A verdigris patina looks gorgeous on your antique copper weather vane, but when it comes to pots, mugs, and jewelry made of copper, tarnish can be unappealing. There are lots of reasons that copper tarnishes: Exposure to air, moisture, dirt, and even the oils on your skin can all react with the copper and cause the surface to oxidize and turn color. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean copper mugs, pots, and even copper jewelry. Try these simple, natural ways to clean copper and restore its shine.
Before Getting Started
Some copper items feature a lacquer finish that you should avoid cleaning with these methods. To determine whether the surface is lacquered, dip a rag in white vinegar, then baking soda, and use it to rub an inconspicuous spot on the copper surface. If it removes an area of tarnish, the piece isn’t lacquered, and you can use the following natural cleaners.
Before cleaning copper, you should check if the item is copper-plated. If the item is copper-plated, you could risk scratching the surface. Touch a magnet to its surface to test if your item is copper. If it sticks, the object is copper-plated. To clean copper-plated items, wash with water and mild detergent. Dry the item and buff with copper polish. Rinse and dry.
How to Clean Copper
Method 1: Salt and Lemon
Wondering how to clean copper pans and pots? This method is super simple.
Step 1: Scrub. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle coarse kosher salt onto the cut surface. Scrub your copper mug, pot, or pan with the cut side of the lemon to remove tarnish. Add salt to the lemon as needed.
Step 2: Rinse and Dry. Continue cleaning with lemon and salt until the tarnish is gone. Rinse the copper piece under running water. Buff the surface with a clean, dry cloth to polish.
Method 2: Vinegar
As an alternative, look to distilled white vinegar to clean copper pots and pans.
Step 1: Scrub. First, place the pot or mug in the sink. Pour a little vinegar on the surface or dip a scrubbing sponge into vinegar and squeeze out the excess liquid. Sprinkle the rough side of the sponge with salt and scrub the tarnish off the copper surface.
Step 2: Rinse and Dry. Repeat until the surfaces are clean. Rinse with water and buff with a clean, dry cloth to polish.
Method 3: Flour
Use flour to help the process of cleaning copper.
Step 1: Make Paste. Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (or lemon juice, which is more acidic) with one tablespoon of salt and enough flour to form a thin paste.
Step 2: Scrub and Dry. Apply the paste to the copper surface and scrub away the tarnish with a cloth or scrubbing sponge. Rinse under running water and buff with a dry cloth to polish.
How to Clean Copper Jewelry
If your copper rings, necklaces, and bracelets have been collecting dust and tarnish, it’s easy to restore their shine. Here’s how to clean copper jewelry with natural ingredients.
Step 1: Soak. Squeeze enough lemon juice into a bowl to cover the jewelry and add one or two teaspoons of salt. Put the copper jewelry into the solution and let it soak for a few minutes.
Step 2: Rinse and Dry. Rinse the jewelry under running water and buff dry to polish.
How to Clean a Copper Sink
Before cleaning a copper sink, consult the manufacturer’s manual. Avoid abrasive and acidic cleaners.
Step 1: Scrub Sink. Scrub the sink gently with the suds before rinsing with clean warm water and buffing dry with a towel.
Step 2: Tackle Stains, Then Dry. For tough, stuck-on stains, mix baking soda with a few drops of water until a paste forms. Apply the baking soda paste to your sink with a sponge, then rinse with warm water and dry with a clean cloth.
How to Prevent Copper Tarnish
Dry Items Thoroughly
Copper tarnishes fasting when wet, so make sure to dry copper dishes immediately after washing them. In addition, don’t let your copper dishes sit in the sink for extended amounts of time where they are exposed to water. Instead, wash and dry them right after use.
Apply Oil or Wax
Applying mineral oil to the outside of your copper dish after washing and drying will help to slow the tarnishing process. Put a few drops of oil into your hand or on a cloth, and rub the oil onto the dish. If you don’t have mineral oil on hand, baby oil will also work well. In addition, on larger items like tubs or tables, you can apply copper waxes that will prevent tarnishing.
Clean Copper Regularly
Another way to keep your copper items looking new and shiny is by cleaning them regularly. Clean copper pots and pans after every use, drying and oiling each time, and make it a habit to clean frequently-worn copper jewelry once a month.
