How to Clean Metal Wind Chimes
On a warm night with a gentle breeze, few sounds are as pleasing as the gentle ringing of wind chimes. Even though they are meant for outdoor use, metal wind chimes are not totally weatherproof. Accumulated dirt can dull their tones, and tree sap or insect debris can weaken their structure. Fortunately, it is easy to clean metal wind chimes to preserve their sound and make them last longer.
First: Identify the metal
You must first identify the metal from which your chimes are made. Chimes are most often made from steel, brass, bronze, copper or aluminum. If you have the package the chimes came in, it should list the metal or metals used. If you do not have the package, check the chime itself for a stamp or label.
Second: Choose the right cleaner
Steel chimes are best cleaned with any mild non-scratching kitchen cleanser. Bronze and copper are cleaned with a cleanser formulated specifically for copper; the kind sold for cleaning the bottoms of copper cookware is fine. Never use an abrasive cleanser on brass, because brass is usually coated with lacquer to preserve its shine; warm water and mild detergent, such as detergent for hand washing dishes, is best for brass. If you do not know what kind of metal your chimes are made from, just use water and mild detergent.
Third: Rinse and dry
When the chimes are free of dirt and other detritus, rinse them thoroughly. Remove all traces of soap, cleanser or detergent, because these can cause a fresh layer of dirt to stick to the chimes. Dry the chimes carefully to remove most of the water from the surface of the chines. Hang the chimes so that they can finish drying and enjoy them again!