Cleaning a brass cage

Kiwibird · Feb 24, 2015

Kiwi's travel cage is brass (ya, it's an old school one, but such a perfect size and so sturdy, we'll be keeping it

). I hose it down and steam it, but the brass is pretty tarnished (the cage is really old). Anyone know of a safe way to clean it so it's shiny again? I know they make brass polish, but I doubt it would be very safe to use on a bird cage that occasionally holds a live bird

gracebowen · Feb 24, 2015

I don't know if it will hurt the cage or if it's safe for birds but I've heard toothpaste or hot sauce. I think coke the soda soaking cage in it. It may not be totally restored but might help. Lemon and baking soda paste.

Christinenc2000 · Feb 24, 2015

Yup Toothpaste works great on brass

Kiwibird · Feb 24, 2015

Christinenc2000 said:
Yup Toothpaste works great on brass

Just regular toothpaste? Like Crest or something? Thanks! Kiwi's travel cage will be minty fresh lol

It's starting to warm up, so we're planning for some day trips and stuff. For longer drives, he likes being able to hold onto cage bars and then get to walk around in the backpack when we get wherever

Hawk · Feb 24, 2015

Kiwibird said:
Kiwi's travel cage is brass (ya, it's an old school one, but such a perfect size and so sturdy, we'll be keeping it). I hose it down and steam it, but the brass is pretty tarnished (the cage is really old). Anyone know of a safe way to clean it so it's shiny again? I know they make brass polish, but I doubt it would be very safe to use on a bird cage that occasionally holds a live bird

Funny you should say that, we have a perch/ Tray stand from the 1920's or 30's that is brass, base brass stand with wooden perch, definitely antique.

Use ring cleaner, and have used brass cleaner, just hose it down real good after wards and don't clean it around birds...and don't use it on the wooden perch. Works like a charm. Been using it for 3 years that way with no problems.

henpecked · Feb 24, 2015

Look for a product called "never dull" . Comes in a can, a cotton material that you shred into what ever size you need. Also used on aluminium,copper,silver,SS,etc. Of course toothpaste will work, but alot more mess .

4dugnlee · Feb 24, 2015

I was going to say toothpaste but I see you've already been told...lol...I'm a little late to the game:54:

Kiwibird · Feb 24, 2015

Hawk said:
Kiwibird said:

Kiwi's travel cage is brass (ya, it's an old school one, but such a perfect size and so sturdy, we'll be keeping it). I hose it down and steam it, but the brass is pretty tarnished (the cage is really old). Anyone know of a safe way to clean it so it's shiny again? I know they make brass polish, but I doubt it would be very safe to use on a bird cage that occasionally holds a live bird

Click to expand...

Funny you should say that, we have a perch/ Tray stand from the 1920's or 30's that is brass, base brass stand with wooden perch, definitely antique.

Use ring cleaner, and have used brass cleaner, just hose it down real good after wards and don't clean it around birds...and don't use it on the wooden perch. Works like a charm. Been using it for 3 years that way with no problems.

His is more "vintage" than antique. It has one of those old school label-maker labels (made of plastic with the raised letters) that says "Pono 1980". I've never taken it off because I think it's kind of cool to have the name and date of the original cage resident

(cage was found in a thrift shop). Still, a 1980 cage is over 30 years old now! I wonder why they stopped making brass cages (the tarnish?). I have seen "decorative" ones in antique stores, but never a really functional one like the one we have.

flyingron · Feb 24, 2015

This sounds weird but Ketchup+Salt works pretty well.

Hawk · Feb 25, 2015

flyingron said:
This sounds weird but Ketchup+Salt works pretty well.

Your right...I heard that before and keep forgetting to try that. it's the acid in ketchup ( tomato acid with the salt) works great I hear.

Delfin · Feb 25, 2015

Doesn't toothpaste contain fluoride which is can be toxic in certain amounts. What about ultra-sound cleaning. But Tomato sauce seem to be the best non-toxic option.

Toothpaste is really good for cleaning car headlights lenses. You know when the lenses have that yellow tinge.

Kiwibird · Mar 4, 2015

I like the idea of ketchup. Will the cheap dollar store ketchup work? We don't typically have ketchup, so I'd have to buy some special

weco · Mar 4, 2015

Kiwibird said:
Kiwi's travel cage is brass (ya, it's an old school one, but such a perfect size and so sturdy, we'll be keeping it). I hose it down and steam it, but the brass is pretty tarnished (the cage is really old). Anyone know of a safe way to clean it so it's shiny again? I know they make brass polish, but I doubt it would be very safe to use on a bird cage that occasionally holds a live bird

Hmmm, you meant to say you would soon be in the travel cage market...didn't you.....thought I heard something like that mumbled after you perused these links:

Be careful with commercial polishes as virtually all are toxic:

Bird Proof Your Home: How to Eliminate Household Hazards for Your Bird

Then there's that grungy old zinc & it's toxicity to worry about:

Heavy Metals are Poisonous to Birds

Some things aren't worth re-purposing.....might be worth something as scrap brass, but don't know how much.....good luck.....

weco · Mar 5, 2015

I got curious earlier, thinking about my earlier posting about scrap brass, so browsed around the internet, just to be sure I knew what I was talking about, even though I was pretty sure I did, I looked around & found a Eugene, Oregon website that offered some information about scrap brass pricing in your area and according to that site, there is even an app available to help you get the best, apparently up to the minute pricing for your scrap metals...in case you ever find yourself with any scrap you'd like to get rid of.....

The website is Schnitzer - Eugene Scrap Metal Price List

and it's currently showing scrap brass, just in case you have any lying around, to be selling for anywhere between $1.00 and $1.50 per pound, depending on the grade of scrap.....

Hope this information is helpful.....

EdgesofTwilight · Mar 6, 2015

I used baking soda and water with a toothbrush to clean brass. Seemed to work quite well.

weco · Mar 6, 2015

Was wondering if you got your vintage brass travel cage all polished up ? ? ?

GteddyTAG · Mar 6, 2015

Here is a tip for cleaning brass, brought to you by a retired Navy sailor. While in the military, the ship board fire teams would clean their fire fighting nozzles by dipping it in a bucket of all things... Cool-aid. (no-sugar) I'm here to tell you that it works great. As far as a cage? One big bucket may be needed, maybe rubbing it on and letting it sit? Just a thought.

Cleaning a brass cage

Kiwibird

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