How to Naturally Clean Brass or Copper

Cleaning brass and copper can be some of the most challenging of household cleaning. I've included three options to clean your brass and copper naturally and frugally, using common household products. These recipes will not only clean your items, but you will also feel good knowing that the ingredients are both safe to be used around your family and safe for the environment.

Household Ingredients Needed:
These natural cleaners can easily be made with inexpensive items that you may already have in your kitchen. ketchup or tomato juice, baking soda, white vinegar, and salt are all you will need.

Recipe 1:
Ketchup or tomato juice will remove tarnish from copper or brass. Rub into object with a soft cloth. Each time I make spaghetti sauce, I use some of the canned tomatoes to clean my copper bottom pans. This is the least abrasive of these three recipes. I'd suggest trying this first.

Recipe 2:
Mix baking soda and white vinegar together to create a paste. Rub into copper or brass item with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry with a cloth. This is a mildly abrasive recipe. Care should be taken when being used on delicate items. You may want to test this is a less obvious place, to test for scratches.

Recipe 3:
For more stubborn stains, make a paste of white vinegar and salt. Rub on object with cloth. This is most abrasive and should be used with caution on fragile and delicate surfaces. You will also want to test this recipe on a less obvious place of the piece to ensure no scratches are made on your item.