5 Hacks to Clean Copper Mugs
Copper utensils with their shiny rose-gold color can be a real showstopper in your bar or your kitchen if you know how to maintain them. Stunning in appearance, copperware requires special care that can ensure its safety and longevity.
If you already own a few cups, mugs, pots or decorative accents made of this majestic metal, you may want to learn about how to clean them properly. Keeping this in mind, we have prepared some cleaning hacks that may help you to understand more about copper utensils. Once you learn about washing copper mugs or cups, you can always count on a shiny and polished kitchen or barware.
How Copper Mugs Are Stained or Tarnished?
Like steel, copper tends to become darker with time. This is because the metal reacts with oxygen and forms patina. This can happen in two ways. Either the entire copperware turns darker with time or certain areas are tarnished due to the damage of the protective lacquer. With different cleaning methods, both of these issues can be solved completely or at least to some extent.
How to Clean Copper Mugs/ Copper Mugs?
If you have just bought a few copper mugs and they are still relatively new, then you may not need to follow all the hacks that are mentioned in this article. You can easily maintain the quality of the copper mugs by taking care of them on a regular basis. The process is pretty simple and requires a small amount of time. Here’s how it works:
Washing them after each use
If you want your copper mugs or copper cups to remain shiny and spotless for a longer period of time, avoid using harsh ingredients to clean them. Mild dish soap and soft sponges are the best options to go for during the washing process. This will ensure that there’s a lower chance of corrosion or scratches on the metal.
When you have all the cleaning materials ready, wash the mugs carefully along with some warm water. Scrub all over the mug in circular motions, focusing mostly on the areas filled with grime and debris. When the mugs are all cleaned up, run them through warm water to remove the excess soap.
Drying them right after washing up
Whenever you clean the copper mugs or copper cups, try to dry them as soon as possible. If any water or soap is left on the product, it can cause oxidation and tarnish the beautiful mug.
In order to achieve the best result, use a soft cotton cloth to wipe off the extra moisture. Avoid any polyester or synthetic fabric as they have a potential to scratch the surface of the metal. Once this step is done, we recommend that you take a fresh dish towel and dry the mugs for the second time. Even if there is any leftover moisture in the mug after the first time, the second drying will reduce the amount right away.
Are Copper Mugs Dishwasher Safe?
Cleaning copper mugs by hand may seem like extra work to a lot of users and many may be tempted to put the copperware in the dishwasher. However, this may cause major damage to the copper mugs as dishwashers use harsh washing and heating techniques that gradually weaken the protective layers of the finely crafted copper utensils. When this happens, the copper mugs or cups look weathered and lose their polished look.
Though Moscow mule accessory copper mugs usually come unlined and are technically dishwasher safe, we still recommend that you wash, dry and clean them by hand and treat them like the delicate valuables they are.
Useful Hacks to Clean Copper Mugs
Although good maintenance can ensure that your copper mugs, cups, pots or pans will remain shiny and polished for a long time, there might be a time when you notice stains or rust on the utensils. In such a case, you need to take a few extra measurements to recover the original condition of the metal. It is not simply because of the stunning golden color that you will be missing but also because of the health concerns regarding copper poisoning.
Now, there are a few ways in which you can clean the copper mugs to a brand new condition but not all of them may be effective for you. In order to understand which cleaning method you need to choose, check out our hacks on cleaning copper mugs:
Determine the amount of surface damage
Copper utensils usually come with a lacquered surface which keeps it shiny and glossy. If the entire surface turns into a darker shade, it is a lot easier to clean with regular ingredients. However, if there are tarnished spots in random areas, there is a possibility that the protective layer has been damaged. In that case, strip the layer entirely and only then start the following cleaning methods depending on the damage.
Start with a minimal approach
If your copper utensils have just started to turn dark, you do not need to apply any extra ingredient to clean it. In fact, adding more cleaning materials than necessary will cause more harm than positive effects. Therefore, try cleaning the copper mugs or cups with a mild dish soap, warm water, and a cotton dish towel first.
Avoid the trusty dishwasher
Dishwasher is all good when it comes to the majority of the utensils, but it is a no-no for your precious copperware. This is because dishwasher uses many harsh cleaning techniques and that is definitely not good for the lined copperware.
Start with natural cleaning ingredients
Nothing is better than a DIY cleaning material with the ingredients already available at your home. The simplest method requires one medium-sized lemon and 4 tablespoons of salt. Cut the lemon into quarters and dip them in salt. Scrub the mug with the salt covered lemon wedges. If the damage is minimal, you may notice instant result. You can also go with 3 parts of baking soda and 1 part of vinegar mixture.
This also works great for removing tarnish! Some experts even suggest applying tomato ketchup on the copper mug and scrubbing it after 15-20 minutes. You can apply any of these methods and see how it works out.
Go with specialized copper cleaners
Even if you try all the natural cleaning hacks that we have provided, it may not be enough to clean the copper mugs or cups, especially if you are using a Moscow Mull Copper mug for professional reasons. You will need a clean surface along with a shiny and polished look to make it presentable to your customers.
In that case, you may want to check out specialized copper cleaners available in the market. Many companies manufacture these products and you want to buy one according to your needs and budget.
Overview
Although vintage in many aspects, copper mugs, and copper cups are the trendiest barware that is gaining popularity for their glowing, polished look. With the rapid increase of its uses, rises the emphasis on its proper maintenance. The cleaning hacks mentioned above cater to such needs and enlighten the readers with the necessary factors regarding copper mugs and copper cups.