Q. How to clean bronze statues?

Answer

Bronze is an alloy, and when exposed to the elements (air, water, dust, etc), then it is bound to develop crusting, or deposition of grime or even oxidize in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is essential that a bronze statue be cleaned from time to time. The simplest way to clean a bronze statue is to dip a soft microfibre cloth in lukewarm water, squeeze off the excess water, and gently wipe off the dust and grime. However, in case the statue has not been cleaned for a long time and has developed oxidized material on top (generally greenish coloured), then the statue needs deeper cleaning. For small statues, you can prepare a mixture of flour and vinegar in a ratio 1:2. The idea is to prepare a liquid slurry to coat the entire statue. Leave it on for three hours and then using a cloth, wipe it all off. The statue will look as good as new. Else, for big statues, its better to use water with some vinegar mixed into it and to clean it thoroughly.