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April 19, 2020 · 29 Comments

How To Clean Copper Pans Using All Natural Ingredients Easily

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Do you want to know how to clean copper pans? I decided to try a bunch of copper cleaning hacks to see what would work best to clean it.

Do you want to know how to clean copper pans? Do you want to know how to clean copper pieces and polish copper without using harsh chemicals found in traditional copper cleaners? We all know copper tarnishes and can be difficult to clean. This has been on my kitchen to-do list for quite some time. I have some copper pots and a strainer that have stubborn stains and are just plain dingy-looking. I decided to try a bunch of DIY methods for cleaning copper, using natural ingredients, to see what would work best. It doesn’t have to stop with cleaning copper pots and copper cookware, you can use these techniques to clean other copper items as well.

Let’s get started on how to clean copper Pans.

Here are the top 3 winners!

Salt, Vinegar, and Flour - In a bowl I mixed together 1 cup vinegar, 1 Tablespoon salt, and added flour mixing it together to make a paste. Mine was a bit runny as you can tell. I let it sit on the copper for 1 hour. You could almost see it working immediately though.

Salt, Vinegar, and Flour – In a bowl I mixed together 1 cup of vinegar, 1 Tablespoon of salt, and added flour, mixing it together to make a polishing paste. Mine was a bit runny as you can see. I spread it on the entire surface and let it sit on the copper for 1 hour. Because of the chemical reaction, you could almost see it working on the surface of the copper immediately.

Once the hour was up I rinsed it off and look how clean it was!

Once the hour was up I rinsed it off with warm water and the good news was it made my pots shine without a bit of elbow grease! The combination of the weak acids of the vinegar and the gentle abrasive of the salt really tackled the tough stains on my copper.

Boil Method - In a pot 1 cup vinegar, 1 Tablespoon salt, and add water to fill the pot so that the copper is covered.

Boil Method – In a pot mix 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 Tablespoon salt, and add water to fill the pot so that the copper surface is covered.

Bring to a boil and place the copper in the mixture.

Bring to a boil and place the copper in the mixture.

It will depend on how much tarnish is on the copper to determine how long it will need to sit, but over all it didn't take long at all. I think mine only was in there 30 seconds or less.

The amount of time you need to let it sit, will depend on how much tarnish is on the copper. It didn’t take long at all for mine, 30 seconds or less..

Lemon Juice & Salt Paste - I poured about 1 Tablespoon into a bowl, added salt and mixed until I created a paste. I used a scrub pad to scoop up the mixture and made circular motions on the bottom of the pan.

Lemon Juice & Salt Paste – I poured about 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice into a bowl, added table salt and mixed until I created a paste. I used a scrub pad to scoop up the mixture and rubbed the copper bottoms in a circular motion.

After it was as clean as I could get it, I rinsed it off and wiped it dry.

After it was as clean as I could get it, I rinsed it off and wiped it dry.

Here's what didn't work... Ketchup/Tomato Sauce - I spread ketchup on the left side and tomato sauce on the right. I let it sit for 15 minutes.

Here’s what didn’t work…

Ketchup/Tomato Sauce – I spread ketchup on the left side and tomato sauce on the right. I let it sit for 15 minutes.

I rubbed at both sides after the 15 minutes, and rinsed it off. The ketchup did a little work but the tomato sauce didn't really do anything.

I scrubbed both sides after the 15 minutes, and rinsed it off. The ketchup did a little work but the tomato sauce didn’t really do anything to the surface of the pan.

Lime - I rubbed a lime all over the copper for several minutes and it might have gotten a little lighter but overall I was not impressed.

Lime – I rubbed a lime all over the copper for several minutes and it might have gotten a little lighter but overall I was not impressed.

Regular Toothpaste - I rubbed on regular toothpaste with a soft cloth. I rinsed it off and sadly it again showed a little change but not a lot.

Regular Toothpaste – I rubbed on regular toothpaste with a soft, clean rag. I rinsed it off and sadly it again showed a little change but not a lot.

My favorite to the test: I was ready to do my copper strainer. I decided my favorite was the salt, vinegar, and flour mixture.

My favorite to the test: I was ready to do my copper strainer. I decided my favorite was the salt, vinegar, and flour mixture.

I coated the strainer with the mixture, and you could see it working immediately. I let it sit for an hour and rinsed it off.

I coated the strainer with the mixture, and you could see it working immediately. I let it sit for an hour and rinsed it off.

This technique made it sparkle again and it was so easy to do. *With all of the techniques there were a few dark spots left behind. I'm not sure what those are but I could not get some of them to budge for a perfect finish.

This technique made it sparkle again and it was by far the easiest way to clean any copper item!

*With all of the techniques there were a few dark spots left behind. I’m not sure what those are but I could not get some of them to budge for a perfect finish.

So now that you have seen the best way in my opinion, here are some other tips:

  • Use a clean cloth, and it can be a dry cloth or a microfiber cloth.
  • Make sure to remove all of the food particles and food residue and start with clean pots by washing them with mild dish soap and warm soapy water.
  • Use high heat with the white distilled vinegar to make sure the water and vinegar are boiling for best results.
  • YOu can use coarse salt or baking soda instead of table salt to get rid of the copper oxide.
  • Some people like to use bar keepers friend or wright’s copper cream, I just prefer to stick with more natural ingredients.
  • I haven’t had luck with tomato paste.
  • Yes, this can clean more than copper kitchenware like copper pipes, copper sinks,
  • Depending on how bad things are it can be really difficult to get all of the black spots off.
  • You can use a lemon half or fresh lemon with the salt method instead of lemon juice if you prefer.

Learn more about “Why to Deep Clean and Organize Your Home” to save money, function better, and keep your sanity. 

How To Clean Copper Pans Video

Organic Cleaning - DIY Recipes and Tips To Clean the Chemical-Free and Natural Way

Organic Cleaning – DIY Recipes and Tips To Clean the Chemical-Free and Natural Way

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LEARN MORE ABOUT “WHY TO DEEP CLEAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR HOME” TO SAVE MONEY, FUNCTION BETTER, AND KEEP YOUR SANITY.

Do you want to know how to clean copper pans? I decided to try a bunch of copper cleaning hacks to see what would work best to clean it.

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About Chas

My website is about what I repurpose, upcycle, organize, clean, and hack today. I love to teach, craft, organize, inspire, help, collaborate, and build a community! Read More…

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Treat and Trick says

    May 4, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing such a wonderful tips..

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 5, 2018 at 7:11 am

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  2. Pat says

    May 4, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    I like copper and have quite a few pieces. I usually buy Noxxon to clean them but your flour salt and vinegar method looks so easy and more economical. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 5, 2018 at 7:11 am

      Thanks Pat and I’d love to know what you think after you give it a try.

      Reply
    • Stacey Kaplan - Independent Scentsy Consultant says

      May 5, 2018 at 11:00 pm

      I’ve never heard of Noxxon, Pat. Hum…. something else for me to google. LOL

      Reply
  3. Stacey Kaplan - Independent Scentsy Consultant says

    May 5, 2018 at 10:59 pm

    This is awesome. Personally I think anything with vinegar will clean just about everything. I’m going to try this out tomorrow. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 6, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Thanks Stacey, let me know how it works for you 🙂

      Reply
  4. Pinky says

    May 7, 2018 at 7:55 am

    Thank you! I have a copper strainer that needs this today!! And a large pot too. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 9, 2018 at 8:53 pm

      Thank you and I’m so glad this will be useful to you too 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jenny says

    May 9, 2018 at 9:51 am

    Thanks for sharing this cleaning tip!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 9, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks Jenny 🙂

      Reply
  6. Mother of 3 says

    May 9, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    Great tips!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 9, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  7. Julie says

    May 12, 2018 at 8:14 am

    We’ve gt copper bottomed pans and I’m afraid to admit I’ve never tried to clean them. I’ll try your top suggestion and then I can dazzle people with my super lovely pans. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Chas says

      May 12, 2018 at 9:18 am

      Love that you want to give this a try Julie – let me know how it goes 🙂

      Reply
  8. Donna Marie says

    January 31, 2019 at 5:53 am

    I use Copper Glo that comes in a can and it works quite well!!!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      January 31, 2019 at 6:02 am

      Thank you so much for sharing Donna 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kristine says

    April 21, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Thank you for sharing all the experiments you tried – some were very creative! Good to know what the best way is !!

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 21, 2020 at 7:09 pm

      Thank you Kristine, it’s good to share what we’ve learned with each other.

      Reply
  10. Alexandra says

    April 22, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    I don’t have any copper items, but excellent to know! Pinned.

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 23, 2020 at 7:42 am

      Thank you Alexandra, and thanks for the Pin

      Reply
  11. Ann @ Dabbling & Decorating says

    April 24, 2020 at 7:11 am

    Such a beautiful post! I’d luv to invite you to join us and share over at Charming Homes & Gardens Link Party. We’d luv to have you??‍♀️

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 24, 2020 at 7:14 am

      Thank you so much Ann, and thanks for the invite.

      Reply
  12. Michele Michael says

    April 24, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Great test and tutorial, and you included the fails too. Thx for posting at Funtastic Friday.

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 24, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      Thank you so much Michele.

      Reply
  13. Amrita says

    April 25, 2020 at 10:30 am

    I am going to use your favorite method to clean my copper stuff.Great tutorial. I hope I can do it as well as you .Pitstop

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 25, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Thank you Amrita, and I hope it works for you as great as it did for me. So glad you stopped by

      Reply
  14. Michelle says

    April 27, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Wow! That is amazing. Pinning!

    Thanks for sharing with Creative Compulsions!
    Michelle
    mybijoulifeonline.com

    Reply
    • Chas says

      April 27, 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you so much Michelle

      Reply

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