Knowing how to clean copper around the home will help avoid rust and keep it shiny. As one of the earth's naturally occurring minerals, copper is often used for cookware, jewelry, and household items, bringing a warmth that other metals can't match. If left unlacquered, copper will develop a patina that becomes more beautiful with age—picture the Statue of Liberty—due to oxidation and time.
Copper reacts slowly with oxygen in the air—a process called oxidation. The process produces copper oxide, a brown or black compound, or tarnish. Eventually, other chemicals from the atmosphere, like sulfur, will turn the tarnish blue or green.
But perhaps you don't want this patina and prefer your copper pieces to retain their shine. If so, you don't have to lacquer them or purchase commercial cleaners. Follow these easy steps to clean copper with natural cleaning supplies already in your kitchen.
How Often to Clean Copper
Depending on how shiny you wish to keep your copper pieces will determine how often you should clean copper pots, frying pans, and other items. If you love a brighter shine, clean the pieces every three months. If you like a deeper tone for decorative copper decor, cleaning every six months will keep the oxidation level in check.
Cleaning frequency also depends on whether the copper is lacquered or natural. Shiny, glossy copper that does not change color or darken over time likely has a protective finish. If the copper tarnishes quickly, the surface is untreated, or the existing lacquer has worn away.
What You Need:
To Clean With Lemon and Salt
- Dishwashing liquid
- Sponge or soft cloth
- Small bowl
- Lemon juice
- Fresh lemon (optional)
- Lint-free towel
To Clean With Vinegar or Ketchup
- Dishwashing liquid
- Sponge
- Distilled white vinegar
- Salt
- Baking soda (optional)
- Small bowl
- Ketchup
- Lint-free towel
How to Clean Copper With Lemon and Salt
The citric acid in lemon juice reacts with the tarnish to break its bond with the surface of the copper. Salt acts as a mild abrasive in the mixture to scrub away the tarnish without damaging the surface of the metal. Follow these steps to naturally clean copper pans and other household items.
Step 1: Wash the Piece
Always begin your cleaning session by washing the copper item in warm soapy water with a soft sponge. This will remove dust and any greasy film on the surface.
Step 2: Make a Cleaning Paste
In a small bowl, mix two parts salt with three parts lemon juice to form a paste. If the paste is too runny, add more salt.
Step 3: Scrub the Copper
Use a sponge to spread the paste over the copper. Working in small circles, gently scrub the surface. Mix more paste if needed.
Step 4: Treat Stains
If stubborn stains persist, apply the paste and let it sit for five to 10 minutes before scrubbing. You could also cut a fresh lemon in half and dip it in table salt to clean the heavily stained areas.
Follow the steps below to remove particularly stubborn stains or tarnish from your copper pieces.
Step 5: Rinse and Dry
Once the copper is tarnish-free, rinse the piece in warm water. Use a lint-free towel to dry the copper piece. Avoid air-drying copper: Allowing copper to air-dry can result in water stains or tarnish from the reaction of the minerals in the water.
How to Clean Copper With Vinegar or Ketchup
Another copper cleaning method is to use vinegar or ketchup (try our homemade ketchup recipe if you're out)—both work very well to polish copper. Vinegar contains acetic acid (ketchup contains vinegar and citric acid from tomatoes) that reacts with copper tarnish and breaks its bond with the copper.
Step 1: Wash the Piece
Start by washing the copper item with warm, soapy water to remove dust and grime. This should always be the first step when cleaning copper pieces.
Step 2: Make a Vinegar Paste
Combine three parts distilled white vinegar with two parts of salt in a small bowl to make a paste. You can substitute baking soda for the salt—be aware that fizzing will occur.
Step 3: Apply the Paste or Ketchup
Use a sponge to spread the vinegar paste over the copper. Or, squirt some ketchup directly onto the copper. Either option will work to clean the copper.
Step 4: Scrub the Copper
Scrub in small circles with a sponge to remove the tarnish. If not easily removed, add a bit of baking soda to the ketchup to act as a gentle abrasive cleaner.
Step 5: Rinse and Dry
Rinse away the paste or ketchup with warm water. Use a lint-free dishtowel to dry the copper, then a second dry towel to buff it to a burnished glow.
How to Keep Your Copper Clean Longer (and Shiny)
To keep your copper clean and shiny long-term, try these tips:
- Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on copper items. You can use silver polish to revive dull copper.
- Apply a thin layer of mineral oil immediately after the copper is cleaned to protect it from oxidation and slow the tarnishing process.
- Store copper items in a cool, dry place.
- Apply a thin coat of paste wax to jewelry or decorative items (this does not work well for copper cookware).
- Clean copper items as soon as you notice any tarnish begins to appear.
Removing Tarnish From Copper
Sometimes, copper can become badly tarnished. If the piece hasn't been polished in years and you've tried plenty of elbow grease with lemon juice or vinegar, heating the copper may help remove the tarnish. Before cleaning, be sure the copper has no parts glued on; the heat may damage them.
- Select a pot: Choose a stainless steel pot that is large enough to allow the copper item to be submerged completely.
- Mix a cleaning solution: Mix three parts of water with one part of vinegar to make enough solution to cover the item. Add 1 to 3 tablespoons of salt.
- Submerge the copper piece: Place the copper item in the stainless steel pot. Ensure the item is completely covered by the cleaning solution.
- Heat to a boil: Bring the solution to a boil. Do not walk away because you want to turn off the heat source as soon as the tarnish begins to fall from the copper.
- Cool the copper: Leave the copper item in the solution until it is cool to the touch. Remove it from the pot.
- Make a paste and scrub: Use lemon juice and salt or vinegar and salt to mix a cleaning paste (as described above). Apply and scrub the copper with a sponge.
- Rinse and dry: After scrubbing, rinse in warm water and dry the copper with a lint-free dishtowel. Do not air-dry.
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