Keyword copper cleaner, diy cleaning, lemon and salt, polish
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 10 minutesminutes
Lemon, salt, vinegar and flour pastes. Rub on, rinse and buff dry.
What You’ll Need
Paste: ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon flour; ½ cup white vinegar
Lemon and salt: 1 lemon; table salt
Lemon paste: 1 teaspoon baking soda OR 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Microfiber clothswarm (soapy) water
Directions
Paste: stir the salt, flour and vinegar into a paste; spread it on and leave for up to an hour, then rinse with warm water and buff dry.
Lemon and salt: cut the lemon in half and remove the seeds, coat the cut side with salt, and rub it over the brass (adding more salt as needed); leave for up to an hour, then rinse, dry and buff.
Lemon paste: stir baking soda or cream of tartar into lemon juice, rub it on with a cloth, and rinse with warm soapy water.
Notes
A thin coat of ketchup for about an hour, then hot soapy water, also works.Safety: use a magnet test, if it sticks, the piece is plated; clean plated and lacquered brass only with hot soapy water (acids and rubbing can strip it); no steel wool, metal brushes or harsh abrasive cloths; don't submerge brass jewelry. Also: don't use acid pastes on cookware linings or antiques without checking first; rinse thoroughly so acid residue doesn't keep etching.