My collection of copper, with its shiny rose-gold hue, always looks so beautiful after a good cleaning.
This week, my housekeeper, Elvira Rojas, took on the task of cleaning and polishing many of the copper pieces displayed in my studio kitchen. Copper is a soft, malleable and ductile metal with a distinct pinkish-orange color. It's used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a popular element 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.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Here is a shelf of copper molds and other containers in my studio kitchen. A couple times a year, I try to polish all the precious metals in my home including this 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 regularly is generally sufficient to keep it in good condition.
There are several ways to clean copper. 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. Each cream tub comes with a sponge, but before starting, it’s also a good idea to get out any additional sponges and towels needed.
Using gloves to prevent the cleaning cream from coming into contact with the skin, completely coat the piece. The copper will start to brighten as it is rubbed. This task is time-consuming, but it is well-worth all the work and elbow grease. And remember to get into all the cracks and crevices.
Whenever cleaning any precious metal, always use a soft moistened sponge. A soft cloth can also work well. And, for tight areas – a soft-bristled brush is good to have on hand. And always use polishes that are non-abrasive, and opt for formulas, such as creams and gels instead of sprays.
After rubbing the piece with cream, wash it with dish soap and water to ensure all the cream is removed.
And give it a thorough rinse with tepid water.
Drying copper as soon as it is washed also helps prevent watermarks. And 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.
Here, Elvira polishes a mold. It may take a little longer when cleaning a piece with more intricate designs or indentations.
But here, one can see the differences between the polished molds and the one still left to do. Notice the ones on the left are in the final soap and rinse stage – so shiny, while the darker piece on the right is waiting its turn.
And here are three all washed and ready for drying and buffing. Jello, or jelly, molds became popular during the Victorian era when cooks experimented with recipes such as meat-based aspic. Copper molds, as opposed to the more affordable tin alternatives, were a sign of wealth. And by the 1950s and 1960s, these pieces were used for other recipes, especially those well-loved jelly creations.
Here is a lid also being carefully rubbed with Wright’s Copper Cream.
And here it is completely done. Each piece takes just a few minutes to do.
The entire mold and lid show off such a beautiful shine.
The copper looks so pretty gleaming on the shelves. Another tip: if you like the way your displays are arranged, take a quick snapshot before you remove them, so you know exactly how they should be returned.
Here are some kettles on the stove – all cleaned and polished. I use this kitchen a lot for television and various photo shoots and for other media appearances. I also use everything that is in the kitchen, so it’s important that everything is always clean and “camera-ready.”
Here is my copper fish kettle poacher before it was cleaned and polished.
And here it is after. Copper fish kettle poachers are prized for their ability to transfer heat quickly and evenly, making them ideal for cooking fish. They are often made from heavy-gauge copper.
Above are many of my regularly used pots. I like to keep a lot of my pots hanging on a rack where they are easy to reach.
How often copper should be polished depends on the exposure to air, moisture, and handling. For pieces that are kept indoors, polishing every few months should be sufficient.
Managing laundry for a large, working farm is a huge task. It's crucial that all the necessary appliances are always in good, working order.
Several loads of laundry are done here every day - clothes and towels, horse blankets and saddle pads, cleaning rags, mats, etc. To keep up with it all, I have washers and dryers dedicated to just these essentials. Aside from the machines in my homes, I have a washer and dryer pair in my stable, and two washers and dryers in my production studio building. All of them are Speed Queen units with sizable drum capacities and special cycles specifically designed for heavy duty loads. Speed Queen washers and dryers are efficient, easy-to-use and last for many years.
Enjoy these photos.
In summer, the horses and donkeys wear protective sheets to block the sun’s strong UV rays. Here’s Bond with my female donkeys Billie and Jude “JJ” Junior after their morning in the pastures.
The sheets and sheet neck guards not only protect them from the sun, but also from the pesky bugs that bite at their coats.
These sheets have soft form-fitting micro mesh which is light and comfortable – even on the warmest of days.
Because horses and donkeys love to roll when out in the pastures, these sheets are washed regularly and frequently.
For all the heavy duty items that need to be washed around the farm, I like to use these Speed Queen washers and dryers. Speed Queen was founded in 1908 in Wisconsin by Joe Barlow and John Seelig as Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing. As young entrepreneurs, they started out by taking existing machine designs and improving them. In 1922, Speed Queen was the first company to introduce washers with nickel-copper tubs. And in 1928, they renamed the company “Speed Queen.”
As with any washable item, it is a good idea to zip, tie, or velcro any openings, so nothing gets tangled during the washing process.
Another good laundry room tip is to make sure the doors of the washer and dryer don’t block each other. Be sure to install front loading machine door hinges on the most convenient sides. This washer opens out to the left while the dryer swings open to the right. Doors are not in the way when unloading and loading.
Speed Queen’s washers take all kinds of detergents – liquid, powder, and pods. I only use the gentlest unscented liquid detergents for all the washing done here at the farm.
Speed Queen’s Pet Plus cycles are specially designed for removing hair from fabrics. It may run a little longer, but it gets the job done.
These heavy duty model machines are also at a convenient height for loading and unloading. Speed Queen makes a variety of residential and commercial products, from 25-pound capacity tumblers to 250-pound washer-extractors, and dryers. These units in my stable are models FF7 and DR7 front loading machines.
The dryer has a roomy drum capacity for larger loads. The dryer also includes anti-static capabilities. To prevent the dryer from overheating, always clean the screen or filter after every use, and regularly remove accumulated lint from behind the unit.
Once the sheets are washed, they’re dried for a short time and then hung on the rack.
Residential sized units are installed in my guest house and production building. Speed Queen offers a selection of models for various needs.
This washer is a top loader, so its door opens up. All Speed Queen washers and dryers are well known for their durability and strong performance. These models are also very quiet.
The tub capacity is usually measured in raw cubic feet. Various machines have different sizes to accommodate individual family needs.
In this load, Elvira places a number of bath towels into the sizable tub, spreading them equally around the machine’s agitator.
The liquid detergent is placed into the soap compartment. Here, it is in the center agitator.
Speed Queen’s washer panel has easy to read options and allows one to customize the cycle for specific needs and times. Always be sure to configure the correct washer settings for a load. A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty items, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use hot water for white loads, warm water for the average load, and cold water for bright colors.
This dryer is front loading and has a large drum capacity for a large load of towels or other clothes.
Once the load is complete, Elvira places it in the dryer and selects her settings. Most dryers have settings that allow one to choose how dry the items would be. The permanent press setting has a cool-down cycle at the end to reduce wrinkling. On air fluff, the dryer circulates air but adds no heat. Bath towels should be dried completely.
And here are the finished towels – so clean, fluffy, and well dried.
And as always recommended, the lint catcher is emptied after every load.
I am so pleased with all my Speed Queen units – they’re dependable and efficient, wash after wash.
I'm always happy to share photos of my pets - so many of you ask about them. They're all doing excellently, including my growing group of lovable cats.
Here at my farm, I have six felines. Three of them reside in my Winter House - my silver shaded Persian Magnolia, my dilute calico Persian Dahlia, and my brown Persian longhair Lilium. Down at my stable are my two young barn cats, Cinco and Mayo. And, in the greenhouse is Blackie, the only male.
Here are some of the latest photos, enjoy.
Magnolia has been with me since January of this year. She has beautiful golden-copper eyes and a friendly disposition.
She’s about three years old and so curious – roaming from room to room, upstairs and downstairs, keeping an eye on everything that goes on.
Here she is looking out the kitchen door. Perhaps she’s wondering where all the dogs went. Cats have a wider field of vision than humans, but need to be closer to see things in the same detail. Felines have much better night vision than humans too.
This beauty is Dahlia. She has captured everyone’s heart here at the farm.
Dahlia loves company and attention. She’s the youngest of the Persians at about one year old.
Dahlia plays hard and sleeps hard. Kittens six months and older, and adult cats, sleep about 16 to 18 hours a day on average. And, kittens have a similar routine to adult cats, napping throughout the day. They are usually most active at dawn and dusk.
The newest to join my Winter House clowder is Lilium. Lilium is about three years old with beautiful facial expressions and markings.
Lilium traveled all the way from Doha, the capital city of Qatar in the Middle East. I adopted Lilium and Magnolia through Rock ‘N Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Bedford Hills, New York, not far from my farm.
She fits in so nicely with her new “sisters.” She’s independent, confident, and very friendly.
All my cats use PrettyLitter, a special odor controlling, health monitoring gel crystal formula that’s available in clumping and non clumping varieties.
Silica gel crystals absorb moisture through millions of micropores, locking in any odors. The crystals are 100-percent natural, mineral-based and safe for cats. In fact, it’s virtually dust-free, which makes it safe for those with respiratory sensitivities. And, it changes color when a cat has a potential health issue.
This is Cinco, the Calico. Here she is climbing the stone walls outside my stable.
Here’s Mayo, or as she is affectionately called, “May-May.” She will always roll over hoping for a belly rub.
Both Cinco and Mayo, stay around the stable complex under the watchful eye of my stable manager, Helen Peparo, and her crew.
Calico cats have tricolor coats. The calico cat is commonly 25 to 75-percent white with large orange and black patches. And, calicos are almost exclusively female.
Cinco and Mayo were born on March 15, 2024 and arrived here on Cinco de Mayo of the same year. Now at almost a year and a half old, these feline sisters are thriving.
Look closely, tabby cats have a distinctive coat pattern and an “M”-shaped marking on the forehead. The pattern can include stripes, dots, lines, flecks, bands, or swirls on the cat’s body, and the cat may also have stripes by its eyes and across its cheeks, back, legs, and tail.
These two are never far apart. At the end of the day, or when it is too cold outside, one can find them here in the feed room where they have many toys and beds.
And here’s Blackie, my greenhouse cat. Every day he makes his rounds, saying hi to everyone he sees. Blackie loves people and is always ready for a good scratch behind the ears.
At night he’s back indoors guarding the greenhouse from any and all small furred intruders.
Here he is taking a nap after a long, busy day on the prowl. I’m so glad all my cats are happy and healthy. I hope yours are doing well this summer too.
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