Copper Care

Why Copper Tarnishes

Copper reacts with the environment through a process known as oxidation or tarnish resulting in copper oxide. Think of the Statue of Liberty. This popular copper sculpture had a gorgeous rosy glow, but left bare to the elements of the sea it now sports a stunning turquoise patina. This type of patina forms over the surface because of salt, water, and air. It creates a layer over the copper, protecting the entire piece. This is just one example of the color copper can turn. Some artists treat copper surfaces with various chemicals to purposefully create a patina and add color to their copper pieces. When cleaning a piece with a patina, extra care should be taken because you don’t want to release some of these chemicals during cleaning. Tarnish ranges from deep brown to jet black depending on what chemicals it comes into contact with. 

Copper tarnish is inevitable, so, let’s explore how and why certain circumstances affect copper.

Oxygen

The most natural, and inevitable, type of copper tarnish happens in the presence of oxygen. Copper and oxygen ions react to form copper oxide, but, if only restricted to dry air, this process is very slow. The amount of humidity in the air greatly affects how quickly the copper will tarnish.

Moisture

Moisture catalyzes the oxidation process, enhancing the reactivity of copper, and leading to corrosion or patina. This is why it is recommended to wipe off water from any copper piece instead of letting it air dry, resulting in water spots.

Human Touch

The oils on our skin is one of the quickest ways copper can tarnish. We also have salt and a certain level of acidity, or pH,  that affects the oxidation process. Any time a copper piece is touched it should be wiped immediately to prevent tarnish.

Dust

Dust particles are made of dead skin cells and debris from both humans, pets, and the environment. This dust contains chemicals that react with copper, making it tarnish more quickly. It’s best to keep your copper piece in a bag or box to prevent dust from collecting on the surface.

Acidic Substances

Acidic substances react with the surface of copper, causing it to tarnish and corrode almost instantly. This corrosion is highly soluble, leading to the presence of toxic copper salts in food. It is not recommended to use copper vessels for foods high in acidity, such as milk, tomato, wine, or vinegar. But this toxicity occurs only if ingested, so unless you’re chewing on your copper jewelry, you’re good.

Heat and Chemicals

Heat and acidic cleaning products also cause copper to tarnish. Heat makes copper more reactive, while some products contain substances which react with copper. Always take your copper jewelry off before washing your hands, showering, swimming, or cleaning.

Why It Is Necessary to Clean Copper

Copper jewelry can develop tarnish very quickly because of the oils present on the skin. This can make it less appealing, and the patina can also color your skin green. While this tarnish and color on your skin doesn’t negatively impact your health, it’s not appealing for everyone. Cleaning your copper jewelry will not only make it more appealing but will also prevent your skin from turning green in the presence of patina.

How Often You Should Clean Copper

As often as needed! If you wear your copper jewelry everyday, I would clean it every day or at least once a week. If worn seldomly, keeping your copper jewelry in a air tight container of your choice after cleaning will prevent any tarnish.

Ways to Clean Copper

There are quite a few ways you can clean copper, from using conventional store-bought products to using home-made cleaning solutions. These substances contain a mild acid, which reacts with the copper surface to create soluble copper salts which can be washed off.

If the copper has a lacquered finish, all you need is water and dish soap to remove dust and grime. You will recognize lacquered finish on copper which is glossy and shiny and does not tarnish over time. If, however, this finish has been damaged, you will notice tarnished spots. Cleaning lacquered finish is very difficult, so your best bet would be to remove it entirely and follow the steps below.

Store-Bought Copper Cleaning Products

There are many different products which are specially made for cleaning copper. They usually come as creams or pastes, allowing for a thorough cleaning which does not damage the copper. Barkeepers Friend is highly recommended and it definitely my favorite to use when needed. 

However, you can also clean your copper the natural way with household items that are probably in your kitchen right now!

Natural Ways to Clean Copper

Here are some ways you can clean copper using natural ingredients that I recommend:

White Vinegar and Salt

This is my go to way of cleaning any jewelry piece I have, especially copper. Dissolve 1 ½ teaspoons of salt in 1 cup of white vinegar. You can put this mixture in a spray bottle, apply the mixture with a soft cloth, or make a bath if your copper piece is large. Once applied, leave it for around 30 minutes and rinse and dry. If there is more tarnish present, repeat the process. If there are details on the piece holding any grime or tarnish, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the copper then rinse and dry.

Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

This is a more aggressive method, where you need to mix several teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 or 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Use a soft cloth to apply the mixture on the copper surface and rub it gently. Finally, rinse with water and polish the copper with a soft cloth. Baking soda can scratch the surface of the copper so take extra care when using this method. 

Lemon and Salt

For especially tarnished copper, you can use half a lemon and some ordinary table salt. This method involves some effort, but it is most effective for removing stubborn tarnish.

Pour some salt onto a plate (coarse salt if you are dealing with tough tarnish), dip the lemon half into the salt, and scrub the surface until you remove the tarnish. Finally, rinse with warm water and soap and dry the copper with a soft cloth.

There are many other ways to naturally clean copper from ketchup to cream of tartar. This ways listed below are the methods that have worked best for me without much fuss.

How to Keep Copper from Tarnishing

To keep copper from tarnishing, you need to eliminate the circumstances which make it tarnish. Of course, exposure to air will eventually make it turn darker, but this is a very slow process. Keep your copper objects dry and store them in a dry place. After washing copper objects, do not let them dry on their own and make sure you don’t ruin your cleaning job by touching the surface with your bare hands.  If you live in a high-humidity area, you can place small copper items in plastic bags with a silica-gel packet. 

Additionally, you can coat your copper object by wiping it with a light coat of baby oil, mineral oil, olive oil, WD-40, or even a thin layer of carnauba wax or beeswax. 

For copper jewelry, you can also coat it with clear nail polish or buy a copper lacquer to spray on like Krylon Enamel Spray Paint in gloss.

Copper is a beautiful metal and with proper care can keep its rosy glow for years to come.