Using dirty dishes is unhygienic and sometimes life-threatening. Microbes that can cause infection or intoxication can live on the surface and inside the Turks. Some housewives are afraid of damaging the coating of the dishes, so they prefer not to use products. In fact, cleaning a copper Turk is not difficult, you just need to choose the right method.
Choose wisely
Turka or cezve is a special vessel in which you can prepare natural aromatic coffee. Its peculiarity is a wide bottom and a narrow neck. This shape helps preserve the aroma of the coffee beans, and the thicker contents settle to the bottom faster.
Professionals recommend buying cookware made of copper, as it ensures uniform heating of the liquid and complete extraction of coffee oils.
Additional selection criteria:
- the diameter of the neck is 2-3 times smaller than the bottom;
- wall thickness – 1.5 mm;
- the handle is long, located at an angle;
- volume - 100-150 ml.
Find out more in the article “How to choose the right copper Turk”.
Rules for caring for copper cookware
Take care of your cezve regularly to maintain its presentable appearance and extend its service life.
Rules of care:
- The Turk should be washed immediately after use and separately from other dishes.
- Use water for washing and rinsing at the same temperature.
- Always wipe the coffee pot dry.
- Periodically polish the top surface with a woolen cloth.
- Store the cezve in a dry place; at a humidity of 50% or higher, copper oxidizes.
Do you follow all the rules of care?
Not really
Ketchup
Tomato ketchup or paste is also a good way to clean copper products. They can be used for Turks, coins and other cutlery.
The cezve is placed in a plastic container. Pour in ketchup or paste. The product must be completely covered with the product.
After 10 minutes, the Turk is removed from the ketchup and thoroughly washed with warm water. For a better effect, you can clean the item with a brush.
Finally, the cezve is rubbed with a soft cloth.
List and features of cleaning products
It is important
To return your dishes to their original appearance, read the recommendations on how to clean a copper pot so as not to damage it. Not all products are suitable for this procedure.
You can remove dirt with special detergents for copper: Starwax, Gipfel, Magic Power, Stellar kitchen.
Traditional methods are also suitable, the characteristics of which are given below.
Before the procedure, determine the reaction of copper to the selected component. Treat a small area of the surface of the Turka. If nothing happens after 15-20 minutes, use the product without fear.
Citric acid or lemon juice
To remove stains from the outer surface of the cezve, you can use both components.
Prepare a working solution of citric acid in the following proportion: 2 tsp. products for 250 ml of water. Apply evenly to darkened areas.
Cut the lemon in half, sprinkle the halves with fine salt and clean the problem areas.
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Vadim Kudryavtsev
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The method will help remove dark areas, but if copper comes into contact with acid or juice for a long time, it will have the opposite effect. Therefore, after the procedure, thoroughly rinse off any remaining substances.
Vinegar and table salt
You cannot use vinegar in its pure form - this will lead to oxidation of the metal. Therefore, to clean the cezve, prepare a dough based on this component.
Combine 2 tbsp. l. wheat flour and 50 ml of 9-15% vinegar. The consistency of the dough should be uniform. To avoid burning your hands, wear rubber gloves.
Use finely ground salt to remove stains. Large particles will scratch the metal. For severe stains, combine this component with vinegar in a 3:1 ratio.
Baking soda
To return the copper surface to a presentable appearance and get rid of coffee residues if it is burnt, boil the coffee pot in a soda solution.
To do this, dissolve 30 g of the cleaning component in 1 liter of water. Pour the solution into a deep container so that it covers the cezve and place on fire. Boil for 1.5 hours. The method is long, but removes dirt well.
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Ammonia
When working with ammonia, follow safety precautions - wear rubber gloves and a mask. Otherwise, you will be burned by the liquid or inhale it.
Ammonia removes old and stubborn stains. Before cleaning, prepare a solution: dilute ammonia with water in a ratio of 1:2.
After the procedure, wash off the alcohol from the surface of the cezve with warm soapy water. Otherwise it will bind oxide and contaminants. This will make further cleaning more difficult.
Vegetable brine and tomato paste
100 g of tomatoes contain 25 mg of ascorbic acid. It will help quickly remove plaque from the copper surface. You can use fresh tomatoes or ketchup based on them.
Apply the paste to problem areas and rub. Cheap ketchup, even expired ones, will do the job better.
Cabbage or cucumber pickle is suitable for removing dark spots. If there is only a little liquid, soak a cloth in it and wipe the copper surface. If there is enough brine, immerse the cezve in it and wait 7-10 minutes.
Milk serum
25% lactic acid, which is found in dairy products, helps clean the internal and external surfaces of the cezve.
Take a deep container, pour the whey into it and heat it to a temperature of 40-50 degrees. Immerse the coffee pot in the liquid for half an hour. During this time, the dark spots will disappear.
Toothpaste and powder
If you use toothpaste, choose a brand that does not contain large abrasive particles: REMBRANDT, PRESIDENT Activ, SPLAT Extreme White, Bionics, Forest Balm.
Abrasives scratch the surface of the Turk and spoil the appearance. To remove stains, apply the component to the brush and wipe the problem areas.
Using tooth powder is a dry cleaning method. Apply the component to a napkin and clean the surface with intense circular movements. Then rinse and wipe the bowl dry.
A similar procedure can be carried out with chalk and flour.
What not to use
We found out how to clean a copper Turk outside and inside. Now let's talk about what you should not use to clean copper.
It is prohibited to use hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. When reacting with oxygen and acids, copper begins to dissolve. Therefore, avoid products that contain these components.
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When using the dry cleaning method, do not use powders that contain large abrasive particles. They scratch the surface of the Turks.
Terms of use
Every coffee connoisseur will confirm that if the drink boils, it loses all its value - its exquisite aroma and taste. For this reason, coffee should be brewed rather than boiled. It happens like this:
- you should pour ground coffee into the container;
- add sugar to taste;
- fill with cold water;
- place the Turk on a stove or sand and wait for the liquid to heat up;
- mix thoroughly until foam forms;
- When the first bubbles appear and the foam darkens, the Turk should be removed from the stove or sand.
You cannot place a copper pot on a glass-ceramic stove. Be sure to use an adapter that will prevent direct contact between the copper and the surface of the plate.
How to clean a Turk
How to prepare dishes
There is no need to specially prepare the Turk for cleaning. Simply rinse off the coffee residue, rinse the dishes and wipe dry. Take the appropriate product and start cleaning.
Remember the safety precautions when using vinegar and ammonia, which are described above.
Cleaning from the inside
When making a cezve, the inside is coated with a special layer to prevent copper particles from getting into the drink. Tin is most often used for this. Clean the Turk carefully so as not to disturb the protective layer.
Algorithm of actions for the wet cleaning method:
- Prepare a deep container to immerse the Turk in it.
- Fill it with a solution of vinegar, baking soda, table salt, citric acid, brine, and whey.
- Immerse the copper bowl in the liquid.
- Boil for 1.5 hours, add solution as it evaporates.
- Remove the container from the heat and cool.
- Take a brush that fits through the narrow neck of the cezve and wipe the inside surface.
- Remove the coffee pot from the container, rinse with warm water, and wipe with a dry soft cloth until it shines.
For the dry method, apply the powder to a soft-bristled brush and wipe the inside of the Turk. Do this until the plaque disappears. Wipe with a paper towel.
Cleaning Copper Coins
Coins made of copper are no longer issued in our time, and many such products in the hands of the population are of antique value. That is why the question of how to effectively and at the same time carefully clean such coins is quite relevant.
You can restore the former attractiveness of copper coins using several methods. The choice of each of them depends on the nature and degree of contamination. So, depending on what color the plaque has formed on the surface of the old copper coin, you can clean it using one of the methods listed below.
- If there is a yellowish coating on the surface of the coin (this indicates that it has been in contact with a lead product), then it should be cleaned with a 9% vinegar solution.
- Clearly green plaque is cleaned with a 10% citric acid solution.
- Coins made from copper may also have a reddish coating. Such a coin is cleaned by dipping it in a 5% ammonia solution or ammonium carbonate.
Calculate the use of chemicals depending on the degree of contamination
Old coins made from copper may have a layer of patina, which gives them a more noble and aged appearance. If there is no such plaque, you can create it yourself, even at home. To do this, use a solution consisting of a liter of distilled water, 50 grams of copper sulfate and 5 grams of potassium permanganate. The resulting solution is heated over low heat, without bringing it to a boil, and then coins are placed in it, which must be covered with a layer of patina. They are periodically turned over, and when the color of their surface acquires the desired shade, they are removed. To consolidate the effect obtained, the surface of completely dried coins can be treated with benzene and alcohol mixed in equal proportions.
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