How to Clean Copper and Banish Tarnish for Good by Mary Marlowe Leverette

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Copper pots, home accessories, and jewelry exude the warmth of the naturally occurring mineral. However, unless a copper piece is lacquered, it reacts slowly with oxygen in the air and quickly becomes tarnished.

Fortunately, you can easily clean copper with some ingredients you probably have on hand.

Follow our tips on how to clean copper and keep it bright and shiny.

How Often Should You Clean Copper?

For a bright shine on copper, clean and polish copper pots and pans, jewelry, and home accessories every three months. Copper sinks and cookware should, of course, be cleaned after every use.

Cleaning frequency also depends on whether the copper is kept indoors or outdoors and if it is lacquered or left natural.

Outdoor pieces will oxidize quickly in the elements and are often left to weather naturally. Indoor pieces are lacquered with a shiny finish that does not change color or darken over time.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

How to Clean Copper With Baking Soda

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  

Wash the Copper

Use warm, soapy water to wash the copper pieces to remove dust and loose soil.h

If the item cannot be submerged in soapy water, dip a microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe away the grime from the piece.

Make a Paste and Rub

Combine three parts baking soda with one part distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. Spread the paste over the copper with a soft sponge and scrub the copper with a gentle circular motion.

For heavily tarnished pieces, leave the paste on the surface for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing.

Rinse and Dry

Rinse the copper piece in warm water and dry it with a lint-free microfiber towel. Avoid air-drying copper to prevent water spots.

How to Clean Copper With Vinegar

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

Mix a Cleaning Paste

Combine 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and about 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to make a thick paste.

Apply the Paste

Wash the copper in warm soapy water. Apply the paste with a soft cloth and rub in gentle circles to remove tarnish. Rinse well with warm water.

Dry and Buff the Copper

Use a lint-free microfiber cloth to dry and buff the copper to a shine.

How to Clean Copper With Lemon Juice and Salt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

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.

Tips

You can also cut a fresh lemon in half, dip it in salt, and use it to clean the copper.

Clean the Copper

Wash the copper in warm, soapy water and use a sponge to spread the lemon and salt paste over the copper. Working in small circles, gently scrub the surface. Mix more paste if needed.

Rinse and Dry

Rinse the piece in warm water and dry with a lint-free microfiber towel.

Cleaning Tip

No vinegar or lemon juice? Use ketchup to clean copper. Ketchup contains vinegar and citric acid from tomatoes that react with tarnish to break its bond with the copper.

How to Remove Tough Stains From Copper

If copper hasn’t been cleaned and polished in years, you can heat the piece in water, vinegar, and salt to help loosen the tarnish. Plenty of scrubbing will still be needed with one of the cleaning pastes.

Before You Start

Before heating the copper piece, be sure there are no glued-on components that can be damaged by the heat.

Use a stainless steel container deep enough for the copper piece to be completely submerged. Use a solution of three parts water to one part distilled white vinegar and add 2 or three tablespoons of salt. Add the copper and bring the mixture to a boil. As soon as you see tarnish lifting from the surface of the copper, turn off the heat source. Allow the copper to cool in the solution. Remove it and scrub with a cleaning paste, rinse, and dry the copper.

How to Keep Copper Clean Longer

Avoid the use of harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on copper items which can darken and damage the finishTo slow the oxidation process on copper pieces (Do NOT apply to cooking vessels.), apply a thin layer of mineral oil or paste wax to the surface immediately after the copper is cleaned.Wrap copper items in acid-free tissue paper and store them in a cool, dry place.Clean copper as soon as you notice any tarnish beginning to appear. Light tarnish is much easier to remove than years of oxidation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the easiest way to clean copper?

The easiest way to clean copper is to cut a fresh lemon in half, dip it in table salt, and scrub the copper surface. Add more salt as needed until the tarnish is gone. Rinse in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.

How do you remove extensive corrosion from copper?

Use a stainless steel pot filled with water, vinegar, and salt to boil the copper piece. Applying heat to the acidic solution will help break the bond between the tarnish and the copper. After heating and cooling, use a cleaning paste of baking soda and vinegar to scrub the copper.

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean copper?

Hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean copper. It will react with the copper causing more tarnish.

Read the original article on The Spruce.

  The Spruce Latest Stories