Brass chandeliers are used everywhere. Hotels, restaurants, and offices use them. In homes, brass chandeliers can be found in almost any room. What makes brass chandeliers so popular?

Brass chandeliers have a long history. Before electricity, brass chandeliers were used with candles or kerosene. Brass is a sturdy metal with a long life, making it the perfect metal for the brass lanterns that used to be placed in homes and used as street lights.

In addition to being a long-lasting metal, brass has the added advantage of requiring little maintenance. Brass chandeliers are particularly appropriate in coastal areas where corrosion is a problem because by nature it is anti-corrosive.

Two types of finishes are usually available for brass chandeliers: highly polished and antique polished . A highly polished finish, as the name suggests, makes the brass look bright and polished. Antique polishing gives an older appearance that some find very elegant.

Periodically dusting with a soft, dry cloth is the key to maintaining your brass chandelier. If it gets dirty enough to need a more intense cleaning, use a gentle dish soap and warm water to clean it. Don't forget to dry after washing. Do not use an ammonia-based cleaner because this will cause tarnishing.

If your brass chandelier is tarnished and you haven't used an ammonia-based cleaner, first determine whether or not it's solid brass. Try sticking a magnet on it; if the magnet stays on, your chandelier is made of steel-plated brass. In that case, the tarnish you are seeing is likely rust and can be removed with steel wool. After removing the rust, your next decision is whether to have it re-plated. If you don't want to have it re-plated, you can choose to paint it.

A solid brass chandelier which has tarnished is relatively easy to clean. First use a brass cleaner to get the tarnish off. Once it has been removed, follow up with clear lacquer spray paint.

When purchasing a brass chandelier, remember that it is not intended as a main light source. Chandeliers are hung for the elegance and grace they add to almost any room. Brass chandeliers come in many sizes, so they are appropriate anywhere.

There are many types of chandeliers available to add grace to your home or business. If you are in the market for one, remember the long life and easy maintenance of brass chandeliers. You'll be glad you did.