How to Clean Copper Pots and Pans Without Chemicals

Make your copper pots shine.

Because copper conducts heat so well, it is commonly used to coat steel cookware to improve heat conduction. Copper will naturally form a green patina on its surface to protect itself from corrosion, but this patina certainly isn't appealing to the eye. If you have copper pots and pans that appear to be dirty and dull, never polish the copper. You can clean copper pots and pans without chemicals.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon
• Salt
• Water
• Clean dry dishcloth

Instructions

1. Cut a lemon in half.

2. Dip each half of the lemon into regular table salt.

3. Rub the lemon covered in salt onto the copper bottom of pots and pans.

4. Rinse the salty lemon juice from the bottom of the pan with warm water.

5. Dry with a clean dish towel.

6. Repeat this process as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also mix vinegar and salt, and soak the copper pots and pans in that solution or spray the solution onto your pots and pans.

References

• Science Explorer: Copper Caper