Cleaning of door hardware made and sold today is very easy thanks to more “user-friendly” materials and finishes. Although some manufacturers will provide recommendations, in most cases the process simply involves a non-toxic or “green” cleaning product or perhaps a small amount of warm water with mild dish washing soap, followed by wiping the hardware down with a soft, dry cloth.
However, if you have installed or are thinking about purchasing antique or vintage type door hardware, the chances are good that cleaning would involve a different process. Remember that door hardware manufactured even 20 years ago may have the same material base as designs sold today but the processes were very different because of available technology. Therefore, finishes of older door hardware would not have been nearly as protective as what you would purchase now.
A perfect example is door hardware made form brass. For vintage door hardware, brass was a common material in that it achieved an antique look but for genuine antique door hardware, this same material was a key element in the creation. In both cases, brass hardware would not have a protective coating so while this material looked amazing, it also poses some serious challenges for ongoing maintenance and cleaning.
Brass is notorious for becoming tarnished, which can make door hardware appear old, but not in a beautiful antique way, more as hardware falling apart or even being cheap. The easiest and most effective means of cleaning brass is by applying masking tape on the hinges from the outside. That way, the door could remain closed while the handle, knob, backplate, kick plate, and other elements could be properly cleaned using a manufacturer’s recommended or high quality brass polish. Once finished with one side of the door, tape would be applied to the other side and the process repeated. The final step would be to leave the door open so the hinges themselves could be cleaned.
As you work on one side of the door, the hardware would be removed. Next, it would be worthwhile to inspect not just the actual door hardware but also the screws, locking mechanism, and other components. If the hardware were antique, it could have been damaged in some way, possibly from rust, being bent, or something else. If you discover any damage the process of searching for a replacement part would start. In this case, you could look for authentic antique parts or to save money, you could choose reproduction pieces that share the same look and characteristics of the original door hardware.
Prior to applying the cleaning agent, which could contain harsh chemicals, you want to done rubber or vinyl gloves. Before actual product is applied, it would be necessary to soak all of the hardware in a metal bowl filled with concentrated ammonia. Keep in mind that ammonia is very caustic so make sure this is done in an open room with the windows open or better yet, outdoors. In fact, it would be to your benefit to put on a protective face mask to avoid breathing in the fumes. Allow the parts to soak for 60 minutes so all the tarnish would be removed.
Briefly rinse the door hardware in warm water and then dry with a soft, cotton cloth. For the next step, the brass polish would be applied and rubbed hard to help restore each piece to its original beauty. True, this process is labor intensive but the results would be antique or vintage brass hardware that looks like it did the day it was installed on the door. To complete the process, a lacquer finish would be sprayed on according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the hardware reinstalled.
