How to Clean Brass Accents on a Coffee Table

Brass accents tarnish as part of normal use

Brass accents on a coffee table can appear as drawer pulls, corner trim, edging, legs, or small inlays. The metal has a warm golden tone that gradually dulls with exposure to air, moisture, and oils from hands. That dull layer is tarnish, a natural surface change that does not mean the metal is damaged.

Cleaning tarnish is mostly a matter of lifting that surface layer. A paste of lemon juice and baking soda does the job with ingredients you likely have at home. The acid in the lemon helps break down the tarnish, and the baking soda adds gentle abrasion so you do not have to scrub hard.

Make a paste with lemon and baking soda

Mix lemon juice and baking soda in a small dish until you get a thick paste, about the consistency of toothpaste. You do not need a precise ratio: add baking soda to the lemon juice a little at a time until it clings to a cloth or cotton swab without running.

Apply the paste only to the brass. Use a cotton swab for pulls, corners, and trim, and a soft cloth for wider areas. Keep the paste off wood, glass, stone, and any other surface, because the acid can dull a clear finish if left on it.

What you will need:

• Fresh or bottled lemon juice
• Baking soda
• A small dish for mixing
• A soft cloth or cotton swabs
• A second dry cloth for buffing
• A drop cloth or towel to protect the floor

Rinse and buff to restore the shine

Let the paste sit on the brass for a few minutes so the acid can work, but do not let it dry completely. A short wait is usually enough for light tarnish. For heavier tarnish, reapply and let it sit again.

Rinse the paste off with a clean damp cloth. Then dry the brass with a soft, dry cloth and buff in the direction of the metal grain if you can see one. Buffing brings back the shine.

Work safely and keep the table secure

Keep cleaning materials out of reach of children and pets. The CPSC offers poison prevention and home safety education resources, and it is a good habit to review those before any cleaning project.

If your coffee table has drawers or shelves, and a child may pull on it, the table should be anchored to the wall. The Anchor It campaign from the CPSC explains that anchoring furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves prevents tip-over injuries. When you move the table to clean it, check that the anchor strap is still secured before you place items back.

It is also worth checking the recall list for your furniture model. The CPSC recalls page lets you search for your table and related accessories, so you can be sure the piece you are cleaning is current.

Protect the rest of the table while you clean

Many coffee tables combine brass with wood, glass, marble, or a painted frame. The lemon paste should never sit on those surfaces. If you accidentally spread it, wipe it off right away with a damp cloth. For wood, a dryer approach is safer, because excess moisture can raise the grain or dull a finish.

To slow future tarnish, wipe brass accents dry after accidental spills and avoid setting wet glasses directly on metal trim. For tables with composite wood parts, look for a TSCA Title VI label, which indicates that the wood product meets the EPA formaldehyde emission standards. That label is separate from cleaning, but it helps to know what your table is made of. See our coffee table care and cleaning guide for daily maintenance across materials.

If the frame is printed or lacquered rather than solid brass, test the paste on a small hidden spot first. Lacquer is common on production furniture, and it can react to acids. A small test tells you whether the paste is safe or whether you should stick to a damp cloth only.

Clean brass accents when they look dull

Clean the brass accents when they look dull, not on a fixed schedule. Frequent cleaning with the paste is fine when you keep it on the metal and rinse well. Over-cleaning with harsh abrasive pads causes scratches, not the occasional lemon paste.

If you keep the table dry and wipe spills quickly, the brass stays bright longer. For everyday dusting, a dry microfiber cloth is enough. Save the paste for the moments when the shine is gone. You can also use the same method described in our polish metal coffee table frame guide for other metal parts.

Think about upkeep when you choose a table

If brass accents are a style you like, you do not have to give them up. Many coffee tables use brass tone trim on metal coffee tables and wood coffee tables. A clear protective coating makes the metal easier to maintain, so look for that detail when comparing options.

If you would rather have a surface that never tarnishes, glass coffee tables and marble coffee tables keep the shine without the metal care. The choice comes down to how much upkeep fits your routine.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Will lemon and baking soda scratch the brass?

No, baking soda is a mild abrasive. It gently lifts tarnish without the scratch risk of steel wool or harsh scouring pads. Use a soft cloth and rub lightly.

Can I use the paste on lacquered brass?

Test it on a hidden spot first. Lacquer can react to acid. If the test spot looks cloudy, use only a damp cloth on that piece.

What if the table has wood next to the brass?

Keep the paste on the metal only. Wipe any accidental contact immediately with a damp cloth and dry the wood so moisture does not sit on the finish.

How often should I clean brass accents?

Clean them when they look dull. For light tarnish, once every few months is a normal pace. Wipe spills quickly to keep the metal bright.

Do I need to remove the brass parts to clean them?

No, leave them on the table. The paste works in place, and you avoid loosening hardware or stressing the attachment points.