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Best way to clean copper?

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[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
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in Old style MoneySaving
I bought a lovely copper bowl from a charity shop for £1.50 and it really needs cleaning. Does anyone have a method they use which works, and doesn't involve buying special cleaners? I've heard of using half a lemon and salt but wouldn't that scratch it?

Thanks.

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  • C_J
    C_J Posts: 3,040 Forumite
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    It sounds weird, but tomato ketchup cleans copper very well (probably the vinegar content) and it doesn't scratch it.
  • coffeehound
    coffeehound Posts: 5,674 Forumite
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    Do you really want it to be bright and shiny? A lot of people like copper to have a natural patina. A wash in normal washing-up liquid suds should remove old polish and grime.
  • YorksLass
    YorksLass Posts: 1,712 Forumite
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    You could try a mix of lemon juice and baking soda – rub in until grime comes off, then polish with a soft clean cloth.


    Tomato ketchup works on brass and I think it would probably work on copper too.
    Be kind to others and to yourself too.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
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    Thanks everyone. I tried the tomato ketchup method - which brought off the initial layer of dirt, and then half a lemon & bicarb to "attack" isolated stains/marks. It's not "shiny and new" but I didn't want that anyway; it's just much brighter than it was and I actually prefer it to look like this, with some age to it.

    A bargain for £1.50 and a bit of tomato ketchup ...!
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