How to Clean Metal Without Chemicals

Tarnished Silver

Metal cleaner can be very effective at polishing silver, shining brass and rubbing the gleam back into copper. However, you can also get the same results naturally with some regular household cleaners. Using these more natural ingredients is less expensive and better for the environment. Cleaning the way grandmother did doesn't necessarily mean more elbow grease, although it may help. So roll up your sleeves and pull out those dull, grimy pots and that green copper kettle.

Things You'll Need

• Toothpaste
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• Mineral oil
• Plastic drop cloth
• Plastic cup
• Assorted small brushes
• Cotton cloth
• Rubber gloves
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Determine the type of metal you want to clean. This can be trickier than it sounds with old and very discolored objects.

2. Prepare an area for cleaning that has room to work. Use a plastic drop cloth to catch spills and splatters. Choose an area with good ventilation. Although these are all natural materials, breathing in fumes from substances like vinegar can cause adverse reactions in some people.

3. Wear gloves to eliminate the risk of adverse skin reactions to either the cleaning solutions or the potential splatter from the cleaning process.

4. Clean brass with undiluted Worcestershire sauce. Apply with a slightly damp cloth, and let sit for 20 minutes. Buff dry.

5. Clean chrome with mineral oil (or baby oil). Apply a generous amount of mineral oil with a cloth, sponge or paper towel. Let sit for 5 minutes and then wipe off.

6. Clean stainless steel with a 1/4 cup of baking soda to which you've added a tablespoon of water to make a thick paste. Rub stainless steel with the mixture and remove with a damp cloth. Be gentle.

7. Clean copper with equal parts vinegar and lemon juice. Cover discolored area with the mixture and then sprinkle on some salt and rub. Repeat as needed.

8. Clean silver with a damp cloth that has been saturated with toothpaste. Clean the object afterward with a wet sponge, and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Ornate objects can take time to clean. To avoid frustration and muscle strain, take frequent breaks and plan on only cleaning one object at a sitting.

• With most metals, working gently will achieve the best result. Apply only enough pressure to get the object clean. Aggressive rubbing can cause scratches that will be much harder to deal with than tarnish and oxidation.