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Copper is beautiful in any state of use, but copper in its shining, polished form is something truly special. It can double as decor in many spaces or add texture galore to a simple table setting.
If you’re looking to spiff up your copper cookware, tackling this kitchen to-do doesn’t require a lot of tools, a trip to the store for supplies, or even much elbow grease. It only requires two little ingredients you probably have in the pantry: lemon and salt.
The Best Way to Clean Copper Is with Lemon and Salt
Lemon and salt rank as an all-star combination for cleaning cutting boards, butcher block countertops, and more. As it turns out, this concoction also makes quick work — instant, really — of removing a dull, well-worn finish from copper pots. Simply add salt to a halved lemon and scrub the copper surface with the lemon. Within seconds, your copper will be gleaming again.
A few things to know about this method:
Other Methods for Cleaning and Polishing Copper
Before I settled on the salt and lemon, I tried a quick test of the ketchup method (simply applying ketchup for the same results) and was left with a big mess and dirty pot. What a waste of ketchup!
If you’re short on lemons, you can substitute vinegar for the lemon juice. However, most vinegars are less acidic than lemon juice and may be less effective on heavily tarnished pieces.
And if you’re more of a store-bought product kind of person, these four products should do the job.
But, in my opinion, lemon and salt are the easiest way to put to two ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen to good use. Here’s the step-by-step for cleaning and polishing your copper with lemon and salt.