How to Clean Copper

Copper is a beautiful, durable, and adaptable metal that is used all around the home. Sinks, bathtubs, range hoods, and many other products take advantage of copper's natural versatile properties. While copper has distinctive traits that make it attractive, it does require a bit of care to keep it looking new and clean. This guide will cover what it takes to clean and maintain your copper product.

	Keep It Waxed To protect the finish, it is recommended that a coating of wax is applied to the surface of the copper. We recommend using The Furniture Butler's Table Top Wax, or any product that has natural and added UV filters—which help guard against color and finish degradation. Wax should be applied as often as necessary, depending upon usage, or according to manufacturer's instructions of the product that you choose.

	General Cleaning In between wax treatments, it is recommended that you use a cleaner or polish that is designed specifically for copper products, such as The Furniture Butler's Patina Protector. You may also use a gentle soap, such as dishwashing liquid and warm water. We recommend the use of a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaning pads or materials. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean, soft cloth. Acidic cleaners, such as lemon juice and vinegar, will strip any applied finish from the copper. Mixtures containing acidic chemicals should be avoided to preserve the finish. Epsom, or bath salts, should not be used in copper tubs, as they will tarnish and corrode the copper's appearance.

	Removing Patina Or An Applied Finish A copper developing a patina is the result of natural aging, and many choose to leave this organic finish as-is. However, if you'd like to retain or restore your copper's natural shine, there are ways to do so. A lemon juice and baking soda mixture can be applied to the copper then buffed with a cloth. Other household items can achieve the same goal: ketchup (straight from the bottle) or a salt and vinegar mixture will each do the trick. Each of these natural cleaning agents has an acidic makeup which will strip oxidization and restore your copper product to its original luster.