Having brass candlesticks in your home can provide any space a measure of quiet elegance. This kind of metalwork can be placed easily on the dining table, on the fireplace mantle, or just about anywhere else you fancy. Strong and resilient, brass can outlast most gold and silver pieces. However, some people … or rather, a lot of people do not know how to take care of this kind of décor, leaving the brass pieces to tarnish and eventually fade in attractiveness. If you are planning on buying brass candlesticks or you already have several pieces in your house, here are a few essential tips on how to take care of these.

1. The cardinal rule of caring for brass metalwork is to clean frequently. You do not need to use any kind of powerful cleaning solutions or special cleaning implements. All you would need is a soft, clean cloth to wipe down the dust and another one to polish the surface. To avoid water stains, make sure that you keep the candlesticks dry always. If it comes in contact with any kind of fluid, it is essential that you wipe the moisture away quickly. And make sure that the metal is completely dry if you are planning on storing these away.

2. Keep the metal away from long exposures to direct sunlight. The oxidization process of the brass will speed up faster if you combine the elements with heat.

3. All candlesticks are susceptible to the stains caused by melted candle wax. You can only avoid this either by making sure that you never light a candle using this as container (which removes the functionality of the brass candlesticks completely) or you apply a thin veneer of oil (unscented baby oil or olive oil will do) to the metal surface just prior to lighting the candles. Remove the melted wax when it has set by simply prying it off with your hands. Do not use any sharp objects to scrape off the wax as these can scratch the metal surface.

4. For more stubborn candle wax, you can remove this by using the warm water functions of your tap. Simply allow the water to run on the surface of the brass candlesticks until the wax melts off. Depending upon the degree of wax staining, this might take no more than a minute or about 10 minutes max.

Do not use hot or boiling water as the heat will transfer to the metal and may cause burns and other accidents. Running water is also important to make sure that the wax that sloughs off will not attach itself on the other parts of the candlesticks.

Dry the brass with a clean, dry towel and allow to air dry for at least an hour. If there are still wax residues, repeat this process. However, if you are satisfied that the melted wax has dissolved from the surface, get another clean, dry towel and buff the candlesticks until the metal surface shines.

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