If you’re familiar with the Moscow Mule cocktail, then you know that it’s traditionally served in copper mugs.
For this reason alone, these mugs are often referred to as Moscow Mule mugs.
I personally loved the idea of adding a set of copper mugs to my collection, which is why I decided to invest in one.
But, unfortunately for me, I learned the importance of taking proper care of copperware the hard way.
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I had no idea that I needed to dry my copper mugs very thoroughly to prevent them from getting tarnished more quickly.
Once I realized what I was doing wrong, I decided to look for natural ingredients that I can use to clean and remove every last bit of tarnish from my copper mugs.
If you’ve just invested in a set of copper mugs and are looking for effective ways to clean it, then look no further.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at three simple methods you can use to scrub your copper mugs clean and maximize their longevity.
How to Clean Copper Mugs
Copper Mugs can be quite difficult to clean, especially when they’re severely tarnished.
But luckily for you, we know a few effective cleaning products that you can use to restore them to their original shine.
Before we can get into the details, you need to know that the safest way to clean your mugs is to hand-wash them.
You may need to leave these products on for longer, depending on the amount of surface damage.
It’s also important to dry the mugs completely because any traces of water left can cause oxidation which will then lead to corrosion.
Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at three ways you can clean and preserve your copper mugs so they can last for a long time in your kitchen.
Using Dish Soap and a Sponge
- Pour a little bit of mild dish soap to a sponge and use it to scrub your copper mugs clean. Make sure there are no traces of dirt and grime left.
- Rinse the cups with warm or cold water until all the soap and residue has been washed off.
- Use a cotton cloth to dry each mug and make sure no spots are left wet.
Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts baking soda until a thick paste is formed. It should have the consistency of toothpaste.
- Use a sponge to apply this paste on the inside and outside of your mugs and let it sit for around 5 minutes. If your mugs are extremely tarnished, then you may have to leave the paste on for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
- After the paste is allowed to set for enough time, use another sponge to scrub the mug in a circular motion. Keep scrubbing until all the tarnish is removed and the surface starts looking shiny.
- Rinse the mugs with water until there’s no residue of the paste left.
- Dry the mugs twice with a cotton cloth to prevent further tarnish.
Using Ketchup
- Squeeze about 1/3 cup of ketchup onto a plate. If you’re cleaning more than a few mugs, you’ll have to use more ketchup.
- Use a toothbrush to cover the inside and outside of your copper mugs in a thin film of ketchup.
- Leave it on for 5 minutes or longer, depending on the damage.
- Scrub the mugs until the tarnish is removed
- Rinse your ketchup-coated mugs with water and make sure every last bit of ketchup is effectively cleaned from the surface.
- Dry the mugs with a cotton cloth and get rid of any traces of moisture before putting them safely back where they belong.
Can You Wash Copper Mugs in the Dishwasher?
Lined copper mugs shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher.
That’s because most dishwashers have harsh washing and heating techniques that can cause significant damage to the protective surface of your copperware.
If you don’t want your copper mugs to look tarnished, then the safest way to clean them would be to wash them by hand.
Unlined copper mugs, on the other hand, are generally dishwasher-safe because they don’t have a lining that can easily get corroded.
It’s still safer to wash them using your hands if you wish to preserve their quality.
Will Copper Mugs Tarnish?
Copper, much like steel, is known to get darker over time because the metal can get corroded upon reacting with oxygen over a long period of time.
There are two things that can cause your copper mugs to tarnish – time and damaged protective lacquer.
If you wish to remove tarnish from your copper mugs, you can do so with two simple ingredients that you can easily find at home: lemon and salt.
Steps to remove tarnish
- Start by adding about 4 tablespoons of plain salt to a plate.
- Cut a lemon into halves and rub each half into the salt until the flesh is completely coated.
- Use the salt-coated lemon halves to scrub your copper mugs until the tarnish is effectively removed. Don’t forget to scrub the inside and the outside of the mugs to make sure there are no spots left.
- Rinse the mugs with cold or warm water until all the residue is washed away.
- Use a cotton cloth to pat the mugs dry.
The bottom line
Copper mugs can add the much-desired rustic touch to your kitchen, but if you don’t take proper care of them, they’ll get corroded easily and lose their shine.
To make sure your copper mugs stay in great condition, all you need are a few natural cleaning ingredients that you can easily find in your kitchen and some time on your hands.
After scrubbing out your copper mugs, you must dry them very thoroughly using a cotton cloth, making sure every last bit of moisture is removed.
We hope you found this blog post useful and found the answers you were looking for!