How To Clean Copper Cookware

Copper pots and pans on wood table.

Here is how to clean copper cookware. These four ways to clean copper pots and pans are surprisingly effective - and chemical free.

Be sure to wear gloves to protect copper's surface from fingerprints during the cleaning process.

Cotton gloves are best but rubber gloves work, so long as you wash a new pair of these gloves first. (Any sulfur that remains on the gloves could cause copper to tarnish.) 

Here's how to clean copper cookware with inexpensive, homemade, and eco-friendly items you probably already have in your kitchen. 

1.  How To Clean Copper with Vinegar and Salt

Cleaning with vinegar and salt works wonders on copper bottom pans. Mix white vinegar and table salt, and stir until the salt dissolves, creating a thick paste.

Dip a sponge or scrubber into the solution, and scrub the pan's copper bottom surface. Rinse and dry.

2.  Lemon and Salt Paste Cleaner

A lemon and salt paste is an easy, natural tarnish remover that works. To create the cleaning paste strain the juice from one lemon, or a few generous drops of lemon juice, into a small container. Add salt until the mixture forms a paste-like texture.

Using a soft, dry cloth, rub the paste over the copper. Rinse with warm water. Polish with a soft cloth lightly moistened with olive oil for a shiny finish. Allow to air dry.

3.  Cleaning Copper with Ketchup

Yes, you can actually clean copper with ketchup. Sounds crazy, I know. But ketchup's acidity makes it a natural tarnish remover.

To use, squeeze a light film of ketchup over the tarnished copper surface. Let sit for several minutes to allow ketchup's acidity to begin to do its work. 

Then scrub vigorously with a nylon scrubbing pad or soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly and polish to a shiny finish with a cloth lightly moistened with olive oil.  Allow to air dry.

4.  A Copper Polish to Make and Keep

Mix 1/2 each of flour, salt, and powder detergent. Add 3/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water in a glass jar. 

Pour a small amount onto a nylon scrubbing pad or soft sponge and rub it into the tarnished copper bottom. Rinse thoroughly with water, and polish dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Label and seal the leftover portion for future copper polishing.

Preventing Copper Tarnish

To prevent tarnished coppering the future: Don't use your copper utensils or pans with copper interiors to store acidic foods such as fruits, salad dressings, tomatoes, or anything containing vinegar.

Toxic compounds can form if acidic food is cooked, stored, or served in copper containers.


You Might Like These:

  • Consequences for kids not doing chores. If, despite all your motivating efforts, thekids don't get the job, be ready with natural consequences. Here are easy examples.

    Consequences for Kids Not Doing Chores

    Consequences for kids not doing chores. If, despite all your motivating efforts, thekids don't get the job, be ready with natural consequences. Here are easy examples.

  • Summer home cleaning tricks. It's summertime, and the living is easy. Cleaning should be easy as well, but often isn't. These home cleaning tricks can help pick up the pace.

    Summer Home Cleaning Tricks

    Summer home cleaning tricks. It's summertime, and the living is easy. Cleaning should be easy as well, but often isn't. These home cleaning tricks can help pick up the pace.

  • Light fixture cleaning tips. Dust, bugs, airborne cooking oils - it doesn't take long for these interlopers to find their way onto your home'slighting.

    Light Fixture Cleaning Tips

    Light fixture cleaning tips. Dust, bugs, airborne cooking oils - it doesn't take long for these interlopers to find their way onto your home'slighting.

  • Cleaning lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures need cleaning about once a month. These cleaning tips can help you clean them properly - and get all that wattage you're paying for.

    Cleaning Lighting Fixtures

    Cleaning lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures need cleaning about once a month. These cleaning tips can help you clean them properly - and get all that wattage you're paying for.

  • Cleaning tips for mini blinds. Clean miniblinds regularly to keep them looking bright and fresh in your windows .They're magnets for dust, animal dander, kitchen grease, and soot.

    Cleaning Tips For Mini Blinds

    Cleaning tips for mini blinds. Clean miniblinds regularly to keep them looking bright and fresh in your windows .They're magnets for dust, animal dander, kitchen grease, and soot.

  • Surface disinfecting after illness. The importance of surface disinfecting increases when someone in your home has the telltale signs of a cold or other viruses or complains of an upset tummy.

    Surface Disinfecting After Illness

    Surface disinfecting after illness. The importance of surface disinfecting increases when someone in your home has the telltale signs of a cold or other viruses or complains of an upset tummy.

  • These stone floor cleaning tips can help remove the dirt and stains of daily family life.

    Stone Floor Cleaning Tips

    These stone floor cleaning tips can help remove the dirt and stains of daily family life.

  • If you've got kids, you'll get spills. But just because carpet stains are inevitable doesn't mean they have to be permanent. Here's how to remove carpet stains yourself.

    How to Remove Carpet Stains

    If you've got kids, you'll get spills. But just because carpet stains are inevitable doesn't mean they have to be permanent. Here's how to remove carpet stains yourself.