Care Instructions

In order to keep your products in peak condition, it's important that they're cared for properly. Read on for our guide on how to look after your products.

Lacquered Brass and Bronze

Regular cleaning with warm soapy water will help to maintain the general appearance.

An occasional application of a good quality wax polish will help to protect the finish.

The life of any lacquer will be affected by many environmental and atmospheric conditions, as well as usage over time. Therefore, the life of the lacquer is beyond the manufacturers control and cannot be guaranteed.

If the lacquer does start to break down, we recommend that it is removed with paint stripper. Remove the fittings from your door or window and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Once all the lacquer has been removed clean it gently by using a good quality metal polish, we tend to use Brasso wadding, and buff with a soft, non-abrasive, dry cloth. If using liquid or cream polish, apply sparingly.

You can then continue to care for it as you would Unlacquered Brass or Bronze.

More detailed information on Caring for Brass.

Unlacquered Brass or Bronze

Unlacquered Brass and Bronze will naturally darken and develop an Aged Patina with time, touch and exposure to the environment.

Whilst this gives your furniture character and elegance it is important to keep it clean.

Occasional cleaning with warm, soapy water and a light application of a good quality wax polish, will help to maintain its beauty and protect it.

If you would like more of a shine, or have some stubborn marks, then gentle polishing with a good quality metal polish, we tend to use Brasso wadding, and a soft, non-abrasive cloth, will keep your brass and bronze in great condition. If using liquid or cream polish, apply sparingly.

More detailed information on Caring for Brass and Caring for Bronze.

Plated Finishes

Polished and Satin Chrome, Polished and Satin Nickel, Pearl Nickel

Regular cleaning with warm soapy water will help to maintain the appearance. When required, gentle polishing with a good quality metal polish, we tend to use Silvo wadding, and a soft, non-abrasive dry cloth, will keep your finish in good condition.

More detailed information on Caring for Nickel and Chrome.

Living Finishes

Any finish that has been aged, antiqued or darkened and DOES NOT have a lacquer coating

This includes: Antique Brass, Aged Brass, Autumn Bronze, Dark Bronze, IBUL, Matt Black Bronze, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Old English Brass, Real Bronze Metal Antique, Smoked Brass, Tudor Bronze, Vintage Brass

Normal wear and handling will allow the raised areas to reveal the metal below helping to enhance the aged effect.

Clean with warm soapy water as required and an occasional application of a good quality wax polish will help to protect the finish.

The life of Living Finishes can be affected by many environmental and atmospheric conditions, it will also wear much more quickly in high usage areas and so we do not recommend these finishes for commercial environments.

More detailed information on Caring for Aged and Antique Brass.

Applied Finishes and Decorative Lacquer

Antique Nickel, Aged Bronze, DBMA, IBMA, Zero Black

Regular cleaning with warm soapy water and an occasional application of a good quality wax polish will help to protect the finish.

Most applied finishes also have a top coat of lacquer. The life of any lacquer will be affected by many environmental and atmospheric conditions, as well as usage over time. Therefore, the life of the lacquer is beyond the manufacturers control and cannot be guaranteed.

Because of this we do not recommend these finishes for high use areas or commercial environments.

More detailed information on Caring for Applied Finishes.

Black Finishes and Argent

All Black hardware has a Steel base, which over time is prone to rust. Particularly when used externally or in harsh environmental areas.

To help prolong the life of Black Hardware we recommend regular wiping with a lightly oiled cloth – monthly during the Winter months. This will help to remove harmful deposits and to help preserve the look of the finish.

Argent is a bare metal finish that has a protective coat of clear lacquer. It should be treated in the same way as as Black finishes, and will need regular maintenance with a lightly oiled cloth, particularly when used externally.

Find more detailed information on Caring for Black Finishes.

Real Pewter and Pewter Finishes

Most Pewter finishes are applied over a Steel base, where this is the case we recommend occasional wiping with a lightly oiled cloth – more frequent during the Winter months. This will help to remove harmful deposits and to preserve the look of the finish.

Where the Pewter finish is applied over Real Bronze, this is more durable. In these circumstances, clean with warm soapy water as required and an occasional application of a good quality wax polish or a 3 in 1 Oil will help to protect the finish.

Real Pewter, made from 100% Pewter will not rust. To keep it in great condition, wash with warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. A light coating of good quality wax will help to protect external hardware against harsher weather.

More detailed information on Caring for Pewter Finishes.

Beeswax, Iron and Natural Smooth Finishes

These are suitable for Internal Use Only as they highly corrosive metals.

These will need to be regularly wiped with a lightly oiled cloth to help preserve the metal. In addition, an occasional application of a good quality beeswax may be applied.

If there are signs of small rust spots, these can be gently removed with a fine grade wire wool and then an application of a good quality beeswax will help to protect the metal.

More detailed information on Caring for Beeswax and Iron Finishes.

Atmospheric Conditions and Coastal Areas

Harsh environmental conditions and the salt in sea air will cause finishes to deteriorate prematurely. External fittings and window fittings will be effected more quickly as they are likely to be exposed to the damaging and corrosive elements for periods of time. In these situations, you will need to clean your fittings more regularly and protect them with a good quality wax polish to help protect the finish.

If you live in a particularly industrial area or a Coastal area then we would suggest the following finishes would be more robust:

• Unlacquered Brass
• Unlacquered Real Bronze
• Polished Chrome / Chrome Plate
• Matt Black Chrome
• Polished Nickel
• Real Bronze Metal Antique
• Grade 316 Stainless Steel

Commercial Environments

As with atmospheric conditions, high use, commercial environments will also cause finishes to deteriorate prematurely.

Areas that are exposed to high volumes of people daily, use of hand soaps, hand creams, anti-bacteria gels, disinfectant and cleaning agents, will find that finishes and lacquers break down extremely quickly.

For this reason, we suggest that Unlacquered Brass and Unlacquered Real Bronze, Satin or Polished Stainless Steel is used. 

Polished and Satin Chrome or Nickel are fairly robust, but over time the plate will wear to reveal the original brass underneath.