Is there an effective brass (e.g. candlesticks) cleaning hack?

Is it real brass or painted?

This article might help... http://tacef.org/how-to-clean-brass-candlesticks/

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/house/bring-brass-back-and-how-to-clean-it-naturally-1323522?r=2

if its real brass I have used regular toothpaste........ not gel.

If your candlesticks have wax on them, put them in the freezer for a day or so...the wax will pop off...if doesnt too easily try ahain. Just make sure to NOT use anything sharp to try to take it off. A sturdy plastic spoon might just do the trick. Then a brass cleaner.

Use white (not gel) toothpaste and a damp toothbrush for intricate areas. A damp cloth with a dab of toothpaste for smooth areas.

Before cleaning, check to see if your item is solid brass, or brass-plated. Do this by seeing if a magnet sticks. You can use a refridgerater magnet. Magnets don’t stick to solid brass, so if the magnet sticks, your item is brass-plated. If you scrub a brass-plated item too hard you can remove the plating. To clean a brass plated item wipe it with hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly.

For light cleaning of a brass item use hot, soapy water and a soft cleaning cloth may be all you need. Wipe down the surfaces with the cloth. Use a toothbrush to scrub in crevices. Rinse the item with clean, warm water and dry thoroughly

If your brass is really tarnished, there are a couple of ways to clean your brass naturally .

The first natural cleaner for brass is ketchup. Yep, ketchup. The acid in tomatoes removes tarnish and dirt from brass. Rub ketchup onto item with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.

You can also soak it in a bowl of tomato juice . Put them in the juice and let them sit for five minutes (longer, if they’re really dirty.) Pull them out, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.

Lemon juice also contains a mild acid that will clean brass. For light tarnish, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with table salt. Rub the salted lemon over the surface of the brass. Once you’ve covered the surface with the lemon juice and salt mixture, wipe with a soft cloth and buff till the piece shines. You can use a toothbrush to get in hard places to reach.

For heavy tarnish, make a paste using two parts cream of tartar to one part lemon juice. Apply the paste to the item and let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. Rinse the item thoroughly with warm water, then buff with a dry cloth.

To prevent your newly clean brass from tarnishing, rub it with a thin coat of mineral or linseed oil.

ketchup works great on brass!