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Things You Will Need
Stiff non-metallic brush
While there are expensive chemical treatments available at many of your larger hardware stores or online for cleaning a copper roof, you may be better off using a homemade solution plus a little time and elbow grease since commercial solutions could harm plants that may be growing around your home. Use a stiff non-metallic brush to brush on a solution of concentrated lemon juice and salt . If pure lemon juice and salt fail to work, the addition of white vinegar to the solution should do the trick. Remember to rinse with plain water (from a hose) when you are done. The following steps will help you to learn more about how to clean copper roofing.
Mix three parts of pure lemon juice to one part salt in your plastic bucket. Stir until all of the salt has dissolved.
Dip your stiff non-metallic brush into your lemon and salt solution and scrub on an inconspicuous part of your roof in order to judge the effectiveness of your solution. Really scrub with your brush. If the discoloration is not coming off completely try adding 1 cup of white vinegar to your solution. When cleaning, start at the highest point of your roof and work your way down.
Rinse your clean copper roof with water from your hose. Use a sufficient amount of water to remove all of the cleaning solution. Do not touch any part of your clean roof with your bare hands as the oils on your hands will react with the clean copper and quickly form a dark stain the size and shape of the portion of your skin which touched it.
Spray or roll a layer of clear lacquer on your clean copper roof if you wish to maintain the shinny copper look. Keep in mind that the lacquer will slightly darken the color of the copper as it dries.
Spray or roll on a special patina solution that is available at many of your larger hardware stores as well as over the Internet if you wish your copper roof to have a greenish patina. If choosing this option do not coat your copper roof with lacquer but instead follow the patina manufacturer’s instructions for achieving a beautiful “old” copper look to your roof.
To achieve a nice patina-look for your clean copper roof, try a product made by a company called Modern Options. You will find their web address in the Resources section below.
About the Author
Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for television, everything from “Smurfs” to “Spider-Man.” Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide.
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Things You Will Need
Small plastic bucket
Brush or small trowel
If the paste cleaner sounds too messy, you can clean copper flashing with vinegar and salt only, using one teaspoon of salt to one cup of vinegar. Apply with a soft cloth—some rubbing will be required.
Copper flashing on range hoods or house exteriors can be cleaned easily without scrubbing, using a flour paste with vinegar and salt. Here are simple steps for removing oxidation from copper flashing.
Mix up a batch of paste cleaner for copper. Put one cup of flour in a large bowl or small plastic bucket. Add one teaspoon of salt and mix with the flour.
Add about six ounces of white vinegar to the flour mix to form a thick paste, stirring as you add the vinegar. Use double proportions for a larger batch, or half proportions for a small job.
Apply a thin coat of the paste to the copper flashing using a brush or small trowel. Leave the paste on the surface for 5 to 15 minutes.
Remove the paste with a damp sponge, or with a hose if you are working outdoors. Rinse the flashing with mild detergent and water to remove any residues, and wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Apply a coat of clear spray lacquer to keep the copper color bright longer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carole Ellis
Copper develops a protective light green patina over time when it is left outside. This is why the Statue of Liberty, for example, is green rather than bright copper in color. The patina is extremely important for outdoor copper items like statuary and roofs, but it does not necessarily protect from the general dirt and grime that builds up on any roof over time. When you clean your copper roof, use natural ingredients that will not destroy the patina as they remove the buildup and gunk.
Things You’ll Need
Push bristle broom
Scrub brush with stiff, nylon bristles
Step 1
Mix your cleaning solution. Use three parts lemon juice to one part coarse salt. This means if you use six cups of lemon juice, you will need two cups of coarse salt. As you may imagine, if your entire roof is copper, then you will need more than one batch.
Step 2
Sweep off your roof. Get rid of as many leaves and as much loose debris as possible before you start scrubbing. Otherwise you will just create a muddy, lemony mess.
