If it's deck hardware, trying to clean and keep it clean is a losing battle,
IMHO. I do polish my brass bell weekly, and that's what it takes to keep it
clean and shiny.

If you really want to clean really nasty bronze, mix one TB. Citric acid in
one cup of hot water with a couple of drops of dish detergent as a wetting
agent. Mix up however much you need and soak the bronze for an hour or more
if necessary. The outside will turn red... no problem since THIS will polish
off easily. You can find citric acid at pharmacies, or order much more
cheaply online if you need a lot. This is also "sour salt" found in the
kosher section of grocery stores.

Other cleaners: I use 3M's metal polish and restorer on a regular basis to
keep brass/bronze shiny. You can also use ketchup, and lemon wedges dipped
in salt.

"Richard & Michelle Barnes" wrote in message
link.net...
Been given some nice older chocks. Should I clean them or just use them
in
their present greenish black condition?

Best method of cleaning? How long will they stay "pretty"?

Thanks,
Richard