems.[8]
    Market Yourself Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • You could say, "It sounds like maintaining your social media pages is a problem for you. I know how to create engaging content that will attract customers, so I can turn this problem into an asset."
  9. Show off your enthusiasm for the job. Tell the interviewer that you're excited about this opportunity and why. Explain why this job is a great fit for you, and how you hope to help the company grow. Finally, offer to come in for a second interviewer to talk more about what you'd bring to the job.[9]
    Market Yourself Step 9.jpg
    • You might say, "This is a stellar opportunity because I know your company is poised to double in size in the next 5 years. I've worked with 2 other startups, so I know I can help you recruit the talent you need. I'm available later this week if you want to talk more about what I can do for you."

[Edit]Creating Your Personal Brand

  1. Identify your strengths and expertise. In order to sell yourself, you need to know what you bring to the table. Think about the skills, talents, and knowledge you possess. This will help you figure out how to brand yourself. Here are some things to consider:[10]
    Market Yourself Step 10.jpg
    • What degrees do you hold?
    • What classes and workshops have you taken?
    • What type of career experience do you have?
    • What kind of volunteer work have you done?
    • What type of hobbies do you do?
    • What tasks are easiest for you to complete?
  2. Choose a niche in your field to pursue. Clients will better understand your brand if you focus on one area, which is your niche. To find your niche, consider how your interests, skills, and expertise overlap.[11]
    Market Yourself Step 11.jpg
    • For instance, let's say that you do web design and enjoy promoting local businesses. You might decide that your niche is going to be building websites for small businesses.
    • Similarly, let's say that you're an artist who wants to teach classes. If you enjoy working with children, you might offer intro to art classes to school children.
  3. Design a logo to represent your personal brand. First, choose a color scheme for your logo. Then, draw an image or use a photograph of your work. Consider adding your name or business name to the design. Finally, test your logo by showing it to people who are in your target audience so you can get their feedback.[12]
    Market Yourself Step 12.jpg
    • You may not need a logo if you aren't running your own business, so it's okay to skip this step if you don't think you'll use a logo.
    • Make sure your image is scalable, which means it can be sized up and down to fit on your promotional materials.
    • You can use programs like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape to create a digital file for your logo.
  4. Get promotional materials to market yourself. Make or order a set of business cards that feature your name or business, along with your logo and contact information. Additionally, create or purchase additional promotional materials, like flyers, brochures, or newsletters. Then, hand out your promotional materials while you're out networking.[13]
    Market Yourself Step 13.jpg
    • If you have a mission statement, a promotional catch-phrase, or a call-to-action that expresses your purpose for marketing, then include it on your marketing materials. For example, if you are marketing yourself for the dog therapy service you provide, you might include text like, "I can help Fido through his ruff times."
    • Include your logo on all of your promotional materials.
  5. Practice delivering your marketing pitch. Turn your strengths, expertise, and niche into a concise marketing pitch. Think about what your clients can expect from you. Then, write out a 2-3 sentence explanation of what you can do for them. Read the explanation out loud and revise it until it sounds right. Finally, practice your pitch until you can deliver it with ease.[14]
    Market Yourself Step 14.jpg
    • Stand in front of your mirror so you can practice gesturing during your pitch.
    • Film yourself giving the pitch so you can evaluate your delivery.
    • Practice your pitch for family and friends, and get their advice on how you can improve.

[Edit]Reaching Your Audience

  1. Start a website to promote yourself and your work. First, decide if you want to create a free website or pay a fee to have your own domain. Then, choose a website host and a template for your site. Include several pages on your website, such as an "About Me" page, examples of your work, a "Contact Me" page, and a blog to drive traffic to your site. After you set up your site, update it regularly so it's accurate and active.[15]
    Market Yourself Step 15.jpg
    • You can create a free website on sites like Wordpress or Weebly. However, it's usually better to pay to reserve your own domain through a host like Wordpress or SquareSpace. Expect to pay between $100-250 annually to run your site.
    • If you're going to be selling items through your website, look for a host that will allow you to do that. For instance, SquareSpace makes it easy to sell your wares through their sites.
  2. Create social media accounts to promote yourself and your brand. Social media is essential for marketing yourself, so set up an account on each platform. Then, post on your accounts at least once a day so your followers can keep up with what you're doing. This allows you to reach potential clients and show off your work for free![16]
    Market Yourself Step 16.jpg
    • Start a Facebook business page or group to post updates, connect with clients, and show off your work.
    • Use twitter to get yourself noticed and to build a digital network.
    • Post on Instagram to promote your products and provide interesting content for potential clients.
  3. Create a professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a site that's dedicated to professionals, so it's a great place to promote yourself. Create a profile so that you can connect with potential clients and fellow professionals. It may help you find work![17]
    Market Yourself Step 17.jpg
    • Describe your professional accomplishments and how you helped your clients.
    • Include keywords that are related to your goals. For example, if you are a graphic designer, you could use "build graphics," "design websites," or "create visual content."
    • Make connections with prior clients, networking contacts, and former classmates.
    • Ask your connections to endorse your particular skills to establish credibility. If you don't feel comfortable asking people to endorse you, spend some time endorsing the skills of connections that you'd like to endorse you. Likely, they'll return the favor.
    • Upload a professional-looking photo of yourself.
  4. Network to meet people and make connections. Attend events that are related to your field, go to conferences, and enroll in workshops to meet potential clients and fellow professionals. Talk to the people you meet, hand them a business card, and follow up with them later. This will help you build a community to support your career.[18]
    Market Yourself Step 18.jpg
    • Treat every person you meet as a potential networking contact.
    • Hand out your business cards to everyone you meet.
  5. Maintain an email database so you can send out promotional materials. When you're at local events, ask people to sign up to receive your emails. Additionally, allow people to sign up on your website. To get more people on your list, offer a free item or discount in exchange for their email address. Then, send promotional items like a newsletter or announcements to your email list.[19]
    Market Yourself Step 19.jpg
    • When you get a new client, add them to your email list so that they'll receive your promotional items.

[Edit]Being an Entrepreneur

  1. Use software that will schedule your social media posts. It's important that you post often on social media, but this can become really inconvenient. To make things easier, consider using a program that lets you schedule your posts so that they go out across all of your social media platforms. Then, you can spend a few hours each week planning out a week of posts.[20]
    Market Yourself Step 20.jpg
    • Check out programs like Buffer, Hootsuite, and TweetDeck.
  2. Write articles about topics related to your niche or expertise. Sharing your expertise will help raise your prominence in your field. Additionally, it may help you attract clients. Post articles or blog posts on your personal or business website. Additionally, send your articles to professional websites and other people in your field so you can post as a contributor.[21]
    Market Yourself Step 21.jpg
    • If you aren't good at writing, volunteer to contribute your ideas and expert opinions to other people's articles.
  3. Collaborate with other people to show off your skills. Partner with other professionals to produce products that show off all of your work. You might do this for free or for a share of your partner's profits. Offer to help someone in your field complete a big project, or work with people in related fields to share your skills.[22]
    Market Yourself Step 22.jpg
    • For instance, if you're an artist, you might collaborate with 3 other artists to create a community mural.
    • If you're a music promoter, you could partner with local bands and vendors to put on a small festival.
  4. Promote your goods or services by showing off your work. Instead of trying to sell yourself to clients, show them what you have to offer. Provide examples of your work and help clients understand how you'll help them. Keep the focus on your client and the work itself, not on yourself.[23]
    Market Yourself Step 23.jpg
    • For instance, let's say you have a dog walking service. On your website, promote yourself with pictures of you walking dogs and playing with them. In person, get people talking about their dogs, then talk about the care you'd provide for their dogs. Don't talk about how much you love dogs, why you started your business, or what you love about dog walking.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

  • Be sure to use the same font, logo, and information on all of your marketing materials to help develop brand recognition.

[Edit]Warnings

  • Don't spam the comments on other people's websites in an effort to market yourself. This is a big turnoff to people and is more likely to push them away from you.

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

  1. https://aip.ucsd.edu/_files/professionalism-guide
  2. https://aip.ucsd.edu/_files/professionalism-guide
  3. https://aip.ucsd.edu/_files/professionalism-guide
  4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2017/11/08/how-to-get-an-amazing-job-without-much-experience/#26412090141c
  5. https://www.fastcompany.com/3049360/how-to-talk-about-your-skills-without-sounding-like-a-show-off
  6. https://www.fastcompany.com/3049360/how-to-talk-about-your-skills-without-sounding-like-a-show-off
  7. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2017/11/08/how-to-get-an-amazing-job-without-much-experience/#26412090141c
  8. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2017/11/08/how-to-get-an-amazing-job-without-much-experience/#26412090141c
  9. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2017/11/08/how-to-get-an-amazing-job-without-much-experience/#26412090141c
  10. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2015/04/matters
  11. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-market-yourself-su.html
  12. https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-in-5-steps-and-why-everyone-messes-up-on-number-1.html
  13. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-market-artist
  14. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2015/04/matters
  15. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-market-artist
  16. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-market-yourself-su.html
  17. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-market-yourself-su.html
  18. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-market-yourself-su.html
  19. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-market-artist
  20. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-market-artist
  21. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-market-yourself-su.html
  22. https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-in-5-steps-and-why-everyone-messes-up-on-number-1.html
  23. https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-in-5-steps-and-why-everyone-messes-up-on-number-1.html

How to Clean Old Brass

Posted: 27 Sep 2019 01:00 AM PDT

There are several ways to clean older brass. For a basic cleaning, you can use soap and warm water to remove tarnish if you simply want to keep brass clean. If you're trying to avoid abrasive solutions or chemical cleaners, you can opt to use tomato-based products, like ketchup or tomato paste, to soak dirty areas before wiping them dry. If you want a deeper clean or to leave a protective coating behind, you can clean old brass with a specialized polish. Always hold a magnet up to a brass item before cleaning it to make sure that you're actually working with solid brass and not brass-plated zinc, tin, or iron. If the magnet has no reaction to the object, it's solid brass.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Cleaning Old Brass with Dish Soap

  1. Put a magnet on your brass to check to see if it's plated or pure brass. You cannot scrub or aggressively clean brass-plated materials without endangering them. To test your item's material, hold a magnet up against the object. A magnet will not stick or react to solid brass, but it will stick to any brass-plated items.[1]
    Clean Old Brass Step 1.jpg
    • If you don't have a solid brass item, the odds are good that it is plated steel, zinc, or iron.
  2. Place your brass in a large bowl or sink. It will be easier to rinse, scrub, and wash your brass if it's in a sink or large bowl where it can be fully covered under a stream of water. Find a receptacle where you can completely cover your brass in water without having to worry about making a mess.[2]
    Clean Old Brass Step 2.jpg
    • If your brass can't be removed or is too big for a bowl or sink, apply 1-2 squirts of dish soap to a wet, cotton cloth and spot clean it by hand. If this doesn't work, you may want to soak your brass surface in ketchup.
    • Using a sink will make it easier to simply leave the water on while you're rinsing your brass.
    • Don't put any small objects in the sink without covering the drain. Put a stopper or strainer in the hole of a sink to keep smaller pieces from falling down your drain.
  3. Fill the sink or bucket with warm water and dish soap before submerging your brass. Use a gentle, unscented dish soap and warm water. The amount of dish soap that you use is dependent upon the size of your brass object, but your water should be visibly soapy. Fill your sink or bucket with enough water to submerge your brass before dropping it in.[3]
    Clean Old Brass Step 3.jpg
    • If your item is brass-plated, don't submerge it in the sink. Simply dip a cotton cloth into the soapy water and gently rub it. Alternatively, you can quickly dip the brass-plated item in the soapy water instead.
    • Unscented soap is preferable if you don't want to leave your brass with a lingering odor.
  4. Scrub your brass with a microfiber cloth. After 15-45 seconds, lift your brass out of the sink and scrub it with a lathered microfiber cloth. Use the entire palm of your hand to rub the cloth into larger, flatter surfaces, and pinch the cloth between your thumb and index finger to scrub smaller sections.[4]
    Clean Old Brass Step 4.jpg
    • Continue scrubbing until you see tarnish and dirt lifting out of the brass.
    • Start with a softer, circular motion before you increase pressure to ensure that you don't apply unnecessary strain to the material.
  5. Use a toothbrush to clean intricate details. If you have a piece of brass with a lot of intricate line work, use a clean toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach grooves and inlays. Use back-and-forth strokes while applying light pressure to give the bristles time to scrape dirty areas out.[5]
    Clean Old Brass Step 5.jpg
    • Alternatively, if you have a very small piece of brass with a lot of detail, you can use a toothbrush to clean the entire object.
  6. Rinse your brass under warm water until the soap is removed. Drain the water from your sink or empty your bucket. Turn the water in your sink on or fill your bucket with warm water. Rinse or dip your brass in warm water until the soap is visibly removed.[6]
    Clean Old Brass Step 6.jpg
  7. Rub your brass dry to prevent water spots. Use a soft cotton cloth to rub your brass dry. If you let it sit out while it is wet, you could end up with unsightly water spots all over your surface. Gently rub your brass for 1-2 minutes until it is completely dry.
    Clean Old Brass Step 7.jpg

[Edit]Soaking Brass in Tomato Products

  1. Spot clean brass by squirting ketchup on dirty areas. To clean brass objects naturally or spot clean fixtures that cannot be placed in the sink, squirt of ketchup on every section of brass. If you're putting ketchup on a vertical surface, use a smaller amount of ketchup or use tomato paste and rub it out by hand so that it doesn't drip or coagulate.[7]
    Clean Old Brass Step 8.jpg
    • You can hang a small bucket handle around a doorknob to catch any ketchup as it slides off of the brass.
    • You can use ketchup or tomato paste if your brass is still dirty after cleaning it with soap or if you don't want to use any unnatural products to clean your brass.
  2. Mix tomato paste with water to soak larger objects. For larger objects that would require a lot of ketchup, fill a large bowl or bucket with 1-part tomato paste and 2-parts hot water with a large slotted spoon. This will save you some money on large amounts of ketchup while allowing you to submerge your brass in the tomato-product to let it soak.[8]
    Clean Old Brass Step 9.jpg
    • You can use tomato juice or soup if you'd like as long as there are no sugars.
  3. Leave the ketchup or tomato paste for 1-2 hours. Whether you're spot cleaning with ketchup or submerging an object in tomato paste or juice, you need to give the tomato product time to eat into the tarnish, grime, or discoloration. The longer that you leave the brass, the cleaner that your brass will be. 2 hours is usually enough to clean really dirty brass.
    Clean Old Brass Step 10.jpg
    • Crack a window next to your bowl or bucket if you don't want your home to smell like tomatoes.
  4. Remove your brass and rinse it with warm, soapy water. Remove your brass from the sink and squirt some gentle dish soap on the brass. Run it under warm water for 3-4 minutes and rub your brass very gently with a microfiber cloth. For spot cleanings, put a squirt of dish soap on your microfiber cloth and run it under warm water. Rub the ketchup-covered brass for 1-2 minutes to remove the ketchup and its residue. Rinse the soap off of your brass before drying it.[9]
    Clean Old Brass Step 11.jpg
  5. Dry your brass with a clean cotton cloth. Gently rub your brass with a large cotton cloth. Wrap smaller objects in the cloth and rub it lightly with both hands. For larger items, simply run a cotton cloth over every brass surface.[10]
    Clean Old Brass Step 12.jpg
    • You can rinse your brass again if it has the vague scent of tomato sticking to it.

[Edit]Polishing Brass with a Chemical Cleaner

  1. Purchase a high-quality polish to remove discoloration. Brass polish comes in spray, cream, and liquid form. Creams usually need to be rubbed into a brass, while sprays are designed for spot cleaning and sensitive materials. Liquid brass cleaners are applied with a cloth. There are also liquid cleaners that allow you to submerge the brass entirely in the cleaner.[11]
    Clean Old Brass Step 13.jpg
    • Creams tend to better for thicker brass items since you can rub it in to the brass without worrying about damaging your item.
    • Sprays are good for hard-to-reach or delicate brass items.
    • Liquid cleaners tend to be good for brass statues or decorative items that may be hard to cover in a cream but require heavy cleaning.
    • A lacquer-polish will leave a protective coating on your brass by covering it with oil.
  2. Apply the polish according to the container's instructions. Read your polish's instructions to determine how you apply it. The way you apply a brass polish depends upon whether you have a cream, spray, or liquid. Creams are generally applied by hand and rubbed in, while you typically mist a brass item with a spray and let it sit. Liquids can be applied with a cotton or microfiber cloth unless it is designed to be submerged in the liquid.[12]
    Clean Old Brass Step 14.jpg
    • When in doubt, apply the polish with a soft, cotton cloth. Pour a small amount of polish on to your cloth and lightly rub your brass item.
  3. Rub discolored areas lightly before using stiffer strokes. After you've let your polish settle into the brass, clean especially dirty areas by hand. If you're using a cream or liquid, start off by rubbing it in with a microfiber cloth. Rub the cloth into the dirty areas using soft, light circular strokes. If the brass isn't becoming cleaner, use a stiffer stroke. Continue rubbing the brass until any tarnish or dirt is lifted.[13]
    Clean Old Brass Step 15.jpg
    • Sprays typically need to be rinsed off after they've been applied.
    • For thicker brasses with serious tarnish, you can use a softer steel wool. Never use a grade thicker than 00, or you'll risk scratching the brass.
  4. Rinse your brass under warm water unless the polish instructs otherwise. Turn the water in your sink on and set it to a warmer temperature. Hold your polished brass under warm water and rub it lightly to remove any excess polish.[14]
    Clean Old Brass Step 16.jpg
    • Some lacquer-polishes are not designed to be washed off after they're applied. These polishes are an excellent choice if you're trying to apply a protective coating to your brass instead of just clean it.
  5. Dry the brass with a soft, cotton cloth. Place your wet brass on a dry cloth and rub each surface lightly with the cloth so that you remove most of the moisture. Continue rubbing your brass until every section of your piece is dry.[15]
    Clean Old Brass Step 17.jpg
    • If you don't dry your brass, you may end up leaving water spots all over the place.

[Edit]Removing Tough Stains with a Vinegar Paste

  1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt into of vinegar. Measure your ingredients with a measuring cup and measuring spoon. Pour your vinegar into a large bowl and add your teaspoon of salt. Give your vinegar a few swirls with a spoon to fully dissolve the salt.[16]
    Clean Old Brass Step 18.jpg
  2. Add flour to your vinegar until it becomes a thick paste. Start by using a measuring spoon or scale to add 1 tablespoon of flour (8-9 g). Continue adding flour in 1-tablespoon increments, mixing the entire mixture with your spoon after each addition to check the consistency and fully combine your ingredients. Stop once the vinegar and flour have become thick and moldable.[17]
    Clean Old Brass Step 19.jpg
    • The consistency should look and feel like a thick hair mousse or pile of sand depending on how much flour you've added.
  3. Rub the paste into your brass by hand. Put on some rubber gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. Pick up a chunk of your vinegar paste and massage it into the dirty portion of your brass. If you cannot get the paste to stay attached, you can rotate your brass item so that the paste is on top of your brass or use a smaller amount of the paste on the stain.[18]
    Clean Old Brass Step 20.jpg
  4. Let your brass sit for 10 minutes and then rinse it with warm water. Wait 10 minutes for the paste to work on the stain. After 10 minutes, rinse your brass with warm water. Buff it with a microfiber cloth and then dry it with a cotton cloth.[19]
    Clean Old Brass Step 21.jpg
    • You can repeat this process if your brass is still dirty.

[Edit]Tips

  • If you have a larger piece of brass, take it outside to clean it with a hose. instead of using your sink. Brass is pretty resistant to the elements, and a hose will make it easier to apply a steady stream of water to the object.
  • Many people don't like lacquer polishes because they can leave an oily residue on your brass.

[Edit]Warnings

  • Never use any tomato products with sugar in it to clean your brass. It can eat into lacquers and make your brass sticky.
  • Always check to see if brass is plated or solid before you clean it.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

[Edit]Cleaning Old Brass with Soap

  • Magnet
  • Sink or bucket
  • Water
  • Mild soap
  • Toothbrush
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Cotton cloth

[Edit]Soaking Brass in Tomato Products

  • Sink or large bowl
  • Tomato juice or paste
  • Mild soap
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Cotton cloth

[Edit]Polishing Brass with a Chemical Cleaner

  • Rubber gloves
  • Sink or bucket
  • Water
  • Brass polish
  • Microfiber cloth

[Edit]Removing Tough Stains with a Vinegar Paste

  • Measuring cup and spoons
  • Bowl
  • Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Flour
  • Water
  • Microfiber cloth

[Edit]References

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