Dear James: My brass kitchen faucet works, but after only two years, the finish is tarnished. How do I install a new one and what types are tarnish-resistant? — Tea S.
Dear Tea: Try cleaning the tarnished brass surfaces before running out to buy a new faucet. There are many brass cleaners available that are effective. If it was a good-quality fixture to start with, you may be able to clean off the tarnish and restore it to a like-new appearance. Repairing the leak itself is easy to do if you are able to clean off the tarnish.
If you cannot clean the old, tarnished fixture and you must get a new one, don’t fret. Many of the major kitchen fixture manufacturers now offer tarnish-free brass faucets….