Fortunately, you’re able to easily clean copper with some ingredients you probably have on hand.
How Often Should You Clean Copper?
Outdoor pieces will oxidize quickly in the elements and are often left to weather naturally.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Indoor pieces are lacquered with a shiny finish that does not change color or darken over time.
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Spread the paste over the copper with a soft sponge and scrub the copper with a gentle circular motion.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
For heavily tarnished pieces, leave the paste on the surface for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing.
Avoid air-drying copper to prevent water spots.
Apply the Paste
Wash the copper in warm soapy water.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Apply the paste with a soft cloth and rub in gentle circles to remove tarnish.
Rinse well with warm water.
If the paste is too runny, add more salt.
Working in small circles, gently scrub the surface.
Mix more paste if needed.
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.
Plenty of scrubbing will still be needed with one of the cleaning pastes.
Add more salt as needed until the tarnish is gone.
Rinse in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
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.
Hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean copper.
It will react with the copper causing more tarnish.
