How to Clean Copper Jewellery at Home

Although naturally bright and shiny, copper jewellery is vulnerable to tarnish, especially if not stored properly. If your copper jewellery has tarnished, worry not, since it can be easily restored.

Restoration of your Copper jewellery is very simple, and requires some common household items.

Things Required:

– Water
– A non-metallic container
– Salt
– A weak acid (such as white vinegar)
– Ketchup
– A jewellery-polishing cloth (optional)

Instructions

  • 1

    Distilled vinegar

    Start with making the water and acid mixture. Take water in a non-metallic container. Add a teaspoon of some weak acid, like distilled vinegar to it. Place your jewellery in the container for a couple of minutes. Remove it from the mixture and rub with a soft brush until all traces of grime are gone. Wash the jewellery thoroughly. If you will not wash it under running tap water, a chemical compound called malachite may form, turning your jewellery to a blue-green colour.

  • 2

    Lemon Juice

    If the build up on your jewellery is mild then you can substitute white vinegar with lemon juice. Add 2 to 3 drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to warm water. Also add a tablespoon of common salt to it. Mix it thoroughly. Dip the pieces of your copper jewellery that needs clean up in this mixture. Let them stay for some time (almost five minutes). Take the jewellery out of the mixture and scrub with soft-bristled tooth brush. Rinse off, wash thoroughly under running tap water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

  • 3

    Ketchup

    You can also use ketchup to clean your copper jewellery. Ketchup works in the same way like vinegar or lemon juice, since it is also a combination of acids and salts. Apply some ketchup on your jewellery piece. Let it stay there for a while, before you rub it off with a soft washcloth. Wash it under tap water.

  • 4

    Polish your jewellery

    Once you are done cleaning your copper jewellery, polish it to make the ornaments shine like before. Use a jewellery polishing cloth to polish the area around gemstones or the non-copper metals that are part of your jewellery.

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