How to Clean Dirty Copper Pipe Tubing to Make It Bright and Shiny

How to Clean Dirty Copper Pipe Tubing to Make It Bright and Shiny
Written By
Marisa Swanson
Marisa Swanson
Published: Apr 15, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Patinas have different looks to them and can range from a light green (think statue of liberty) to a brownish color. Cleaning copper can be done in more than one way, safely and easily with average household items. There are cleaning solutions you can make, depending on the severity of the tarnish, to make your copper look new again.

Things You Will Need

  • Small bowl
  • Rinse water
  • Soft cloths
  • Beeswax
  • Solution for mild tarnish:
  • 1 tbsp. vinegar
  • 1tbsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup flour paste
  • Solution for severe tarnish:
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  1. Wash your pipes with warm water and dry thoroughly. Apply a small amount of your cleaning solution (either the severe or light tarnish version) to a soft cloth.

  2. Rub the solution briskly into the copper. This will take some elbow grease depending on how bad the stains are.

  3. Rinse away the cleaning solution with clean water. Dry the pipes thoroughly using a clean, soft cloth.

  4. Polish with a soft cloth and beeswax to get a lasting shine.

The Drip Cap

  • Copper is used in many applications.
  • There are cleaning solutions you can make, depending on the severity of the tarnish, to make your copper look new again.

Photo Credits

Copper mirror on white image by Sophia Winters from Fotolia.com

Copper mirror on white image by Sophia Winters from Fotolia.com

Marisa Swanson

Marisa Swanson began writing and editing professionally in 2007.

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.