If you’ve had had the knack of keeping some of the old stuff you got from grandma, then you probably still have some brass and copper decoratives inside your home. Not to mention brass doorknobs, knockers, and other hardware.

There are a lot of commercially available metal polishes and cleaners again. So I decided to share some MacGyver-stuff yet again with some great homemade formulations.

• For a bright glossy finish, some acid would do the trick. Lemon juice or vinegar and some sprinkled salt ( a fine abrasive) on a sponge would make for a cleaner.
• You can also make a paste from lemon juice/vinegar, salt and some flour.
• Rotten stone (an abrasive used for woodwork, available at hardware stores) and some cooking oil can give brass and copper a soft luster.