How do you clean bronze?

To clean a bronze item, rinse it, apply baking soda and lemon juice, buff the bronze, wait 30 minutes, rinse the item, and dry it with a towel. This 40-minute process requires gloves, a bowl, a spoon, baking soda, a lemon, a knife, a towel, a sink and a polishing cloth.

1. Rinse the bronze

   Rinse the bronze item under warm running water. This removes dust and surface dirt. Wipe the object with a towel, and set it on your work surface.

2. Make the baking soda paste

   Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl, cut a lemon in half, and squeeze a small amount of juice on top of the baking soda. Stir the mixture with a spoon until it forms a soft paste.

3. Rub the paste over the bronze

   Put on rubber cleaning gloves, and smear the baking soda paste over the bronze. Rinse your gloved hands, and buff the metal with a soft cloth. Use moderate pressure and circular strokes. After you buff the item, leave the cleaning paste on for 30 minutes.

4. Rinse and dry the item

   Rinse the bronze item with warm running water until it is free of residue, and then dry it with a towel. Use a corner of the towel to reach tight crevices. Inspect the bronze for any remaining discoloration, and repeat the cleaning process if necessary.