What can I use to clean brass lamps?

Try ketchup. It is gentle and cheap!

When I was a young girl I remember scrubbing my mom's brass wall plates with a soft cloth after she had given them a mild wash with warm water (and a soft toothbrush forthe crevices). That worked well for us because she cleaned them once or twice a year. From the looks of your lamp in the picture, that should be about all you need to do too -- a warm lightly soapy cloth, follwed by a clear warm water rinse with another damp cloth, and then a soft cloth to shine it up. If all else fails you could always try a thin coating of ketchup (because of the vinegar in it .. or just use a combination of flour and salt mixed into a thin paste with white vinegar. Let it stay on for 20 minutes or so, rinse off with a warm water cloth and buff dry with a soft cloth). HOpe this helps. Thnaks for using Hometalk to get some answers :)

Walmart has a product Brasso. However if you want to do it on the cheap, tomato catsup and salt will clean brass. make up a paste, rub it on and let set for a few minutes. Rinse off, dry and shine.

BRASSO is an inexpensive product for just this purpose! Sometimes it's best to break out the big ammo! Or a baking soda paste?

Use Ketchup! Brasso and any other polishing compounds remove some of the metal finish.

Good ol ketchup. worked great on military buttons and etc

tarnex works well

Hi there, my Mom always used ketchup (tomato sauce) to clean her brass ornaments. Squirt some on a clean cloth and rub all over and then wipe off with a clean cloth and buff.