Please help,how do i clean really dirty copper?

Question

It can't be anything harmful.......I've tried ketchup and hot sauce and they won't work .

Answer 1

try mayo and jalapenos.

Answer 2

You may use rain water especially nearby the industrial area  where there're lots of SO2 gas released..that later formed sulfuric acid...would remove the impurities..

Answer 3

Ketchup, lemon juice, and anything else that is very acidic.

Answer 4

Or, make a paste of baking soda and water. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the paste into the copper. Cleans without harm.

Answer 5

It would help if you told us what you are trying to do with it. Are you trying to solder wires or copper roofing, clean copper kettles, solder copper pipes, clean up scrap copper for recycling ?

The best thing for corrosion on copper is nitric acid, but you said nothing harmful. If you are trying to solder something made of copper, you can use a wire brush, sand paper, steel wool,  etc. You might be able to use a pressure sprayer, disc sander, needle scaler, or sand blaster depending on what is on the copper and what you want to do with the copper  afterwards.

Note: the dust from sanding corroded copper is VERY irritating, avoid breating it !

Answer 6

From Alton Brown - Good Eats: Good Wine Gone Bad

Copper cookware is nice to use, but difficult to clean. No problem. Just dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of white vinegar and stir in enough all-purpose flour to create a thick paste. Rub this on the bottom of the vessel, wait fifteen minutes, rinse, dry, and behold. New pot luster!