Have you had success with homemade cleaning methods?

I have some dark metal object that I believe is brass because there is one online in brass.

I prefer to use non-toxic products when I can.

Finding some conflicting information with various products like baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and tomatoes.

Some say lemon juice is too caustic, others vinegar, which makes sense as hydrochloric acid can be made from vinegar and salt.

I've tried all of them but the salt and vinegar as I'm out of vinegar right now. Not having that great results. It seems odd that something you can eat would take off varnish from brass.

 

soldiers used to polish their brass buttons with Coca Cola....

 

Vinegar is an acid: acetic. The salt acts as an abrasive. I suspect your Thing is lacquered.

 

I have used vinegar on old tools . The salt makes it work faster on rusty iron. The problem is they look to good . All the patina gone if not careful.

 

OK, I see ways for removing it.