Copper is valued for strength, malleability, ductility, and ability to conduct electricity and heat. It is also non-magnetic, resists wear, and forms a green patina which makes it resistant to corrosion. Copper is used to coat bottoms of steel pans to improve heat conduction, for decorative items, and in a few other cookware applications. It is also used for electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, and many uses in appliances.
How to Clean Copper
Clean copper-bottomed pots and pans with lemon juice. Copper fixtures can also benefit from a lemon juice cleaning. Cut a lemon in half. Dip it in some salt, and clean spots from your copper.
How to Clean Copper - Add To Vinegar
Vinegar can be a great cleaning ingredient, but many people dislike the vinegar smell. Adding lemon juice to vinegar when cleaning can help neutralize the vinegar smell.
Some copper cookware comes with a protective lacquer coating that must be removed before the utensil is heated. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or place in a solution of 1 cup baking soda and 2 gallons boiling water. Let it stand until the water is cool, peel off the coating, wash, rinse, and dry.
How to Clean Copper - Tomato-based Cleaner
Tomato paste or catsup contains acid that will effectively clean away tarnish and stains. Apply a tomato-based product to a soft cloth, and briskly rub. Rinse and dry it thoroughly, and buff it with a clean dry cloth.
How to Clean Copper - Another great way to clean pennies is to use a solution of vinegar and salt. Fill a cup about 1/4 of vinegar and a teaspoon of salt (more salt, faster reaction). The tarnish that forms on a penny is copper oxide. The salt and vinegar create an acid solution that causes the copper oxide to dissolve off the coins. Once they are clean they should have their original shiny coat.
How to Clean Copper - Many museums use a more sophisticated, but only slightly more effective, method. They create a blend of three parts Rochelle salt and one part caustic soda. They then add this to 20 parts distilled water. You must then suspend the copper piece in the tub of the solution with a wire (no sides of the copper can be touching the tub). This is almost guaranteed to remove tarnish.
How to Clean Copper - There are also several folk remedies for cleaning copper. These include scrubbing with buttermilk, ketchup, olive oil or baking soda. These may all work (all have their own form of acid) but whether they work for you is undeterminable.
How to Clean Copper - One easy way to gently scrub the copper pot without damaging it is to use lemon and kosher salt. Cut the lemon in half, remove any seeds, then dip in kosher salt. Use a circular motion to apply the salt and lemon, dipping the lemon in the salt repeatedly if needed. The salt will gently rub away burner or scorch marks, while the lemon removes grease and grime. After cleaning the copper pan rinse in cold water and dry immediately.
Well this article has covered some simple ways on how to clean copper to help you with your question to how to clean copper.
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