How to Clean Copper

Wondering how to clean copper? So was I. So I did some experimenting and here is what I found out about cleaning with natural copper cleaners. These methods work on all sorts of copper, including pots. If you have an antique, however, please do consult a specialist before applying anything.

My husband gave me a beautiful copper tea kettle years ago. He was expecting me to actually use this thing, but I knew that it had a coating on it that I needed to remove. This was before the days of internet and we were living a little off the beaten track, so I think I just haphazardly tried something (who knows what) and then decided it hadn't worked.

So I put the tea pot on display in my kitchen and there it remained for years. It even spent two years in the hot and humid Amazon jungle. It gradually developed dark spots all over it and certainly wasn't looking bright and pretty anymore. A perfect opportunity for me to learn how to clean copper and share it with you.

Copper items are many times sold with a lacquer finish that protects them and keeps them looking shiny and tarnish free. If you do not intend to use your copper item to cook with, you can just leave this coating alone. The only care your copper will then require is an occasional wash in mild soapy water, rinsing and drying.

However, with time, copper can develop tarnish even underneath this lacquer finish (this is what had happened to my tea pot). Then the only option if you want to get the copper clean, is to remove the lacquer.

If you decide, like I did, to remove this lacquer, you could use acetone. However a less harsh method, and perhaps easier, is to simply boil the item in a pot of water to which you've added some baking soda (1/4 cup baking soda per quart of water worked well for me). The lacquer coating will lift and you can easily peel it off after about 15 minutes of boiling.

If you have a decorative piece of copper that is evenly covered in tarnish, you might consider leaving it this way. The tarnish is not harming the metal, and many people find it more attractive in its tarnished state.

If you decide to remove the tarnish, there are several methods you can use, and there is no need for you to buy a special cleaner in your quest for how to clean copper. Note that you shouldn't use abrasives, such as salt or steel wool, as these can scratch the surface. The baking soda used in method 3 is a very mild abrasive and I didn't note any scratching from using it.

How to Clean Copper Pots

Copper cookware is loved by chefs and home cooks for its even and quick heating and also its beauty. However, if you have invested in a copper pot, you will need to be careful to maintain it correctly. A stained pot will no longer conduct heat evenly.

If you are using a solid copper pot or bowl to cook with, never place anything acidic in it. The acid in tomatoes, lemon, fruit juice, vinegar, etc. reacts with the copper and will release toxic compounds into your food. Most copper cookware these days though is lined with stainless steel.

You can use the how to clean copper methods above for cleaning your copper pots after washing them with regular dishwashing soap and water. Never be tempted to use tough abrasives or scouring pads on your copper. If you do it regularly, copper bottomed pots shouldn't need but a mild rubbing with vinegar and baking soda paste to maintain them.

Don't put your copper cookware in the dishwasher. You risk damaging it from the harsh detergent which may even pit the metal. Instead, try to enjoy taking care of your beautiful cookware!

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