Want to know how to clean a copper pot with ketchup? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Copper pans are notorious for needing some extra help during the cleaning process, but did you know that you could clean copper cookware with a soft clean and ketchup? I know, it’s really quite shocking. With a little elbow grease, you’ll look at a once tarnished item looking like new copper pieces! Grab a clean cloth, and a scour pad, and get started on the simple tips below!
After I posted my cleaning hack on how to clean a copper pot with vinegar and salt, I received comments about how you could also clean a copper pot with ketchup and Bar Keepers Friend.
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Now, the latter made sense to me, but the former made me gag: you clean pots with a condiment? A thick, red, tomato-based condiment? I know that ketchup has vinegar as a main ingredient, so it makes sense that it would also work, but who thinks up this stuff?
Well, curiosity finally got the better of me this last week and I decided to see how well ketchup really cleans copper and how gross (or not) it is to clean with ketchup (doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron? Someone, please tell me I am not the only one who thinks this is weird).
Weird, or not, I did it. And you can try it too. Because, hey, it DOES work!
How to Clean a Copper Pot with Ketchup
Materials Needed to Clean Copper Pots with Ketchup
Make sure you have the following:
- a dirty copper pot
- ketchup (any brand)
- a scouring pad
Instructions on how to clean copper with ketchup
1. Squirt a good amount of ketchup onto the copper.
2. Spread it over all of the copper parts with the scour pad.
3. Now scrub that ketchup-covered pot!
4. Don’t forget to get the sides.
5. When you’ve scrubbed it all, rinse it off with warm water.
6. Check out the results.
It’s totally weird, and totally gross (in my opinion) to clean copper with ketchup, but it totally works.
I even made a video to show you the messy process in action:
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What is the best way to clean the affected areas quickly?
A circular motion with a cloth or scouring pad is the best way to clean. Using tomato ketchup helps to tackle the tarnished areas quickly, but it does take a little bit of time to cover and clean.
The good thing about using a dab of ketchup is that it’s thick and goes quite a long way. You don’t really have to add a huge layer of ketchup, so save some for your french fries later in the day!
Can I use a soft cotton cloth to clean the surface of the copper pot?
For the best results, a scouring pad is what you want. However, if you have a damp cloth or a gentle sponge, it will still work in getting some of the stubborn stains off. Even a microfiber cloth / gentle cloth would work in a pinch.
But for the best results and tough stains, I would clean the copper surface with a scouring pad. You could then use a soft cloth after it’s cleaned to wipe off the copper item and see that shine. You’ll be in great shape with these easy steps!
For more tips on how to clean just about everything, check out these other popular kitchen cleaning tutorials!
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- How to clean copper bottom pot with vinegar and salt
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Deanna says
This is one of the more bizarre cleaning instructionals I have seen. I’m a little skeptical. I will have to give it a shot and see what happens and report back with my results.
Katelyn Fagan says
It is bizarre, right? Let me know what you think if you try it.
Pamela smith says
Very informative,Thanks