How to Care For & Clean Your Copper Water Bottle

Congrats! You now own a copper water bottle! We really appreciate your purchase and having you as a customer. Here are a few things you should know about owning and caring for your new favorite water bottle! (Scroll Down for Cleaning)

Your Bottle is Not Used, Metal, or Dirty

The number one reason people return their bottles is a misunderstanding of copper's natural oxidation process. Below you'll find some informative information on why copper can look so strange sometimes.

Copper is a reactive element. In a process called oxidation, copper reacts slowly in the presence of moisture, oxygen or even the oils present on our skin which over time results in copper oxide. This happens with all copper products and is completely normal and expected.

This is what is commonly called tarnish or patina. Although it is normal we understand how it can look like dirt or stains if you are unfamiliar with it. It is often perceived as a brown or black coloration, aqua-green or a blue coloration.

In a brand new copper water bottle, this can sometimes even happen during shipping transit.

It is not uncommon to find a brand new copper water bottle already with some interior tarnish, even if it’s never been used. This is more common on the interior than on the exterior of new bottles, however it can happen to either.

This process is natural, unavoidable and normal. Although it can look strange at first when you’re not used to it, in fact, it is actually a good sign since if you see any tarnish already, you know your product is made from copper and you have extra proof and rest assured that it is not made from metal or stainless steel!

In other copper products, this formation of patina, copper’s protective is highly prized as it raises the value, changes the look and protects copper from the elements. (Such as on the Statue of Liberty or on pennies). Many artists who work with copper, even purposely treat it to tarnish on purpose to achieve an aged look!  However with copper water bottles, it is something to be cleaned and removed. Scroll below are some great easy ways to remove it quickly and easily!

Why does copper tarnish?

Touch
The oils present on our skin are responsible for one of the quickest ways in which copper can tarnish. While touching certain copper items is inevitable, this also calls for more regular cleaning.

Moisture
As your copper water bottle is meant to transport…well….water, moisture is unavoidable. Moisture catalyzes the oxidation process, enhancing the reactivity of copper, and leading to corrosion or patina. This is why it is recommended to wipe off water from washed copper bottles or utensils instead of letting them dry on their own.

Oxygen
The most natural and inevitable cause of copper tarnish happens in the presence of oxygen. Which unless you are currently on the international space station, is a tough one to avoid! Copper and oxygen ions react to form copper oxide, but, if only restricted to dry air, this process is very slow.

Acidic Substances
Although a small amount of acidic substances are helpful for cleaning, acids react with the surface of copper, causing it to tarnish and corrode almost instantly. This corrosion is highly soluble, and can even lead to the presence of toxic copper salts in the food. This is why it is not recommended to use copper bottles for anything high in acidity, such as milk, wine, tomato juice, which can even be dangerous! If you have any copper utensils or pots or pans, remember to never use them with acidic foods! Only drink water from your copper water bottle.

 

Cleaning Your Bottle

Because copper water bottles are meant for storing and carrying water, the copper is bound to tarnish more quickly as it is continuously wet and moist.

While it is not harmful to drink water from copper with tarnish in the short and medium term, it should be avoided over a long period of time.

Instead, clean your copper water bottle every few weeks to remove the patina and increase its effectiveness.

Since our bottles are not lined on the inside by design, as the goal is to capitalize on the beneficial properties of copper ions which diffuse into the water over time. You don’t want anything in the way on copper’s surface, including tarnish, since it becomes less reactive and, thus, lowers its natural effectiveness.

There are many different ways you can clean your copper water bottle, from using home-made cleaning solutions or store-bought products. Below are a few of our favorites.

Cleaning the Interior

 

 

 

Lemon Juice & Salt

In our opinion, the simplest and best way to clean tarnish or patina on the inside of a copper bottle  is to create a mixture of lemon juice and a tablespoon of salt with ½ cup of water.

1. Pour ½ of water into the bottle.
2. Squeeze a slice of lemon into the bottle.
3. Spoon a tablespoon of salt into the bottle.
4. Close the lid tight.
5. Shake vigorously.
6. Pour the mixture out
7. Rinse the vessel with water.
8. Tada!

 

Cleaning the Exterior

Dishwashing Soap

1. Take dishwashing soap and a soft sponge or dish cloth and gently wipe the exterior.
2. Rinse with cold water.
3. Immediately dry the bottle with a soft cloth. Be careful, leaving the bottle wet for too long may result in faster oxidation and dark patterns.

Other Methods:

White Vinegar & Baking Soda

1. Fill the bottle with water
2. Add 3tbsp of white vinegar (must be white vinegar)
3. Let sit overnight.
4. In the morning, add some baking soda to neutralize the acid. Very important.
5. Wash with regular dish soap.
6. Rinse thoroughly and air dry

Warning: Acidic substances react with copper, causing it to tarnish and corrode almost instantly. This corrosion is highly soluble and can lead to the presence of toxic copper salts. This is why it is not recommended to anything in the bottles besides water, such as oils, milk, wine, or vinegar. However if you do not have lemon juice or salt, you can use white vinegar as an alternative. Although some acidity is required to clean copper, too much can be dangerous. You must always rinse thoroughly.

Cleaning Extra Tough Stains

Lemon and Salt

For especially tarnished copper, you can use half a lemon and some ordinary table salt. This technique involves some extra effort, but it is very effective at removing stubborn stains.

1. Pour some salt onto a plate (coarse salt if you are dealing with extra tough tarnish)
2. Dip half a lemon into the salt.
3. Scrub the surface until you remove the tarnish. You should see it come off in real time.
4. Rinse with warm water and soap
5. Dry the bottle with a soft cloth.

White Vinegar and Salt

1. Dissolve 1 ½ teaspoons of salt in 1 cup of white vinegar.
2. Put this mixture in a spray bottle or apply the mixture with a soft cloth.
3. Once applied, leave it to take effect for around 30 minutes
4. Rinse and dry.

If there is more tarnish present, repeat the process, and if there are dents holding any grime, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the copper.

Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

This is a mildly aggressive method.

1. Mix several teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 or 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
2. Use a soft cloth to apply the mixture on the copper bottle
3. Rub it gently.
4. Rinse with water and polish the copper with a soft cloth.

Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar

If you tried method one and are still seeing stains use this method. However this technique is more aggressive and needs to be used only if method one did not work as the cream of tartar can scratch your copper. 

1. Mix the lemon juice and the cream of tartar to make a paste that is just thin enough to easily spread onto the copper surface but thick enough to cling to it.
2. Apply to the and let it sit for around 5 minutes.
3. Finally wash the copper with soap and water and rinse
4. Let dry.

 

Ketchup

The acidity of ketchup is useful for a quick clean of lightly tarnished copper.

1. Cover the copper bottle in ketchup
2. Let it sit for 20 minutes
3. Rub until the tarnish has vanished.
4. Clean the copper with warm water and some dish soap
5. Polish it with a clean, soft, dry cloth.

Worcestershire Sauce

Like ketchup, Worcestershire sauce has acidic properties which can take away the tarnish from copper.

1. Apply it on the copper bottle
2. Let it sit for 20 minutes
3. Gently rub the tarnish off.
4. Wash the copper with warm water and dish soap
5. Wipe the water off with a cloth.

Vinegar, Salt and Flour Polish

If you are dealing with more stubborn tarnish, you can try to polish the copper with this mixture.

1. Mix 3 tablespoons of flour, 3 tablespoons of salt, and enough vinegar to form a loose paste.
2. Spread the mixture thickly onto the copper surface with a soft cloth, giving it a bit of buffing as you spread it.
3. Place the item in a plastic bag or cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours (or even overnight).
4. rinse the paste off and dry the copper item with a soft cloth.
5. Repeat if necessary.

Store-Bought Copper Cleaning Products

There are many different products which are specially made for cleaning copper. They usually come as creams or pastes, allowing for a thorough cleaning which does not damage the copper. However, such products can be expensive and filled with chemicals, make sure you read the ingredients or look online to make sure the product you are using is safe to use with drinks and with copper!

Why It Is Necessary to Clean Copper

Over time copper tarnish is inevitable, but there are many easy ways you can clean it and prevent it as best you can.

Because of its tarnishing and corrosion processes, copper can become less appealing, less reactive, and even dangerous. Make sure you are always using products and chemicals that are safe to use with copper and that you always rinse thoroughly when using acidic products. It is especially necessary to avoid copper toxicity, which occurs because of the presence of copper salts such as blue vitriol (bluestone), copper sulphate, and verdigris.

We know you're going to love using a copper water bottle and will be blown away by how many people approach you and ask you where you got an eye catching bottle. But like all sports cars, high quality clothing, and premium products. They just require a little extra care! We promise it will be worth it.

This article was written by our team of researchers and writers with the benefit of all available scientific studies and other relevant literature. Please note that information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always do your own research before using any product.