How to Make Copper and Brass Cleaner

Clean and polish your copper and brass fittings, hardware, musical instruments, and knickknacks with this easy-to-make polish.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clean Rags
• Laundry Detergents
• Clean Rags
• All-purpose Flour
• Lemon Juices
• Table Salt
• White Vinegar
• Table Salt
• White Vinegar

1. 

   Combine 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, 1/2 c. table salt and 1/2 c. powdered laundry detergent.

2. 

   Stir in 3/4 c. white vinegar, 1/3 c. lemon juice and 1/2 c. very warm water.

3. 

   Dab a little bit of this mixture on the brass or copper surface with a clean, dry cloth and rub gently in a circular motion.

4. Rinse with cool water. Dry and buff to a shine with a soft cotton rag.

Tips & Warnings

• For tough stains use a toothbrush.

[chefpierre]

on 9/4/2009 It seems to me that salt as a brass cleaner would be as abrasive as sandpaper so you are "sanding " the tarnish off. I just use Brassmate liquid brass cleaner. Its over 95% water and cleans my brass and copper in less than 30 seconds. check them out www.silvermatecompany.com

[chefpierre]

on 3/10/2009 I buy brass cleaner called Brassmate. There is absolutely no scrubbing and it is ecofriendly. It just takes a few seconds to clean and it also polishes. Just my two cents.. :)

on 11/22/2005 To quickly clean copper pots, smear liberally with ketchup. The acids in the tomatoes and the vinegar will clean the copper. You'll still need to use a polish for stains that don't disappear. Rinse well and buff to dry.

on 11/22/2005 Here's a cheap way to clean copper. Cut a lemon in half and dip it in table salt. Simply rub it on your copper. Voila! Copper is cleaned. Remember to put on a finish (like car wax) so that the copper does not corrode. This really works!