What is an inexpensive way to clean copper doorknobs?

Question

My step-father bought a house that is is fixing up to sell all the doors in the house had dirty copper doorknobs. What can I use to get the rust and grime of of them that will be cheap but at the same time work correctly?

Answer 1

lemons?

Answer 2

There is a link at the bottom of the page to site that has some steps and a recipe with household items, and it has pictures too! Or
make your own copper cleaner/polish with household items, here's a few...........

1) Clean copper by cutting a lime in half, dipping it in salt, and rubbing the metal. Rinse with cold water.

2) Make your own copper polish by mixing 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into a thick paste. Apply a thick layer to a damp sponge, and gently wipe the metal. Let the polish dry for about an hour, rinse with warm water, buff with clean, soft cloth.

Hope this helps!! Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Rub the exteriors of copper pots with the cut side of half a lemon dipped in salt to remove tarnish. If you don't have a lemon handy, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and three tablespoons of salt, and spray onto the copper. Let sit, then rub clean. if u have anything else to clean, im here, u can ask me!

Answer 4

Here are four ways.... I am sure there are more...by the way,,, I have never had the best of luck with commercial products on copper.

Vinegar and Salt. If copper is tarnished, boil article in a pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar for several hours. Wash with soap in hot water. Rinse and dry.

Salt, Vinegar, and Flour. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply the paste to copper and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse with clean warm water, and polish dry.

Lemon and Salt or Baking Soda. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt, and rub with a soft cloth, rinse with water, and dry. Or use a slice of lemon sprinkled with baking soda. Rub copper with the lemon slice and rinse with water and dry. Vinegar and Salt. Pour vinegar over the surface Sprinkle salt over the acid and rub in the mixture. Rinse with warm water and polish dry.

Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar. Make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Apply, leave on for 5 minutes, and then wash in warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.

After cleaning, some people(with good luck) apply a laquer to the copper when cleaned in order to prevent ozidation... As you know.. copper oxidizes with the air and causes tarnish

Answer 5

Soak them in pepsi or coke for 24 to 48 hours. That's how the army used to get brass buttons to sparkle. If you don't think it'll work, do the test: soak a copper penny in it for 24-48 hours then rinse it off and lightly polish it....

Answer 6

Line a pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Pan should be deep enough for the knobs to soak in and be totally submerged. fill pan with half water half vinegar. Soak knobs in this for a couple hours. Then use a cloth to gently polish.
This worked very well on brass, and should on copper though I haven't tried it.

Answer 7

Copper Door Knobs

Answer 8

wet an old rag with vinegar then dip it in salt. rub until copper is clean. of course, when the rag gets black, repeat the process.

Answer 9

tooth paste and ashes mixed,rub it on and polish it off. it cleans brass well so it should work on copper

Answer 10

Use Brasso brass cleaner. It is available in most hardware stores, and home improvement stores.

Answer 11

Scouring powder and fine steel wool.