How to Clean Brass and Copper Utensils at Home (Without Chemicals)
Bring back the shine on brass diyas and copper bottles with lemon, salt, tamarind and other things already in your kitchen.
Brass and copper darken over time when they react with air and moisture. The good news: you can make them shine again with simple things from your kitchen.
Lemon and salt (works on both)
- Cut a lemon in half and dip it in salt.
- Rub it over the surface in small circles.
- Rinse with water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.
Tamarind paste (best for brass)
Soak a little tamarind in warm water, rub the pulp on your brass diya or pooja thali, leave for five minutes and rinse. This is how grandmothers have cleaned pooja items for generations.
Vinegar, salt and flour paste
Mix equal parts of white vinegar, salt and flour into a paste. Apply, leave for 15 minutes, rinse and dry. Good for heavily tarnished pieces.
Do's and don'ts
- Do dry brass and copper completely after washing — water spots cause tarnish.
- Do clean copper bottles from the inside every week with lemon and salt.
- Don't use steel wool or harsh scrubbers; they scratch the surface.
- Don't store lemon water, juice or milk in copper bottles.
With a quick clean every few weeks, your brass diyas and copper utensils will look new for years.
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