Me too.
The thought of scrubbing all those doo-dads used to turn me off to making the purchase or if I did buy, I wouldn't reuse the knobs it came with - I'd just buy new hardware or search in the garage for old hardware that was less cruddy looking.
These days I keep the old hardware and reuse it, I like the price of that.
The above pulls were pretty gross, all green and nasty.
My secret weapons?
White or red vinegar occasionally coupled with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, with a side of toothbrush.
First I put the doo-dads in a jar of vinegar and let them soak for a day.
The photo above is after the handles had already been soaking for 24 hours. I was already pleased with their transformation even before a little scrubbing.
When the handles went in the jar there was no shine on them. So dull and grimy in fact, that I thought the finish on them was suppose to be that way.
I rinsed them off and gave them a quick scrub with an old toothbrush and they turned out clean and sparkly.
These are heavy handles with lots of detail on both the backplate and the handle pull.
I removed them from a little oak washstand that I decided to makeover.
The handles below are in the opening photo on this post, and they were all green and dirty before they went into vinegar.
I could probably polish them a bit more, but I like a little age to show on old stuff.
These pulls are also heavy, and when the toothbrush wasn't getting in all the grooves good enough I used the magic eraser on them.
The previously green rusted pulls came from a a small buffet that I cleaned up and partly painted over summer and it is now in my dining room.
I wasn't going to keep the buffet, but it came in the house to finish painting and it hasn't left.
Looking around it seems I've acquired a lot of junk that stopped to visit and never left. Hmmm.....
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great tips! i have done the baking soda thing, but this looks less messy to me!
ReplyDeleteWow that worked well! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteWow, that vinegar was a miracle!!
ReplyDeleteI clean mine the same way! And apple cider vinegar is supposed to be good for you if you drink it. Haven't tried that, yet.
ReplyDeleteGenius. I'm going to embark on a furniture painting spree once the weather warms up. My kitchen cabinets desperately need a makeover. I was going to throw out the hardware but now I'm thinking I'm going to try this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bliss
I have a bag of those ugly things...I can do this and not ruin my nails! Thanks, B!
ReplyDeleteLots of good hints, Bliss! Pinning!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips - thank you!
ReplyDeleteI will need to remember this tip! :) Linda
ReplyDeleteI use Never Dull to clean the metal pieces. Works really well. To take off some of the heavier gunk first, I'll try the vinegar at your suggestion.
ReplyDeleteThat Magic Eraser is as close to magic as I have seen for cleaning. Great tips, Bliss and I won't forget the side of toothbrush!
ReplyDeleteYour house could be the most unique place for everyone. It is just a place exactly where all of the excellent recollections then lie. Furniture Hardware
ReplyDeletegood to know! I don't have any of these items around here... oh-I may have a magic eraser somewhere.
ReplyDeletepinned for future reference!
gail