Removing Green Tarnish From Untreated Copper

When copper reacts with oxygen it produces dark tarnish and when it reacts with water it produces green tarnish. This tarnish is actually the copper material breaking down and is evidenced by a green powdery substance on the copper. It is why many outdoor, copper statues have a green hue. Remove tarnish as soon as possible to prevent it from wearing out prematurely. Use common ingredients that you may already have in your home to clean the green copper tarnish. Use this process only on untreated copper as treated copper often has an antique patina that can be ruined by excessive scrubbing.

White vinegar
Salt
Cloths
Toothbrush
Ketchup

Instructions

- 1
  Soak the copper in white vinegar. White vinegar is a mild acid that will eat away the alkaline tarnish. White vinegar is also a disinfectant.
- 2
  Sprinkle salt over the wet copper. The salt will adhere to the copper and it act as a mild scouring powder to help work away the tarnish.
- 3
  Scrub the salt into the tarnished areas on the copper with a cloth or an old toothbrush. Work until the tarnish is gone and the copper is clean.
- 4
  Rinse the copper and dry it with a clean cloth.
- 5
  Apply a dime-sized amount of ketchup to a clean cloth.
- 6
  Rub the ketchup into the copper to polish it.
- 7
  Buff the ketchup off with another clean cloth. Buff until the copper is bright and polished completely.

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