STORIES
How to care for your living finish
Unlacquered brass evolves. Becoming darker where water flows, lighter where touched most. It's a living finish. And interesting to live with. It develops a natural patina, telling a story. No two will age the same. Caring for it is simple, all it needs is a gentle clean. We’ll explain more here.
Unlacquered brass maintenance
Maintaining unlacquered brass is easy. Just as long as you remember these two things: never use abrasive cloths or scourers, and never use chemicals or alcohol-based cleaners. All you need is a soft cloth, warm water and a pH-neutral soap. Use this to wipe the brass regularly, helping prevent the buildup of residues. Rinse and dry the surface after to avoid water marks. Same rules apply to every living finish.
And if an unlacquered piece is going to sit unused for a while, like in a guest bathroom or second home, apply a thin coat of carnauba or beeswax with a soft cloth. It'll slow the patina until the taps are back in use.
Living finishes in bathrooms and kitchens
Unlacquered finishes are durable. They don’t chip or peel. So they suit busy kitchens and family bathrooms. The main thing to look out for is limescale in the bathroom. Staining and buildup can affect function, which is the reason why we recommend you clean your unlacquered finish often. Always wipe off soap, toothpaste and shampoo remnants too.
The same in the kitchen. Oils and acids like vinegar, tomato and lemon juice are likely to cause tarnishing. It's good to give unlacquered brass taps a wipe down after cooking. Kitchens and bathrooms are humid places. Which speeds up oxidisation. So you’ll likely be able to see your living finish start to patinate within several weeks. This is the character coming through. It’s not a defect.
Restoring brass shine
Bringing the surface back to its original state only works with polished brass and polished nickel. These are the only two unlacquered finishes you'll need a metal polish for. It'll make the shine return. A gentle soap and water is all you need for any other living finish. Regular cleaning keeps the finish healthy. The patina will still continue to evolve.
It's out of our control
We don’t know exactly how quickly your living finish will age, it all depends on your home. The humidity levels, where you touch most, water minerals. These are things we can’t control. Each finish will patinate at different rates. A living finish will look different in your home than in someone else's. It makes the fittings characterful. And that's why we enjoy them.
