Tag Archives: how-to-clean-copper

Spring Cleaning – Cleaning Copper With Vinegar & Salt

Hi there! Mike is recuperating so nicely from his knee replacement surgery. The very worst thing–thus far–has been a four-day case of hiccups which, thank goodness, have passed. After knee replacement surgery, especially if it’s your right knee–you’re prohibited from driving for about three weeks. Because of this, I’m at home during this time driving him to/fro PT and just making sure he’s okay.

Since I’m more or less stranded here on RiverCliff hill, I’m doing deeper cleaning on the house. Today, I cleaned the copper pots on my potrack. Here’s the lineup…a parade of dirty copper pots!

Parade of Dirty Pots

In the past, I’ve used copper cleaner on these pots, and I started to do so tonight, but I’m getting a yucky blue building…

Yucky Copper Cleaner

I remembered that vinegar and salt cleaned copper. I went to the internet and confirmed this and mixed a 1/2 and 1/2 concoction of white vinegar and table salt. Some of the internet recipes which you can find by Googling suggested a mix which can be put in a spray bottle and sprayed on the copper. However, I had no spray bottle, so here’s my mix which I just dabbed on with a sponge.

Salt and White Vinegar

It worked! Here’s a “before” picture of a copper lid. I got this at Dixie Pottery when I was in my 20’s! If you are too young to remember the fun of going to Dixie Pottery, you missed something.

Dull Copper Lid

And here’s the after…

Shiny Copper Lid

Here’s the potrack with all of the copper cleaned…and using what I have on hand aligns with my reminder to myself to “Simpify.”

Cleaned Potrack in April

And here’s a bit of ivy to liven things up. This is a live plant, so I’ll have to rotate it with one that is about the same size to keep it looking good.

Pot with Plant

This motiviated me to mop the floor and that is what I’m going to do right now!

Loading