How to clean brass, copper and kansa
Written by Hastimal Valchand LLP from the sources listed below, every claim checked against its source · Updated
The short answer
Wash brass, copper and kansa by hand with mild soap, and dry them at once. For shine, rub the outside with tamarind, lemon and salt, or pitambari powder, then rinse and dry. Never scour a tinned (kalai) inside with acid or grit, and keep all three out of the dishwasher.
From the catalogue
Flora Thali
HV501Brass
Lota with Lid (Sheet) Round
HV517Brass
Punch Bowl
Sizes: 6” · 8” · 10”
Sheet Glass (Etched)
HV541Brass
01Everyday washing
- Wash by hand with mild soap and a soft sponge.
- Dry at once with a cloth. Water left to dry leaves spots and speeds tarnish.
- Skip the dishwasher. Its detergent and heat dull the metal and wear tin linings.
- Avoid steel scrubbers, which scratch all three metals.
02Polishing, metal by metal
Rub, leave a minute on heavy tarnish, then rinse well and dry. Tamarind is the oldest polish of all: the Thatheras of Punjab still finish new utensils with sand and tamarind, as UNESCO records.
| Compared | What to use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Brass (pital) | Tamarind pulp; lemon dipped in salt; vinegar, salt and flour paste; pitambari powder | Lacquered decorative pieces: wipe only |
| Copper (tamba) | Lemon and salt, or vinegar and salt | Rinse acid off fully before the vessel holds food or water |
| Kansa (bronze) | Usually soap and water; a little tamarind, or lemon and salt, for shine | Kansa is brittle: don't knock it while scrubbing |
| Tinned (kalai) inside | Mild soap and water only | Acids and abrasives strip the tin |
03Black, green and white marks
- Black or dark brown: ordinary tarnish from air and moisture. Polish it off, or keep the patina on decorative pieces.
- Black inside a copper bottle: the same oxidation. It is normal and cleans off with lemon and salt.
- Green (verdigris): copper salts from moisture or acid. Clean it off completely before the vessel touches food or water.
- White spots: dried minerals from hard water. A wipe with vinegar removes them.
04Old, heavily blackened pieces
Soak the piece in warm tamarind water for an hour to soften the tarnish. Then scrub with a paste of tamarind or lemon and salt.
Use a soft toothbrush on hammered and nakshi (engraved) work, where tarnish sits in the grooves. Rinse, dry and repeat if needed.
05Keeping the shine longer
Store metal completely dry, wrapped in cloth or in a closed cupboard, away from damp. Never put away a piece that is still wet.
Shops can keep stock packed until display and give display pieces a quick polish each week.
Sources
- UNESCO, Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (inscribed 2014)
- Wikipedia, Kalai (process): history and re-tinning
- US FDA, Food Code 2022, §4-101.14: copper and copper alloys with food below pH 6
General information for buyers, written by HV from the sources above; not medical or legal advice. For a specific product, send us its code with your question.