I've noticed the same thing with fixtures lately. Even some of the pricier brass ones can be hit or miss—had one that looked great initially but started spotting badly after just a few months. Ended up having to polish it way more often than I wanted. Curious if anyone's tried unlacquered brass? Heard it ages naturally and might avoid some of those maintenance headaches, but I'm not sure if that's just marketing hype...
I've messed around with unlacquered brass fixtures a couple times, and honestly, it's kind of a mixed bag. The aging process is definitely legit—over time, it develops this nice patina that can look pretty classy and unique. Plus, you don't have to deal with the flaky lacquer peeling or spotting issues you're seeing now.
But... it's not exactly zero-maintenance either. It ages naturally, sure, but depending on your water quality and humidity levels, you might still get some uneven spots or discoloration that's not exactly the charming antique look you hoped for. You can buff those out occasionally if they bug you, but that's another chore added back onto your plate.
If you're cool with a bit of variability in appearance and aren't expecting perfection right out of the box, unlacquered brass could be worth a shot. At least you'd be avoiding that constant polishing routine you've got going now.
I've been thinking about unlacquered brass too, but honestly, I'm still on the fence. A friend of mine went that route and at first, it looked amazing—super classy and vintage-y. But after a while, she started noticing some weird blotchy areas (probably due to hard water?), and it wasn't exactly the charming patina she'd envisioned. She ended up polishing more often than she'd planned. So yeah... seems like it really depends on your tolerance for imperfection and how your water behaves.
"She ended up polishing more often than she'd planned."
Yeah, that's exactly why I steered clear of unlacquered brass. It looks great in photos, but in reality, maintenance can be a pain, especially if you're dealing with hard water. I went with brushed nickel instead—still has a nice vintage vibe without the constant upkeep. Been two years now, and no regrets. Might be worth considering if you're not into frequent polishing sessions...
"maintenance can be a pain, especially if you're dealing with hard water."
Have you thought about installing a water softener or at least a filter system? Hard water isn't just rough on fixtures—it can shorten the lifespan of appliances and plumbing too. I put in a basic softener setup last year, and it's made a noticeable difference. Fixtures stay cleaner longer, less buildup overall...plus, fewer polishing sessions sounds like a win to me.
