Check out this metal bucket of decorative fabulousness I found in the trash!
Unfortunately it’s not in tip top condition, fortunately I have a few cleaning tricks up my sleeve that’ll have it spruced up in no time!
Grab my top tips for how to clean metal decor + my easy fix for tarnished silver below:
White vinegar is technically an acid and contains fabulous cleaning properties but it’s so mild that it’s completely safe to eat. Simply soak the metal in white vinegar for a few hours and then gently rub the resulting rusty paste off. If your decor is too large to dunk directly into a container of vinegar you can either pour a layer over the item and let it sit for a while or, for spot washing, soak a soft rag in vinegar and wipe it over the dirty areas. For stubborn rust spots and stains aluminium foil is much less abrasive than steel wool so try dipping a foil ball into the vinegar and use it to gently brush the affected areas.
A Baking Soda and water paste spread over rust spots and discolouration works wonders! Leave it on for half an hour (or longer of needed) then wipe it off with a wet cloth.
Salt and lime isn’t just for tequila! Sprinkle a layer of salt over rusted metal then squeeze the juice from a lime over top of it and allow to sit for a few hours. Hold on to the lime peel and use it as a soft but durable scrubber to rub off the salt/lime mixture then remove any residue with a soft damp cloth.
A potato and dish soap causes a chemical reaction with rust spots which makes them much easier to remove. Simply cut a potato in half and dip the end in dish soap. Put the potato on the rusted metal spots and let it work for a few hours. (A baking soda and water paste can also be used instead of dish soap)
Never use steel wool or metal brushes to clean your metallic decor as they can leave behind bits of steel which may rust and cause further damage. Safer cleaning tools to use are plastic scrubbers and brushes, crumpled aluminum foil and old toothbrushes.
Make your sterling silver shine with my easy peasy video tute:
That method worked marvelously on my tarnished vintage silver charms:
