I was thinking of painting the hardware from my hutch. It would save a lot of money doing this. How would I clean the hardware? I think I read a long time ago to clean them with vinegar. Any help is appreciated. What paint would I use-metal paint?

When cleaning, one wants to remove any soil or oils especially common from hands/fingers. I used TSP and warm water to clean my brass knobs before painting them. Rinse and allow to dry well.

I feel a great metal primer (I used Rustoleum spray paints) is a great beginning. The stuff sticks really well, so the paint that can be sprayed right after, has a good binding layer.

Rustoleum and Krylon both make terrific spray enamels for metal and come in many colors and finishes.