Tips for Cleaning Chrome and Copper
The DO's and the DONT's!!

If you aren't sure just how you should be cleaning your chrome and copper pieces, you've come to the right place. We are going to go over some ways to get your chrome and copper looking magnificent. Lets get started!

Chrome can be described as a hard metal that appears shiny with a silverish-blue tint. Because of it's appearance and its durability, chromium is often used to plate other metals to extend the life of the object. Appliances such as ovens, refrigerators, and toasters are frequently found with chrome plating, as well as other objects such as faucets, parts on vehicles, and even on golf clubs. If the chrome is kept relatively clean and free of grease and grime, it can last and look nice for very long time.

Here are some tips for keeping chrome maintained and looking its best:

1. Abrasive cleansers can scratch or cause pitting on the surface of chrome, so cleaning it using one of these is a big no-no!

2. A safe way to clean chrome is to dab some vinegar or club soda onto a soft cloth. Take a soft dry cloth to dry to a shine.

3. To take burned-on grease off of chrome, clean it with 3-6 drops of peppermint essential oil or undiluted eucalyptus while wearing rubber gloves to prevent penetration or harmful irritation of the skin. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

4. To remove rust stains, clean it first with a rag dabbed with a few drops of peppermint essential oil or eucalyptus. Next crumble a small piece of aluminum foil (shiny side out) and rub the stains out. Finally, use a soft cloth moistened with 3-6 drops of essential oil and 1 tablespoon of almond oil or jojoba (mix the essential oils in with the almond oil or jojoba first) and wipe it down very well.

We've now come to Part II of "Cleaning Chrome and Copper". Copper is another hard metal but this one is reddish-orange in color. Decorative copper pieces are typically covered with a lacquer finish to preserve them. These should NEVER be polished; instead, regular dusting and only an occasional washing is all they need. On the other hand, copper cookware and utensils may require special handling to remove any factory-applied lacquer.

Follow the manufacturer's directions if provided for cleaning copper. If there aren't any instructions included, the copper piece should be placed in 2 gallons of boiling water and 1-1/2 cups of washing soda (found in the laundry aisle at the supermarket). Let them soak long enough that you can just peel off the lacquer.

Stainless steel pots and pans often have copper bottoms for better distribution of heat, but high temperatures can damage the copper. Never use scouring pads of steel wool or abrasive cleansers on copper bottoms. If they become tarnished, you can polish them using a paste made of equal parts salt, vinegar, and flour.

To remove tarnish or to simply clean your copper pots and utensils, try one of these tips:

1. Cut a lemon or lime in half, sprinkle it with salt, and rub the salted fruit over the copper. If you don't have a fresh lemon or lime available, you can use lemon juice as a substitute or citrus essential oil. If you use the citrus essential oil, mix 1 teaspoon with 2 tablespoons of water. Take a damp sponge, sprinkle it with salt, and further moisten the sponge with this homemade cleaning solution. Nothing can be easier than this!

2. Make a paste using 1 cup of vinegar, 1-1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 5 drops of citrus essential oil. Spread the paste on your copper pieces and let stand overnight or even for just a few hours. Then rinse well, dry, and polish with a drop or two of oil to prevent further tarnishing.

3. Mix 1/2 cup ketchup with 2 tablespoons cream of tartar. Spread onto the copper and let stand for an hour. Rinse in soapy water and then in clean water. Dry thoroughly.

We hope that you have found these tips on cleaning chrome and copper helpful. If you have any tips for cleaning chrome and copper that you would like to share please submit your tip here



If you found these tips on cleaning chrome and copper helpful and would like to see some other tips for cleaning ordinary household items, check out these links!
Baking Soda Tips
Amazing Uses for Toothpaste
Uses for Vinegar

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