Copper Cleaner

Copper loses its shine fast, and store-bought polish loves to charge extra for the privilege of fixing it. This homemade copper cleaner turns pantry basics into a scrubby paste that cuts through dull buildup, rinses clean, and leaves your copper ready for a quick buff (because apparently copper enjoys being high-maintenance).

Making your own costs less per batch than buying a specialty copper polish. Based on current retail pricing, this batch comes out to roughly $1.16 for the consumable materials, and it lets you control the scent and consistency instead of settling for whatever the bottle gives you.

You only need 6 materials for this batch: flour, salt, grated Ivory Soap dissolved in warm water, white vinegar, lemon juice, and whiting. The finished cleaner goes into a clean one-quart glass jar, and you’ll just need basic equipment for mixing, measuring, grating, stirring, and scrubbing.

Materials You’ll Need

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup grated Ivory Soap, dissolved in 1/2 cup very warm water
• 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon whiting

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Tools & Equipment

• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoon
• Mixing bowl
• Grater
• Spoon for stirring
• Clean one-quart glass jar with tight-fitting cover
• Sponge
• Clean, soft cloth

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How to Make Copper Cleaner

1. Mix the flour, salt and soap together until soap is thoroughly dissolved.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring well.
3. Pour the finished paste into a clean one-quart glass jar and cover tightly.

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How to Use Copper Cleaner

1. Shake the solution before using.
2. Pour some of the paste on the copper item.
3. Scrub gently with a sponge.
4. Rinse the item well.
5. Dry it completely, then buff lightly with a clean, soft cloth.

If you like mixing up your own polish and cleaner staples, take a look at this Copper and Brass Cleaner or this Silverware Cleaner for another old-school shine fix.

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Safety and Surface Care

Use this cleaner on copper items only, and test a small hidden spot first if you’re not sure how the finish will react. Keep it away from bleach or any other household cleaner, since the EPA advises against mixing cleaning products because the combination can create dangerous vapors: Use Caution When Cleaning with Household Cleaning Products.

Scrub gently rather than grinding the paste in hard. After rinsing, dry the piece right away and buff lightly with a soft cloth so water doesn’t dull the finish again.

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Storage

Store the cleaner in the covered one-quart glass jar listed in the formula. Keep the lid on tightly between uses, and give the mixture a good shake before each use since the ingredients can settle.

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Cost Breakdown

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour: about $0.15
• 1/2 cup salt: about $0.11
• 1/2 cup grated Ivory Soap: about $0.27
• 1/2 cup very warm water for dissolving soap: not counted
• 3/4 cup white vinegar: about $0.18
• 1/4 cup lemon juice: about $0.40
• 1 tablespoon whiting: about $0.05

Estimated total: about $1.16 per batch, not including reusable tools or the storage jar. Prices vary by store and brand, but this is still a lot cheaper than grabbing a specialty copper cleaner every time one pan or mug starts looking tired.

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🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?

• All-purpose flour, 5 lb bag
• Iodized salt
• Ivory bar soap
• White vinegar, 1 gallon
• Lemon juice
• Polishing whiting
• One-quart glass jar with lid
• Non-scratch sponge

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Frequently Asked Questions about Copper Cleaner

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Did you try this cleaner on a pan, mug, or decor piece? Tell me what you used it on and whether a light buff brought the shine back.

🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Copper Cleaner

Copper Cleaner

Article or recipe authorAuthor: Melissa 'Liss' Burnell

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preparation timePrep Time 10 minutes mins

custom timeActive Time 10 minutes mins

total timeTotal Time 20 minutes mins

Make a simple homemade copper cleaner paste with flour, salt, grated Ivory Soap dissolved in very warm water, white vinegar, lemon juice, and whiting. Store it in a covered one-quart glass jar, shake before using, then scrub, rinse, dry, and buff copper items. Yield/Result: 1 batch copper cleaner paste in a one-quart glass jar

Budget101 Price BreakdownApprox Cost: $1.16

Equipment

Measuring Cups

Measuring spoon

Mixing Bowl

Grater

Spoon for stirring

Clean one-quart glass jar with tight-fitting cover

Sponge

Clean soft cloth

Materials

• ▢ ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ ½ cup salt
• ▢ ½ cup grated Ivory Soap
• ▢ ½ cup very warm water
• ▢ ¾ cup white vinegar
• ▢ ¼ cup lemon juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon whiting

Instructions

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1. Mix the flour, salt and soap together until soap is thoroughly dissolved.
2. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well.
3. Pour into a clean one-quart glass jar and cover tightly.
4. Shake the solution before using.
5. Pour some of the paste on the copper item.
6. Scrub gently with a sponge.
7. Rinse, then dry.
8. Buff lightly with a clean, soft cloth.

Images

1. https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/homemade-copper-cleaner-recipe.jpg

Notes/Safety

1. Estimated cost reflects consumable materials only and does not include reusable tools or the storage jar.
2. Use on copper items only and test a small hidden area first if the finish is uncertain.
3. Do not mix this cleaner with bleach or other household cleaning products.
4. Store covered in a clean one-quart glass jar and shake before each use.

Notes

Difficulty: Easy

Difficulty: Easy

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