Our brass tags and rings are made of natural, raw brass. We recommend that you don’t polish them and allow them to develop a beautiful protective patina. Because our brass is uncoated it may show fingerprints or become slightly darker as it interacts with the oils on your skin or your pets fur, but as the patina develops those will disappear.

Cleaning: Uncoated brass is inherently antimicrobial so it doesn’t need regular cleaning. If your pet’s tag does get dirty you’ll usually just need a wet cloth. If that’s not quite doing it, you can use dish soap to clean the tag as well. Make sure to rinse and dry your tag after cleaning to avoid water spots. No need to be concerned about the tag getting wet while your pet is wearing it – as your pet moves around it will ensure that it does not discolor. If you end up with spots on your tag see the polishing/shining options below to remove them.

Scratches/Scuffs: If your tag gets a little scratched or scuffed we recommend that you leave it as is. It’s all a part of that beautiful patina! If there is a scratch that is really bothering you, you can use fine steel wool to remove it, be aware IT WILL REMOVE THE PATINA as well, so be prepared to go over the whole tag.

Polishing/Shining: If you really don’t like the patina there are a few options to remove it: 

Option 1 – Vinegar/Salt Bath

1. In a small container mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 tsp. of salt.

2. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved

3. Place the tag in the vinegar/salt solution for approximately 20 seconds (maybe more if your tag is really dark)

4. Remove the tag and rinse it thoroughly with running water

5. Dry the tag with a towel to make sure no water spots are left.

Option 2 – Flour/Salt Paste

1. Mix equal parts flour and salt in a small bowl

2. Add just enough vinegar to make a thick paste

3. Using a damp rag work a bit of the paste into the tag to remove the patina

4. Rinse to remove all of the paste (you may need an old toothbrush or something similar to clean off the text)

5. Dry with a towel

Option 3 – Metal Polish

Try “Brasso Metal Polish” to remove heavy patina following the manufacturers instructions. As with the flour/salt paste you may need an old toothbrush to remove the polish from the lettering.