What To Use To Clean Copper: Fridays At 5:00

Earlier this week in my IG stories, I mentioned that I wanted to clean a few recent copper finds. I know there are several options out there and I was really excited to try a few new products. After doing a little research and asking a few vintage loving pals, I decided on 5 products that I am excited to try!

Now, I planned on using these cleaners TODAY – but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I ended up doing a little impromptu picking instead (which was good for my soul)! But, today I thought I would quick share the 5 products that I am excited to try on some of my copper pieces! I still plan to share the process of using these cleaners in my IG stories – but for now – I just wanted to share the products that I plan to use! If you have used any of these let me know how you liked them in the comments bnelow!

Bar Keepers Friend

OK – I love this stuff. I use it on many different surfaces and I am excited to try it on my copper pieces too. It comes in a powder and a liquid and I have heard that the liquid is the better choice for copper! We will see. I looked at their website and look at their backstory – it’s really a cool ingredient that they use!

From the Bar Keepers Friends Website:

“It all began with rhubarb.

In 1882, a chemist by the name of George William Hoffman took a break from his scholarly endeavors to cook up a pan of that sour-but-hardy vegetable, which was common in the gardens of yore. After plating his recipe, the man found that his formerly tarnished pot fairly sparkled. Being a chemist, he quickly ruled out magic and set out to discover the property that made rhubarb such a superior cleaning agent.

The secret? Oxalic acid.

Found naturally in rhubarb and other vegetables like spinach, oxalic acid attacks stubborn rust, tarnish, and lime stains at the molecular level, breaking the bonds that hold them together.

Using that active ingredient, our chemist formulated an oxalic acid-based cleaning powder that he sold to taverns for use as a brass rail polish. Thrilled at the results, tavern owners dubbed the product, “Bar Keepers Friend.”

Cameo

I was excited to find this product! I didn’t even know it existed until I began my search for the best copper cleaner! Here are a few of the ‘reasons” that Cameo is a good choice!

From the Cameos Website:

• “Non-abrasive, anti-tarnish cleaning powder effectively restores the luster of your household surfaces.
• Residue-free original finish helps protect against fingerprints for less frequent cleaning.
• In the kitchen: Clean stainless steel sinks, refrigerators, and oven doors, aluminum and copper pots and appliances, brass light fixtures, chrome surfaces, and tableware.
• In the bathroom: Scrub aluminum shower doors and porcelain sinks, tubs, and counters with ease.
• Outside: Tackle doors/doorknobs, storm windows, screens, and aluminum patio furniture.”

I think this is going to be a good choice for copper and so much more!

Wenol

I had no idea about Wenol either until I began searching for a good cleaner. Like all the other products listed above, Wenol claims to do a great job at cleaning copper and other metals as well. Wenol looks like a tube of toothpaste and I look forward trying this one out too.

Twinkle

This one may be my very favorite simply because of the name – it just sounds like a happy little cleaner. It comes in a two-pack from amazon and it looks like all you have to do is scrub it on for a bit and rinse off. It even comes with an “applicator sponge” – (smile)!

Brasso

I could not NOT include Brasso – this is the one cleaner that I have used in the past and it does indeed work! Let’s see how it stands up though to the other options above!

P.S.

Let’s Try A Few Natural Cleaners As Well

So I have done some reading (and several Instagram friends have sent me messages) and it seems that there are a few all natural options for cleaning copper as well. They include: Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, Ketchup, and a Lemon/Salt mixture. You know that I would prefer to use a ‘cleaner” option so I am thrilled to be trying these options as well.

Wrap Up

Well, I hope you will join me over on Instagram later next week as we try all of these copper cleaning options out. I will be sure to keep you all posted on the progress here on the blog as well! Thanks so much for being here and I hope you have a very good weekend!