Product Care and Maintenance

Cleaning tarnished (exposure to air can cause copper to tarnish i.e. black spots on the copper) copper products is relatively simple and can be done with items you likely already have at home. Here are a few methods to clean tarnished copper.

Lemon and Baking Soda
Materials: Lemon, baking soda, cloth or sponge.

  1. Cut a lemon in half.
  2. Sprinkle baking soda onto the exposed lemon flesh.
  3. Rub the lemon (with the baking soda) on the tarnished areas of the copper.
  4. The acid in the lemon combined with the abrasiveness of the baking soda helps to break down the tarnish.
  5. Wipe away the residue with a clean, soft cloth and polish the copper to a shine.

 

Vinegar and Salt
Materials: White vinegar, salt, soft cloth.

  1. Mix equal parts of vinegar and salt in a bowl.
  2. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and rub it over the tarnished copper.
  3. You should see the tarnish start to lift.
  4. Rinse the item with warm water and dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth.

 

Ketchup
Materials: Ketchup, soft cloth or sponge.

  1. Apply a small amount of ketchup to a cloth or sponge.
  2. Rub the ketchup onto the tarnished copper.
  3. The acids in the ketchup help remove tarnish and leave your copper shining.
  4. Rinse the copper thoroughly and dry it.

 

Toothpaste
Materials: Toothpaste (preferably non-gel), toothbrush or soft cloth.

  1. Apply a small amount of non-gel toothpaste to the tarnished copper.
  2. Use a toothbrush or soft cloth to gently scrub the tarnished areas.
  3. Rinse the copper under warm water and dry it with a clean cloth.

 

Tips:

  • Always test these methods on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure the copper doesn’t get damaged.
  • Be gentle while scrubbing to avoid scratching the surface.
  • After cleaning, you can polish the copper with a soft cloth to restore its shine.


These methods should help restore your copper items to their natural gleam!