Learn the BEST way to clean copper with the toughest stains using this hack, and make your own copper cleaning kit to keep at home!

The Best Way to Clean Copper

Recently I went on a mission to clean my copper pots and pans and discover the best way to clean copper for myself.

As you can see from the photo above there are grease stains, burns, and a lot of build up.

That pan second to the left was my first copper pan ever. I bought it several years ago when I started to replace the collection from our wedding registry, and guess what?

I have NEVER cleaned it since!

All the copper lovers just started crying. I know. I’m sorry. I beg your forgiveness.

By the way, if you are looking for more easy life hacks, then check these out.

Here was my setup. 4 different techniques on 4 different pans.

Toothpaste
Lemon juice
Lemon juice and baking soda
White vinegar and salt

The Best Way to Clean Copper

Toothpaste

This one was with toothpaste. I scrubbed and scrubbed, and I was starting to get a hand cramp, and I had barely gotten a tiny circle on the bottom of the pan as you can see above.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

Lemon Juice

I love a good comparison post, but this was taking way too long.

I moved on to the lemon juice. The results were actually worse. Without the friction of the gritty toothpaste it didn’t really take traction and the lemon juice just ran off.

I moved on or else I would still be standing there.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

Lemon juice and baking soda

Next was the paste made of lemon juice and baking soda. The paste was better than just the lemon juice, but again, the amount of time it was taking to get the faintest shine was giving me acid reflux.

Momma aint got time for this.

So I moved on to method 4.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

White vinegar and Salt

WOW. I discovered a secret technique I hadn’t read anywhere that I am about to share with you.

First of all, I watched the below video on YouTube which is where I started for the white vinegar and salt.

You will notice that his method is to sprinkle salt on the pan and then pour vinegar over and scrub with sponge.

This method is effective, but on pots that haven’t been cleaned in years it was minimally effective for me.

So . . . what did I discover?

Read below for the best way to clean copper with this hack – even ones that haven’t been cleaned in years!

The Best Way to Clean Copper

White Vinegar + salt + secret hack!

Copper Cleaning Kit List:

(Store in a plastic bag under your sink or in your pantry and be sure to label)

Salt
White vinegar
Heavy Duty sponges
Buffing Cloth

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#1. Pour the vinegar over the copper.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#2. Sprinkle the salt over the vinegar.

So I was also holding the camera in one hand, but the way to do this is hold the vinegar in one hand and the salt in the other and sprinkle the salt on right after the vinegar in order to keep the vinegar from rolling off. Do this several times.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#3. THE SECRET TECHNIQUE!! Rub the mixture all over the copper.

This is it. Don’t start “scouring” right away, but instead take both hands and actually massage the mixture into all the copper. The abrasiveness of the salt almost acts like a scour while carrying the acidity of the vinegar. You are literally giving your copper an exfoliating massage. This way the whole pan is coated. You will see a huge difference in this step alone, but then let the copper sit for 5-10 minutes.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#4. Scrub the copper as needed.

Now you can use a scouring pad or sponge or whatever you need to get off those burns. But look at the difference just by rubbing the mixture over the pot and letting it sit?!

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#5. Wash the pan.

Lastly, I just washed the pot like I would have with soap and water.

The Best Way to Clean Copper

#6. Buff as desired with cloth.

I mean WOW. This technique took so little effort as compared to the other 3 that I cleaned the rest with the above method while doing a little happy dance.

I had to run and pick my kids up from school, so I let the rest of the pots soak in hot vinegar water before rubbing them down with the salt and vinegar mixture.

Remember these pots and pans had NEVER been cleaned before!