Sometimes with vintage furniture (I’m talking mid century, art deco), the hardware is just so perfect for the piece that you don’t want to replace them. However, after years of use, they often look like they need some love.
After doing research on Pinterest (always my go to), I saw so many different methods. I decided to go with the pop method. A lot of sites recommended using Cola but since I didn’t have any in the house, I used 7 Up instead. Here’s how it went!
Materials:
- Can of pop (soda) – might need two depending on how many handles you need to clean
- Steel wool
- Blue Dawn dish soap
- Plastic bowl large enough for the handles
Tools:
- A lot of elbow grease
Instructions:
- Remove handles from piece of furniture
- Place the handles (just the metal part) into the bottom of the plastic bowl.
- Cover the handles with 7 Up.
**I didn’t have a picture of the hardware submerged so I am showing with it looks like with hardware from another piece.
- Soak hardware for about an hour.
- Remove hardware one piece at a time. It won’t look much different at this point. Take the piece and over the sink, scrub with steel wool. Like really scrub! Your hands will get black from the grime. This is normal.
- Repeat this process until each piece is clean.
- Once all done, wash them using your dish soap and let air dry on a tea towel or on your dish drying rack.
- Install hardware back onto your piece of furniture.
Kristin Lia Restoration 
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