Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Using vinegar and salt
• Method 2 of 4: Boil off stubborn stains
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities
• Using vinegar and salt
• Boil off stubborn stains
• Remove stubborn stains with a lemon or lime
• Scrub the copper with ketchup

Copper jewelry, household items and decorative items are beautiful, and of course you want your things to look their best. However, exposure to oxygen will eventually create a black patina on the copper and can stain your items. Fortunately, you can use household products to restore your favorite copper objects to their red gold shine. By putting in some effort, you may be able to make your precious items look like new again.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Using vinegar and salt

1. Mix equal parts vinegar and salt to make a paste. Sprinkle the salt into a clean bowl and then slowly add vinegar. Stir the ingredients with a spoon to mix and make a paste. Keep stirring until you get a smooth paste.
   • You don't have to use exact amounts.
   EXPERT TIP

   Rinse the paste and wipe the object dry. Run the copper object under a hot tap to remove the excess paste. Gently wipe the paste with your fingers. Then wipe the copper object dry with a clean cloth.

   • If there are still stains on the brass, apply pressure with the cloth to remove them.

Method 2 of 4: Boil off stubborn stains

1. Immerse the copper object in the mixture. It is safest to put the copper object in the pan before cooking the mixture. Put the object in the pan and make sure the stains are submerged in the mixture. It is okay if the object is partly above the water if you are not trying to clean that part.
   • You can clean several objects at the same time if they fit together in the pan. For example, you can clean two copper cups at the same time or a number of copper jewelry.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Turn the gas to the highest setting to heat the pan. Keep an eye on the pan while the water heats up and begins to boil. When the mixture is boiling, turn down the heat so that the mixture continues to boil bubbling.
   • Stay close to the pan while heating to make sure it doesn't boil over.
3. Watch the copper spots fade. The vinegar and salt will remove the stains and black patina. Check the water to see if the copper dirt gets into the water. Let the object boil for a maximum of 15 minutes.
   • If the object looks clean before 15 minutes has passed, then you can turn off the heat sooner.
4. Turn off the heat to allow the copper object to cool. After fifteen minutes, turn off the burner so that the mixture and the copper object start to cool. Let the pan cool for half an hour to an hour.
   • Do not try to handle the copper object while it is still hot. The metal can burn your hands, so be careful.
5. Dip half of the lemon or lime in salt. Sprinkle a small amount of salt on a plate and push the pulp of the lemon or lime into the salt. Make sure there is a thin layer of salt on the pulp.
   • Leave some salt on the plate so that you can dip the fruit back in if necessary.

   Variant: If it is a delicate or small copper object, mix enough lemon juice with salt to make a paste. Then massage the paste into the copper object with a soft cloth. In the case of stubborn stains, let the paste soak in the copper for up to an hour.

   
   
6. Rinse the copper object with warm water. Run the copper object under hot water until you can no longer see fruit juice and salt. While rinsing, turn the item over in your hands so that it is thoroughly cleaned.
7. In case of stubborn stains, let the ketchup soak in the copper for half an hour. You don't have to let the ketchup sit on small stains that you can scrub away. However, letting the ketchup sit for up to half an hour will make it easier to remove the stains. Set a kitchen timer and wait while the ketchup does its job.
   • You can always scrub the copper first and then let the ketchup soak in if the item doesn't get clean.
8. Rinse off the ketchup and salt mixture with warm water. Hold the brass item under the tap to rinse it clean. Scrub off any sticky ketchu residue with your fingers. Continue rinsing until the rinse water remains clear and the item appears clean.
   • Use a toothbrush to remove adhering ketchu residue.
9. Dry the copper with a clean cloth. Use a soft, clean cloth to dry the copper object. Apply firm pressure to lightly polish the object. Scrub stained areas vigorously again.

Tips

• It is normal for copper objects to turn black over time due to oxidation.

Warnings

• Decorative painted items should only be washed with soapy water and then thoroughly dried. Polishing or scrubbing such copper objects will remove the protective coating.

Necessities

Using vinegar and salt

• Vinegar
• salt
• Cloth
• Water

Boil off stubborn stains

• Large pan
• Vinegar
• Water
• salt
• Cloth

Remove stubborn stains with a lemon or lime

• Lemon or lime
• Cutting board
• Knife
• salt
• Water
• Cloth

Scrub the copper with ketchup

• Ketchup
• salt
• Cloth
• Bake (optional)
• Water