Cleaning Copper at the Farm
It’s always so satisfying to check off time-consuming cleaning chores.
While we’re all spending more time at home, it's a good idea to get some home-keeping projects done and out of the way. Several times a year, my housekeepers take on the task of cleaning and polishing the copper at the farm - well ahead of any spring entertaining. Copper is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with a distinct pinkish-orange color. It is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a popular metal for cookware and other home decorating items. Over time, copper loses its luster and acquires a tarnish when exposed to air, so it is important to clean it regularly. For information on the care and cleaning of copper, be sure to go to my web site at marthastewart.com. You’ll also find helpful tips in both my “Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home” and in “The Martha Manual: How To Do (Almost) Everything.”
Enjoy these photos.
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- This is my Winter House kitchen. Above me is a giant pot rack where I display lots of my copper pots. If you’ve seen any of my recent “Homeschool with Martha” tips on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you’ve likely seen me working at this counter.
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- Here’s a wider view of the pot rack all filled with copper. Copper was actually one of the first metals used by humans more than 10-thousand years ago, and it remains a common household material today. Polishing copper, silver, brass or any other metal three or four times a year is generally sufficient to keep it in good condition.
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- There are several ways to clean copper. One method is chemical-free – just use lemon juice and salt. For ratios and more details, go to How to Clean and Polish Copper “Using Lemon Juice and Salt to Remove Tarnish” on my web site @marthastewart.com.
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- Experts recommend using a good-quality, non-abrasive commercial copper polish. I’ve been using Wright’s metal creams for years. Wright’s Copper Cream is a gentle formula that cleans and shines – it’s also great for brass.
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- Wright’s Cream is also an anti-tarnish formula that leaves behind a protective coating to delay any tarnish from reforming.
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- Whenever cleaning any precious metal, always use a soft moistened sponge. A soft cloth can also work well. Here, Carlos puts a good amount of cream onto the sponge.
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- After a quick rinse with regular dish soap and water, Carlos covers the pot with cream, carefully rubbing it all over the piece. We always place a terry cloth towel on the bottom of the sink, so the metal doesn’t bang against any surfaces.
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- This task is time-consuming, but it is well-worth all the work and elbow grease.
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- Be sure to completely coat the piece with cream. The copper will start to brighten as it is rubbed.
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- Carlos makes sure to also rub the handle. In addition to using soft sponges and rags, use cotton swabs to apply the cream to tight spots and crevices when cleaning.
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- It may take a little longer when cleaning a piece with more intricate designs, crevices, or indentations. After rubbing the piece with cream, wash it with dish soap and water to ensure all the cream is removed.
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- And then wipe the piece thoroughly with a soft cloth and see how it shines. Never place any copper in the dishwasher. The detergents’ aggressive chemicals, combined with the washer’s high cleaning temperature, will eventually cause any copper surfaces to dull, so hand-wash all copper mugs, pots, and pans instead.
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- Carlos uses the same easy steps to clean this vessel – rubbing a generous amount of Wright’s Cream over the entire copper cachepot.
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- It doesn’t take long to see the shine coming through as it is rinsed. And always dry the copper right away with a soft towel to avoid any watermarks.
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- Here is a vintage copper box “before” it is cleaned.
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- Some of these pieces have been in storage for a while. The green is actually a patina, which is a film on the surface of copper, bronze, silver or other metals, produced by oxidation over a long period.
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- And here is Carlos rubbing the box with cream. Be sure to use polishes that are non-abrasive, and opt for formulas, such as creams and gels instead of sprays. It’s also a good idea to use gloves when taking on this task, so the cleaning cream does not come into contact with the skin. Carlos ensures every part of the box is rubbed clean, and then rinses and wipes it completely.
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- Finally, the piece is buffed very well, and placed on a table nearby. Here is the “after” photo.
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- And here are some of the other copper and copper plated items Carlos cleaned. All of them are shining. The copper returns to its original luster very quickly.
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- Remember, there are lots of cleaning hints and tips in my “Homekeeping Handbook” – it’s a great source for all the spring cleaning jobs you’re doing at home during this time. If you don’t have a copy, order it today.
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- And, if you want ideas for how to display and store your collection of copper, be sure to refer to “The Martha Manual: How to Do (Almost) Everything” – another great source of inspiration and ideas.
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