There are so many good reasons to make your own household cleaners. It’s cheaper, healthier and greener, too. The homemade household cleaners I share with you from time to time do not contain chemicals. That means you can always count on them to be non-toxic.
DEAR MARY: The copper post caps on my deck are becoming tarnished. Do you know of a natural (cheap) way that I can clean them without causing any damage to the copper? I’m enclosing a picture of this problem. Patti
Dear Patti: I really like this beautiful treatment on your deck. Thanks for including a photo . I do have a solution for you using ordinary items from your pantry. It is cheap to make, easy to use on any copper items that have not been coated with varnish or shellac, and works great. Best of all it contains no toxic chemicals.
All that being said, I caution you and all my readers again to always test in an inconspicuous place, any kind of cleaner or other treatment like this that you have not used in the past. This is the only way to know before go exactly how your product or item is going to react. This is a good way to make sure you never make a bad situation even worse!.
Copper Cleaner
You’ll need:
✅ 6 tablespoons table salt
✅ 6 tablespoons flour
✅ white vinegar
Make a paste of equal parts salt and flour with a few tablespoons of white vinegar. Apply to copper item with a soft cloth and rub gently to remove tarnish. Rinse with water and buff dry with another clean soft cloth.
Ketchup Option
Another option, believe it or not, is good old ketchup. How? Well, check the ingredients and you’ll see a major presence of vinegar and salt. Tomatoes are acidic so that throws in an added punch.
Want to see how this works? Find an old copper penny that has darkened s compared to a bright new shiny copper penny. Pour ketchup into a small bowl. Dip that penny in just halfway and hold it there for a few seconds. Remove, rinse and inspect. Yeah! It does work.
So, there you go. Two options to clean your beautiful post caps, copper cookware, decorator pieces, and your ennies, too!
Personally, I’d go with the first option as we run out of ketchup around out house more often than we do salt, flour, or vinegar. I am also of the opinion that the salt/flour/vinegar option is better for clean all the accumulated dirt, bird droppings, as well as tarnish. I’m not sure ketchup is up to that.
More from Everyday Cheapskate
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240414-a-fiddle-leaf-fig-whose-leaves-are-made-out-of-dollar-bills-in-a-midcentury-home-low-risk-investment.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-14 00:05:112024-04-13 14:58:27The Ultimate High-Yield, Guaranteed, Risk-Free Investment
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240409-companion-planting-calendula-and-tomato-plants.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-09 00:33:482024-04-06 12:55:08Natural Pest Control: Companion Planting Strategies for Your Frugal Garden
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240404-midcentury-modern-bathroom-clean-bathroom.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-04 00:42:322024-03-26 22:52:43The Ultimate Step By Step Guide to a Clean Bathroom in 15 Minutes
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240401-laptop-with-chalkboard-with-hot-deals-april-2024-piece-of-chalk-best-deals.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-01 00:48:282024-04-17 12:28:27Hot Deals • April 2024
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240401-news-you-can-use-top-news-articles-april-2024.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-01 00:21:552024-04-14 18:07:46News You Can Use • April 2024
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240325-wild-rabbit-in-backyard-garden-pest-repel-rabbits.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-03-26 21:18:382024-03-26 21:52:0610 Natural Ways to Repel Rascally Rabbits to Protect Your Yard and Garden
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/Amazon-Big-Spring-Sale-Teaser-with-Question-Marks-1.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-03-18 21:46:212024-03-24 14:11:44Amazon’s Big Spring Sale: Everything You Need to Know
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240316-important-documents-every-family-should-keep-stack-desk-bright-home-office.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-03-16 11:01:372024-03-16 11:00:00Important Documents Every Family Should Keep to Be Safe Not Sorry
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240314-DIY-muffin-liner-homemade-tulip-baking.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-03-13 17:45:362024-03-13 18:40:12DIY Tulip Muffin Liners: A Genius Hack for Perfect Muffins Every Time
Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines
Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.
For two bucks this is a miracle! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bar-Keepers-Friend-Cleanser-Powder-21-Ounce/15026756?athbdg=L1200&from=/search