Instructions: Remove verdigris - gentle and lasting

• Remove verdigris on copper
  • Remove verdigris with vinegar
  • Remove verdigris with alcohol
  • Stahlfix against verdigris
  • Metal polish against verdigris
  • Remove with the high pressure cleaner
  • Sal ammoniac and salt
  • Conclusion

Verdigris, expertly called copper (II) acetate, is the copper salt of acetic acid. This salt forms dark green crystals. Most of these crystals are found on copper surfaces. This is the material's own patina, which is not liked by many people. She has to go. The copper has to shine. However, green deposits also show up on wood and other materials. This is usually not verdigris, but it is a green algae surface. Acetic acid on wood is almost never. For wood helps a green algae remover.

Caution, verdigris is poisonous !!!

Remove verdigris on copper

Remove verdigris with vinegar

The easiest way to remove verdigris with vinegar. You do not have to use any chemical agent. Vinegar is inexpensive, environmentally friendly and can be found in almost every household. However, this method also has a disadvantage that is often not mentioned. The verdigris returns faster after such a treatment. Actually, this is logical, because the green surface arises whenever copper and acetic acid meet. Usually this happens only in small doses. By cleaning with vinegar, the whole thing gets a boost. Professionals even use vinegar to accelerate patina on copper. Often this is wanted. So be careful, vinegar has many good properties and you get really good clean copper, but then the coating will form faster and faster.

Slight infestation can be removed by rubbing it with a vinegar-soaked rag. Sometimes you have to repeat the process a few times, but especially on smooth surfaces, the green coating is very easy to remove. Take care when handling brushes. These can easily cause scratches . Better to scrub with the brush in cracks and angles to soak the object in vinegar water. If this is not possible, a cloth soaked in vinegar water or a larger cloth can be wrapped around it.

Whether soaked or on a rag, the vinegar water should be able to work for at least one hour. If not all traces have left the first time, the process must be repeated. It is important to rinse all parts well with water after cleaning.

Tip: No matter how the copper is cleaned, it is important to wear rubber gloves, at least disposable gloves.

Remove verdigris with alcohol

Small pieces of copper can be placed directly in the liquids. If they are bigger, they are cleaned with a cloth soaked in it. Often, quite a bit of pressure has to be applied to release the incrustations. Ideal is to soak, often for hours. Alternatively, a rag can be soaked and then wrapped around the item. Brushes can scratch copper, so use them with care.

If the parts affected by the verdigris can not be removed and inserted and you want to get them back in order to get clean again, there is an easy way to do that. A porridge is stirred, which must be very thick, so that it adheres to the surface and does not slip off. It requires three components, alcohol, a breeze of salt and flour. The alcohol can not drain through the flour, is bound and does not evaporate so quickly. For each coffee cup use about 2 tablespoons flour, two to three pinches of salt and just pure alcohol or methylated spirits.

For safety's sake, work with gloves, if only to protect the skin. Apply the porridge to the parts with a brush, as a rule it sticks very well. If it is too thin and runs away, simply add a little more flour. Leave everything to work well. The longer the exposure time, the more and better it is possible to remove verdigris. In the end, clean everything well with water.

Stahlfix against verdigris

Stahlfix is ​​actually a stainless steel cleaner and it is also not indicated on the bottles that the agent is suitable for copper. Who does not shy away from the effort, but can use it very well. Apply on a cloth and polish the affected area until the pad is removed.

Metal polish against verdigris

For metal polishes copper is indicated as a suitable material. Again, muscle power is needed for cleaning. The contained abrasive particles ensure that the surface shines beautifully at the end. For strong encrustations must be overpolished several times. Metal polishes have the advantage that they prevent a restart as far as possible. Most agents leave a thin film on the copper, which delays the restart.

Remove with the high pressure cleaner

The most environmentally friendly is the cleaning with the high-pressure cleaner, because there are no additional cleaning agents needed. The condition is that the pad is not too thick. If this cleaning is carried out regularly, without it can come to mighty deposits, this is ideal. You do not need any detergents and not much water.

Sal ammoniac and salt

Sal ammoniac and salt also help with the removal of verdigris. For this, a tablespoon of salt is dissolved in a cup of ammonia. Then a cloth is soaked in it and with this the abused part of copper or brass is rubbed off. The salt must have dissolved completely, otherwise there will be scratches. It is recommended to wear gloves. The remedy should be able to work like vinegar for about an hour. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated. Again, flushing with water is important.

Conclusion

If the patina bothers you with copper and you want a shiny part, you can do it in different ways. Many counselors recommend vinegar. This works really well, but has the disadvantage that the treated parts start up much faster afterwards. You can practically watch it. Better then is the Salmiak salt version or "scrubbing" with Stahlfix or metal polish . This is more complex, but you have more rest.