We have other tricks up our sleeve too. If you have copper or brass, have you got green bits of ‘gunk’ stuck in the crevices of your objects, just like on our copper bedpan handle? This is historic Brasso that has been left behind, and is really difficult to get rid of, unless you know a handy trick of the trade! All you need is some cotton wool, some methylated spirits and a tub of cocktail sticks. Make a cotton bud by rolling a small piece of cotton wool around the cocktails stick, dip it into the methylated spirits and squeeze out any excess, then rub into the green areas to remove the gunk. The methylated spirits helps loosen it and also evaporates really quickly, and the cocktail stick allows for some good rubbing in the corners without scratching the surface at all. It’s time consuming but the results are great!