Care and Cleaning of Rings-N-Things products

by Donnie Buckley

Each Rings-N-Things product is manufactured and inspected by hand to provide you with the highest levels of quality control. Before a product leaves our facility and is shipped to you it goes through a rigorous finishing process that ensures the product you receive will meet or exceed your expectation.
Many of our finishes are carefree, and once you begin to use them you will only have to wash off or wipe off fingerprints. On this page are our recommendations on the best way for you to maintain the finish of our metal products.

Aluminum Mirror Finish 

Our Mirror Finish on aluminum is professionally achieved by high-speed buffing wheels and polishing compounds. The surface is only polished and not protected.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a soft cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original mirror finish will be restored. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth to apply and remove the metal polish. Most frequently scratches will occur from using a cloth that is too abrasive. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Aluminum Satin Finish 

Our Satin Finish on aluminum is an unpolished surface equivalent to a brushed finish. The surface is not protected. If the surface becomes scuffed, you can safely use a grey or green Scotch Brite pad to smooth out the blemish. Try to cover as much of the surface with the pad as possible and move the pad in the direction of the brush marks to blend. For cups, it is easiest to lay the cup on its side, place the pad on the top side of the cup, lay the palm of your hand on the pad and roll the cup under the pad while applying even pressure with the palm of the hand.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a soft cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the satin finish will get a glossy shine. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Antique Bronze Finish 

Our Antique Bronze finish is a chemical treatment applied to polished copper surfaces that forces the copper to patina a dark brown color. It will contain reds, yellows and some purples when it is examined in bright daylight. We manually add the highlights on a buffing wheel to give the surface an antiqued look. The finish is protected and given a glossy appearance by applying thin layers of a clear coat to all outside surfaces.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Never use metal cleaners on the Antique Bronze finish.

Polishing: No polishing is necessary. Never use polishing compounds on the Antique Bronze finish.

Brass Mirror Finish 

Our Mirror Finish on brass is professionally achieved by high-speed buffing wheels and polishing compounds. The surface is only polished and not protected. The surface will tarnish (oxidize) naturally and form a patina over time as the metal is exposed to the air. To inhibit a patina, keep the surface clean and store in air-tight plastic. Waxing the surface with an automotive quality wax will also inhibit tarnish.

Cleaning: We recommend the commercially available copper cleaners, Wrights Copper Cream or Penny Brite Copper Cleaner. Be certain to entirely rinse off these cleaners from all crevices as they will tarnish brass if allowed to dry. An old soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to reach into crevices that are too small for sponges. Alternately a solution of 1 Tbsp of salt dissolved in 1 cup of vinegar can be used to clean brass. Wipe it on and rinse it off thoroughly, do not leave this solution on the brass surfaces for longer than is necessary to clean the surface, as it will tarnish the surface if not rinsed off in water. Always use a soft sponge to apply the cleaner. To avoid water spotting, dry the brass thoroughly. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original mirror finish will be restored. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Brass Satin Finish 

Our Satin Finish on brass is an unpolished surface equivalent to a brushed finish. The surface is not protected. The surface will tarnish (oxidize) naturally and form a patina over time as the metal is exposed to the air. To inhibit a patina, keep the surface clean and store in air-tight plastic. Waxing the surface with an automotive quality wax will also inhibit tarnish.

Cleaning: We recommend the commercially available copper cleaners, Wrights Copper Cream or Penny Brite Copper Cleaner. Be certain to entirely rinse off these cleaners from all crevices as they will tarnish brass if allowed to dry. An old soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to reach into crevices that are too small for sponges. Alternately a solution of 1 Tbsp of salt dissolved in 1 cup of vinegar can be used to clean brass. Wipe it on and rinse it off thoroughly, do not leave this solution on the brass surfaces for longer than is necessary to clean the surface, as it will tarnish the surface if not rinsed off in water. Always use a soft sponge to apply the cleaner. To avoid water spotting, dry the brass thoroughly. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original satin finish will have a glossy shine. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth to apply and remove the metal polish. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Patina: Some of our customers choose to allow their brass to patina. To best achieve an even patina on brass it is advised that you first clean them when they are new (as described above) and then handle as usual. Over time, the brass will develop a natural patina. Wipe the brass after handling to help keep the patina even. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Black Chrome Finish 

Our Black Chrome Finish on copper is professionally achieved by electroplating blackened nickel over a mirror polished surface and then electroplating chrome over the nickel. The surface is hard and scratch resistant. The interior side of chrome plated products is electroplated with bright nickel.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Never use metal cleaners on a chrome finish.

Polishing: No polishing is necessary. Never use polishing compounds on a chrome finish. Commercially available polished designed for plated surfaces SHOULD NOT be used with Black Chrome.

Bright Chrome Finish 

Our Bright Chrome Finish on copper is professionally achieved by electroplating bright nickel over a mirror polished surface and then electroplating chrome over the nickel. The surface is hard and scratch resistant. The interior side of chrome plated products is electroplated with bright nickel.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Never use metal cleaners on a chrome finish.

Polishing: No polishing is necessary. Never use polishing compounds on a chrome finish. Commercially available polish designed for plated surfaces may be used safely.

Bright Nickel Finish 

Our Bright Nickel finish is professionally achieved by electro-less plating bright nickel over a mirror polished surface at high temperature. This process evenly plates all submerged surface with nickel, inside and out. As in an electroplating process, the Bright Nickel is molecularly bonded to the surface.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Never use metal cleaners on a plated finish.

Polishing: No polishing is necessary. Never use polishing compounds on a plated finish. Commercially available polish designed for plated surfaces may be used safely.

Copper Mirror Finish 

Our Mirror Finish on copper is professionally achieved by high-speed buffing wheels and polishing compounds. The surface is only polished and not protected. The surface will tarnish (oxidize) naturally and form a copper patina over time as the metal is exposed to the air. To inhibit a patina, keep the surface clean and store in air-tight plastic. Waxing the surface with an automotive quality wax will also inhibit tarnish.

Cleaning: We recommend the commercially available copper cleaners, Wrights Copper Cream or Penny Brite Copper Cleaner. Be certain to entirely rinse off these cleaners from all crevices as they will tarnish copper if allowed to dry. An old soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to reach into crevices that are too small for sponges. Alternately a solution of 1 Tbsp of salt dissolved in 1 cup of vinegar can be used to clean copper. Wipe it on and rinse it off thoroughly, do not leave this solution on the copper surfaces for longer than is necessary to clean the surface, as it will tarnish the surface if not rinsed off in water. Always use a soft sponge to apply the cleaner. To avoid water spotting, dry the copper thoroughly. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original mirror finish will be restored. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Patina: Many of our customers choose to allow their copper to patina. To best achieve an even patina on copper it is advised that you first clean them when they are new (as described above) to remove any polishing compounds that we applied and then handle as usual. Over time, the copper will develop a natural patina. Wipe the copper after handling to help keep the patina even.

Copper Satin Finish 

Our Satin Finish on copper is an unpolished surface equivalent to a brushed finish. The surface is not protected. The surface will tarnish (oxidize) naturally and form a copper patina over time as the metal is exposed to the air. To inhibit a patina, keep the surface clean and store in air-tight plastic. Waxing the surface with an automotive quality wax will also inhibit tarnish.

Cleaning: We recommend the commercially available copper cleaners, Wrights Copper Cream or Penny Brite Copper Cleaner. Be certain to entirely rinse off these cleaners from all crevices as they will tarnish copper if allowed to dry. An old soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to reach into crevices that are too small for sponges. Alternately a solution of 1 Tbsp of salt dissolved in 1 cup of vinegar can be used to clean copper. Wipe it on and rinse it off thoroughly, do not leave this solution on the copper surfaces for longer than is necessary to clean the surface, as it will tarnish the surface if not rinsed off in water. Always use a soft sponge to apply the cleaner. To avoid water spotting, dry the copper thoroughly. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original satin finish will have a glossy shine. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth to apply and remove the metal polish. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.

Patina: Many of our customers choose to allow their copper to patina. To best achieve an even patina on copper it is advised that you first clean them when they are new (as described above) and then handle as usual. Over time, the copper will develop a natural patina. Wipe the copper after handling to help keep the patina even. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

24kt Gold Plated Finish 

Our Gold-Plated Finish is professionally achieved by mirror polishing the part with high-speed buffing wheels and rosins. The metal is then electroplated with bright nickel, nickel buffed and then electroplated with 24kt gold. Gold is a beautiful and rare metal that will not tarnish, but it is a soft metal. Excessive cleaning can rub the gold-plated surface off the metal. If you are rubbing the surface and find a black residue on the cloth you are using, stop, you are rubbing the gold off. Your gold-plated metals should only ever be washed with soap and water.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth. Never use metal cleaners on the Gold-Plated finish.

Polishing: No polishing is necessary. Never use polishing compounds on the Gold-Plated finish.

Sterling Silver 

Our Sterling Silver is a Mirror Finish that is professionally achieved by high-speed buffing wheels and rosins. The surface is only polished and not protected.

Cleaning: Simply wash the surface with a soft sponge in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. To avoid water spotting, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.

Polishing: We recommend Flitz or Mass metal polishes. Follow the instructions that the metal polish describes, and the original mirror finish will be restored. To prevent scratching the surface, we recommend using a microfiber cloth to apply and remove the metal polish. For best results, start by cleaning the surface as described above.