Recognizing Brass
Brass items are available in a rich variety of coloration, which ranges from dark yellow to reddish-gold. Thin brass items such as cymbals or vases feature acoustic properties and produce a resonant ringing tone when impacted by a drumstick or mallet. Decorative brass is often coated with a lacquer that protects the outer surface from shifting colors due to oxidation. Oxidation creates a patina that adds a dark gray or greenish cast to brass that is often preferred by home decorators.
Recognizing Stainless Steel
Unlike brass, stainless steel has a silvery white appearance often polished to a brilliant shine. Despite the name, decorative stainless steel items can discolor because of corrosion or simple rust -- usually the result of a flaw in the manufacturing process. That discoloration may give the stainless steel an appearance similar to brass. A simple way to confirm that a metal is stainless steel is to press a magnet against its surface; unlike brass, most varieties of stainless steel are highly magnetic.
Cleaning Decorative Brass and Stainless Steel
Once you've determined whether an object is brass or stainless steel, you can select the best method for cleaning and maintaining it. You can find products designed for the specific cleaning needs of brass and stainless steel at hardware stores and most larger grocery stores. Most brass can be cleaned using a few drops of ketchup on a damp kitchen rag, and you can usually return the shine to stainless steel by wiping it with a rag soaked in diluted dish detergent.