A professional restorer explains how to preserve the gleaming good looks of your brass fittings and objects.

The proprietor understands brass better than most. All brass oxidises and darkens if it is not polished or lacquered, but his advice for caring for brass is conditional. ‘It depends on the age and importance of the brass.

If you have a period piece, you should always seek professional advice before attempting any DIY treatment,’ he cautions. ‘Beware of abrasive metal polishes and buy liquid chemical cleaners which allow you to clean without too much rubbing’.

Cleaning brass fittings on furniture is more problematic, because metal polish leaves a white residue on the wood, which is virtually impossible to remove.

‘To avoid this, either mask the wood or remove the fittings from the furniture.’ The same white residue also lodges in the crevices of embossed brass and he recommends liquid metal cleaner for removing this, too.