How to Care for Bronze

Bronze items do not tarnish. Instead, over time they develop a protective patina prized for its beauty. Dust regularly with a soft cloth or brush to keep bronze pieces clean and free from accumulations of dirt that can damage the surface.

The reddish-brown, green, or black patina that bronze develops over time is considered a desirable attribute and should not be removed. To restore the shine to dull, neglected bronze, wash with a solution of 1 tablespoon of salt to 3 1/2 quarts of water, then rinse well with plain water.

If you prefer a bright finish instead of the patina that devel­ops on your bronze, polish pieces with bronze polish or copper polish, following the manufacturer’s instructions. For a high shine, apply a liquid wax before polishing.

Professional metal finishers can remove scratches from bronze and repair broken pieces. Exposure to chlorides in combination with oxygen can cause bronze disease, a sudden growth of rough green spots. To remove the spots, boil the item in distilled water, changing water often, until the spots vanish. Soaking the item in distilled water for one week may also remove the spots.