Hi, Cece: Bear in mind that if you remove the beautiful patina on this clock, you will almost certainly reduce its value. That being said, you could try some tiny test areas on one of the chimes, always being very gentle and drying thoroughly afterward. First, try just plain warm water. Sometimes the culprit is just built-up dirt. Next, try just plain lemon juice or vinegar. If that doesn’t work, add 1/2 teaspoon salt to 1/4 cup water, then add enough flour to make a paste. Apply for 15 minutes, then wipe and dry. Remember, just try a little patch at a time. FWIW, we would leave the patina as is—but good luck and thanks for asking!
Hi, Cece: Bear in mind that if you remove the beautiful patina on this clock, you will almost certainly reduce its value. That being said, you could try some tiny test areas on one of the chimes, always being very gentle and drying thoroughly afterward. First, try just plain warm water. Sometimes the culprit is just built-up dirt. Next, try just plain lemon juice or vinegar. If that doesn’t work, add 1/2 teaspoon salt to 1/4 cup water, then add enough flour to make a paste. Apply for 15 minutes, then wipe and dry. Remember, just try a little patch at a time. FWIW, we would leave the patina as is—but good luck and thanks for asking!