How to clean an old brass samovar. How to clean a brass samovar? How to clean the outside of a brass samovar with oxalic acid

The samovar must be regularly cleaned from the inside and rubbed until shiny on the outside. Limescale, deposited when water boils, reduces thermal conductivity and leads to overheating and destruction of the walls of the firebox. The taste of the drink deteriorates and the aroma is lost. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose a suitable descaling method.

Methods for descaling

Hard water gradually forms scale in a samovar

Plaque appears from hard water. A water filter will make the water softer and the scale layer will become thinner. But it will not completely solve the problem, so you need to choose the right cleaning agent. First you need to determine the age of the samovar and the material from which it is made - this determines how to remove the plaque.

Store-bought drugs

The following preparations will remove scale from the walls without damaging the surface of the flask made of any material:

Cinderella;
Shine;
Adepinka;
Antiscale and others.

Regardless of the design of the samovar - electric, coal, wood - you should buy a product for teapots. Scale is formed when water is boiled from the salts it contains; it is the same inside any container.

Each package describes in detail how to use the product and in what quantities. You can violate the instructions only in the direction of decreasing concentration. You will have to clean the deposits in the samovar again, but there will be a full guarantee that the surface of the flask will not be damaged.

Do not use substances intended to remove salt from dishwashers and washing machines.

Traditional methods

A samovar can be cleaned using the same traditional methods as a kettle.

Do not clean the walls with knives or hard objects. They will cause scratches on the surface, and the metal of the flask will begin to quickly deteriorate.

Substances that will help remove scale:

Lemon juice contains a lot of acid; its peel contains a large amount of essential oils and alcohols that destroy calcareous compounds. A thin layer of plaque can be easily removed by boiling water with a few slices of lemon for 20 minutes.
Glycerin should be added to water at the rate of 8 - 10 drops per liter of boiling water. Leave for 3 – 5 hours, drain the water and wipe the walls with burlap or other natural fabric with a large weave of threads. You can use a sponge with a rough side.
Potato peelings or potatoes. You need approximately 1 kg of product. The tubers need to be washed well, cut into thin slices, placed in a samovar and filled with water. Boil for 25 - 30 minutes, then leave the liquid in the samovar for another 3 - 4 hours or overnight. Then pour out the contents and wipe the inside of the walls.
Apples – their peel contains useful acids for descaling. Cleaning can be done during the period of preparing jam for the winter or taking fruits of sour varieties, using unripe fruits. Pre-peel the apples and add the missing amount of peel into thin slices. Do not use middles. Use them to remove scale in the same way as potatoes.
Citric acid is usually used to clean kettles, heating elements in washing machines and dishwashers. In samovars it acts gently, destroying carbonate salts and without damaging copper and brass. Removes even thick layers of scale. Pour water into the samovar and heat to about 80 ° C. Pour and stir a small pack of citric acid, about 30 g. Bring water to a boil and leave for 2 - 3 hours. Drain the water - most of the salts will be removed on their own; the remainder can be easily removed with a wooden or plastic spatula or a rough sponge. If any sediment remains, repeat the procedure again.
Vinegar is diluted to an acid concentration of 2 - 3%. Pour hot water into the samovar or heat it. Add a glass of white vinegar per liter of volume, and if you use essence, then 2 - 3 tbsp. spoons. Boil and keep hot for 20 minutes. Drain the contents and wipe off any remaining scale with a sponge.
Vinegar and baking soda. Soda acts on carbonate salts, softening them. Vinegar completely destroys the crystals. Boil water and dissolve soda in it at the rate of 10 - 15 grams per liter. Stir until completely dissolved. Boil for 20 - 25 minutes and drain the solution. Fill the samovar with boiling water and add 9% white vinegar to it at the rate of 50 ml per liter of flask volume. Boil for 15 - 20 minutes, let stand until cool and drain. Rinse with clean water and remove any remaining limescale.
You can clean the samovar from salt deposits with vinegar alone. It is enough to mix it with water in a ratio of 1:3 and pour it into the flask. Boil for 25 minutes and leave for 4 – 6 hours. Vinegar can be replaced with oxalic and hydrochloric acid, making a 3% solution.
Coca Cola contains large amounts of phosphoric acid and sugar. The drink is poured into the samovar and brought to a boil. The mixture should be poured out and the plaque inside should be removed after 6 – 8 hours.

You should not drink tea immediately after cleaning with any product. You need to boil water in it again and drain it to remove any remaining cleaning agent.

Traditional methods are not as effective as special store-bought methods. But they do not contain substances harmful to human health. They can be used when the samovar coating is thin and cleaning is done regularly.

How to clean a samovar until it shines

Before cleaning the samovar, handles and other small parts must be removed

Coal and firewood leave soot and soot on the inner walls of the firebox. They should be removed to improve heat transfer and reduce the amount of soot that flies out. Before cleaning the entire samovar, soot must be removed. To avoid excess dirt, you should first collect the base layer with damp newspaper. Then apply baking soda or laundry soap shavings to a damp sponge and wipe the inner walls of the firebox. Finally, rinse everything off with warm water.

Before cleaning an antique unit for the first time, you should determine the material from which it is made. Stainless steel has a characteristic metallic color. For samovars with a yellow tint, you should find the mark and pay attention to the letter:

L – brass;
M – copper.

If there is no marking, you need to focus on the shade. Copper is dark, reddish. Bronze golden, yellow. Light patina - dark spots, emphasizes the ancient origin of the utensils. Green and black stains must be removed.

Before washing the flask from dirt, the samovar should be disassembled. You need to remove the crown, handles, faucet, key and stand from it. Soak all parts in a baking soda solution to make cleaning easier. Then you need to wash off grease and dust from the surface using ordinary dishwashing detergents.

A brass samovar can be cleaned with a homemade mixture:

ammonia – 30 ml;
water – 200 ml;
tooth powder – 20 gr.

Mix everything and apply with a sponge to the surface of the flask. Then wipe dry with a calico or linen napkin and rub the samovar.

For copper utensils, a different composition is suitable:

coarse salt;
vinegar;
flour.

Mix the components in equal proportions, moisten a napkin with the mixture and rub the sides of the samovar with it until shiny.

Stainless steel kitchen items are best cleaned with stove cleaners. Only gels can be used. Do not use abrasive or acidic substances.

Universal pastes for all metals are: Goi and toothpaste. They are spread on a damp cloth and the surface of the samovar is rubbed until shiny. The residue should be washed off with warm water. Goi take a fine polishing agent. It has a green color. The cheapest toothpaste, white, without additives, is suitable.

In the old days, samovars were rubbed with river sand and powdered stone. After this, they quickly lost their appearance due to the large number of scratches that formed.

Technological progress has gone far ahead, modern electrical appliances have pushed kettles and samovars into the background. However, the original Russian household item finds its consumers who do not dare to give up such a rare item. Owners often grab their heads, wanting to clean the device from scale and coatings on the outside, which spoil the aesthetic appearance of the product. We have put together for you an effective collection of folk remedies that will cope with the problem in a short time. So let's get started.

How to descale a copper samovar

Scale is the enemy of all household appliances, and the samovar is no exception. Choose the method you like, prepare the composition according to the instructions, do not violate the proportions.

Teapot cleaner. Purchase a composition for descaling teapots at a hardware store. Never use a mixture designed for dishwashers or washing machines. Read the manufacturer's recommendations before proceeding with cleaning. As a rule, the technology for use is quite transparent: pour the drug into the samovar, wait 15 minutes (the exact time is indicated on the back of the bottle), then clean the cavity of the device with a special brush for dishes. At the end of all manipulations, add filtered water to the samovar, boil, repeat the steps again.
Lemon acid. Buy 3 bags of citric acid, pour boiling water over them and wait until the crystals dissolve. When the solution becomes homogeneous, pour it into the samovar and mix with hot water so that the device is 4/5 full. Next, turn on the samovar, boil the liquid for 15-20 minutes, after this period, drain the solution and repeat the procedure. Do not forget to clean the cavity of the product with a kitchen brush to remove the scale completely. As in previous cases, after all the manipulations, boil filtered water in the samovar and drain it, removing the remaining substances. If desired, citric acid can be replaced with fresh citrus fruits. To do this, cut 10 lemons into thin slices or pieces, place them in the device, pour boiling water over them and follow a similar procedure.
Table vinegar. You can use table vinegar with a concentration of 6 to 9%. Pour 1 bottle of the product into the samovar, fill it to the top with warm purified water and close the lid. The holding time ranges from 1-2 hours, during which time the vinegar mixture will eat away the limescale. An alternative to table solution is vinegar essence, its concentration is 60-72%. To use the composition effectively, pour 300 ml into the device. products, then fill to the brim with water. Wait 20-30 minutes, at the end of the period, clean the cavity of the samovar with a brush with a long handle. After processing, it is imperative to boil filtered water and pour it out.
Potato peel. No matter how blasphemous it may sound, you can clean a samovar using potato peels. It is only important that the product is clean. Take such a quantity of potatoes that their remains fill the samovar halfway (from 1 kg or more). Pour boiling water over the peel, retreating 7-10 cm from the edge of the dish. Turn on the samovar, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer the product for about an hour. At the end of this period, turn off the device and leave it to cool. Remove the peel, pour out the liquid, and clean the walls with a sponge or stiff brush. Boil clean water, drain it, removing any remaining plaque.

Important!
After descaling, you need to disinfect the flask. To do this, dilute several crystals of potassium permanganate in purified water, moisten the sponge, and wipe the walls. Remove any remaining drug with boiling water.

How to clean a copper samovar (outer part)

Before you begin processing, you need to disassemble the samovar. More precisely, you need to remove small parts that prevent you from properly cleaning the household item. Remove the handles, faucet (if possible), stand, key and crown. After all the preparations, you can safely process the external part of the product.

Dentifrice. Mix 40 ml into one mass. ammonia, 220 ml. filtered water, 45 gr. tooth powder. The last component can be replaced with whitening toothpaste without multi-colored abrasive particles. Scoop up a little of the mixture with a kitchen sponge, treat the surface of the samovar, thoroughly rubbing the mixture. After a quarter of an hour, wash off the excess with a wet cloth or sponge.
Sodium borate (borax). The technique is designed for external cleaning of a samovar made of copper, aluminum and brass. Mix 65-70 g into a homogeneous mass. sodium borate, 25 ml. ammonia and 500 ml. purified warm water. Soak a sponge in the resulting mixture, treat the outside of the samovar, and then polish it with a soft cloth. Carry out the procedure as often as the situation requires. If desired, you can use a manual nozzle for polishing interior items.
Paste GOI. The product is a mixture containing chromium oxide. The paste perfectly cleans any type of product, such as brass, copper, metal. In addition to cleaning properties, the composition is used for polishing and giving a mirror surface to devices. Scoop a little paste onto a soft cloth, distribute evenly throughout the samovar, and begin to intensively rub the product in a circular motion. It is better to process each part separately so that the mixture does not dry out. If you want to speed up the process, use an electric drill. Attach a foam rubber or felt polishing circle to it, apply a small amount of the compound and treat the surface.
Sodium hypochlorite. To prepare the mixture, you will need a sodium hypochlorite solution with a concentration of no higher than 8%. Mix 45 ml. composition with two egg whites, beat the mixture in a convenient way. Spread over the surface of the samovar, wait 10 minutes. At the end of the time, soak a foam sponge in the mixture and walk it over the semi-dried surface of the product. When the cleaning procedure comes to an end, wipe the attribute first with a damp and then with a dry soft cloth.
Vinegar and flour. Mix 35 gr. crushed table salt with 40 gr. wheat flour, pour in 60 ml. table vinegar with a concentration of 6 to 9%. Ultimately, you should have a homogeneous paste-like mass. Otherwise, bring the composition to the desired consistency by proportionally increasing the amount of flour and salt. Next, scoop up the porridge with a sponge, wipe the samovar with it, and wait a quarter of an hour. After the expiration date, wash off the excess with warm water, and if necessary, clean again.

The copper samovar is an original Russian attribute. A rare item is valued by amateurs and professionals, so it is important to keep the item in its original form. To clean, use sodium borate, potato peels, vinegar, GOI paste, and tooth powder. Do not forget to treat the samovar from the inside, removing limescale.

Video: how to clean a samovar

The Russian tea machine (as foreigners called this device) has long been considered an interior decoration in our country. Now it is becoming fashionable again in country houses and dachas to have tea parties with the real thing. It makes tea much tastier, and it’s nice to have leisurely conversations in the fresh air over a cup of fresh aromatic drink. But does everyone know how to clean a samovar at home so that it shines the way it should?

Once upon a time, housewives could talk for hours about how clean the samovar until it shines. Most often they used river sand and brick dust, which left scratches on the metal sides, but at the same time they shone and sparkled incredibly. Crushed chalk, baking soda and tooth powder were also used. But is it worth taking such a risk on something that is rare and expensive in these times, because the surface can be damaged? In addition, when the patina is removed, the patina of antiquity disappears.

So how to clean the outside of a samovar?

Today, modern household chemicals are used:

Metal Cleaner (Israel)
Metal Polish (Germany)

They are specially designed for metal surfaces. GOI polishing paste, which comes in several types, is also suitable. A coarse paste can eliminate scratches left after using abrasive powders. And medium and fine pastes will help polish the metal to a shine.

If the samovar is made of copper

If the device is made of copper, a gray-green coating should not be allowed to appear on the samovar; this is very harmful to health. To achieve shine, copper is wiped with a mixture made from flour, coarse salt and vinegar and polished with a soft cloth or crumpled newspaper. There are other means that solve the problem: how to clean a copper samovar without using chemicals. The surface can be wiped with a slice of lemon, and then cleaned with a brush and rinsed with water.

If the samovar is brass

A brass samovar cannot be stored in damp areas. You can clean the product with a cotton swab moistened with ammonia. This metal can also be cleaned well with a solution of oxalic acid (200 grams per 1 bucket of water).

The solution is applied to the surface for 5 minutes, washed off with water before cleaning the brass samovar with baking soda, after which it is rinsed again with water and wiped dry.

If the samovar is made of stainless steel

Stainless steel products become dull and stained over time. To clean, you can use a cotton swab soaked in vinegar. Then the surface is thoroughly polished with a piece of soft cloth. Some housewives use special powders and gels to clean stoves, since cleaning a stainless steel samovar is not easy. But it is still undesirable to use such products on the internal surfaces of a device for boiling water.

Cleaning the samovar from the inside

Experienced housewives, answering the question: "How to clean the inside of a samovar?", it is recommended to use potato peelings for this purpose, which are filled with water and boiled. Boiling a carbonated drink “Sprite” or “Fanta”, a solution of citric acid or vinegar for 30 minutes also helps a lot. Next, the scale is removed with a brush, and the inner surface is washed. The samovar is filled with water, boiled, and then poured out. Only after several such boils can the water be used to make tea.

Since it is not always possible to descale a samovar the first time, you will have to be patient.

How to remove scale from a samovar

Modern electric kettles save time on preparing aromatic coffee. Of course, there are still lovers of ancient traditions who prefer the rich aroma and delicate taste of tea prepared in a samovar. If you are wondering how to clean an electric kettle. then that's a completely different story. So, what do we know about samovars?

The symbol of a bygone era has been replaced by electric samovars, reduced in size and significantly “thinner.” New models have been developed that are distinguished by their original shape, additional functions, equipped with cleaning filters, etc.

In any case, household appliances that perform the function of heating water are subject to wear and the formation of a multi-layer coating of hard salts from the inside.

To restore its former sophistication and ensure high-quality work, you need to understand how to descale a samovar so that the taste of tea is not spoiled by hard mineral deposits that inevitably accumulate when boiling hard tap water.

Methods for cleaning a samovar at home

A unique invention, if it has not been used for a long time, has probably become “overgrown” from the inside with a deep layer of gray plaque with a greenish tint (the result of metal oxidation). There are many methods to combat this problem, and before you begin solving the main problem, you need to find a suitable remedy.

special cleaning products;
organic acids;
natural products.

The first method involves the use of various anti-lime powders, the chemical compounds of which successfully cope with carbonate deposits on the inner walls of a pot-bellied kettle. They should be used strictly according to the instructions and, as a rule, one sachet is designed for 1 liter of water.

Before descaling a samovar, you should mention the composition of such bags. Often the list of active ingredients of products sold on the shelves in household chemical stores includes organic acids (citric, acetic, adipic, oxalic, etc.).

They are also easy to find in the kitchen and are much easier to use to effectively clean the samovar.

Lemon acid

The chemical formula of “lemon” allows you to easily cope with hard plaque. Cleaning with citric acid means that when it reacts, the mineral layer begins to split into small particles that are easily washed out. Even if after the first procedure a light coating is noticeable on the walls, it can be removed with a soft sponge and the intensity of the impact will be minimal.

Salt particles that peel off should be removed;
Bring water to a boil and dissolve 100 grams of citric acid in it;
Let stand for 2-3 hours (the best option is overnight);
Boil for 30 minutes, then drain the water and look at the result;
If a satisfactory result is not achieved, repeat the procedure;
Then rinse thoroughly and remove the remnants of the already softened plaque;
Boil a new portion of water.

After this, the product is ready for further use. It should be noted that you can also remove scale from a stainless steel kettle.

Acetic acid

Acetic acid will help you decide how to descale a samovar. It operates on a principle similar to the mechanism of action of lemon juice, but in some situations it has a more effective effect.

According to many, the global disadvantage is the specific pungent odor that fills the entire room in which the procedure is performed. Eliminated by intensive ventilation.

Dilute 9% vinegar at the rate of 50 ml per 1 liter of water;
Bring to a boil and let stand for 2-3 hours;
Then boil for 15-20 minutes;
Drain, rinse thoroughly;
Boil new portions of water a couple of times to get rid of the smell.

If necessary, repeat the procedure. To achieve maximum effect, you can use vinegar essence (it contains a higher acid concentration).

When deciding how to clean scale in a samovar, one cannot help but consider the option of a neglected situation, when solid deposits are many years old and have become firmly embedded in the walls.

Soda + vinegar

How to remove scale with vinegar and soda. This method is all about consistency. First you need to soften the mineral deposits. To do this, add baking soda to the water at the rate of 2 tbsp. soda per 1 liter of water.

Boil for 20 minutes, then drain the water, add a new portion and perform the following steps:

Fill the container with water with diluted vinegar essence (half a 4-liter glass);
Boil the contents for 30 minutes;
Leave overnight;
In the morning, boil again for 15 minutes;
Drain the contents and add a new portion of water, boil.

The last step is performed several times to remove all remaining scale and vinegar.

Cleaning with soda and vinegar. Like other methods, it has its pros and cons. Soda, citric acid or vinegar soften and help break down plaque into small particles, so additional washing with a soft sponge is not necessary.

Folk recipes

How to descale a samovar using natural products? Everything is very simple. Fans of folk remedies recommend cleaning keratinized walls with lemon, potato peels or apple peelings.

It should be noted that this method is less effective than the previous ones, and the result will be positive if the plaque is not old.

The use of filtered water and timely cleaning will ensure a long service life, and the samovar will last for decades.

How to clean a samovar

The best way to protect against scale

But what to do if you want to get rid of the scale problem at the root? Today there is only one answer - a magnetic water converter. The technology is extremely simple; it is a metal tube that is installed on a pipe. There is a magnet inside it that creates a magnetic field and prevents salts from being deposited. This thing is inexpensive. The manufacturer's website is mwsys.ru But they do not sell at retail, as I understand it, but supply them to hardware stores and markets (they are more expensive there). You can buy the cheapest thing from us! And by the way, this thing can be installed in 10-15 minutes by any plumber.

The fashion for antiques is actively gaining momentum, so at family gatherings and feasts, ancient Russian samovars are beginning to be used instead of the usual electric kettles. Those who inherited the samovar from their grandmother were indescribably lucky. Under no circumstances replace it with a modern analogue, but figure out how to clean it of scale and deposits.

How to clean a copper samovar

If you want to clean a copper samovar, then pay attention to the gray-green coating. Its presence can have a very detrimental effect on your health. To make copper shine, you need to wipe it with a mixture of vinegar, coarse salt and flour. Polishing should be done with crumpled newspaper or cloth. There are many other effective ways to clean a samovar without using chemicals. You can wipe the surface with a slice of lemon, then clean it with a brush and wash with water.

How to clean a brass samovar

It is strictly not recommended to store a brass samovar in a room with high humidity. The product can be cleaned using a cotton swab dipped in ammonia. Brass can be easily cleaned with a solution of oxalic acid: 200 grams of acid per bucket of water. Apply the solution to the surface for literally 5 minutes, after which the samovar should be rinsed well with water and baking soda. After this, it is rinsed again with water and wiped dry.

How to clean a stainless steel samovar

This material tends to fade over time and become stained. To quickly clean a stainless steel samovar, you need to soak a swab in vinegar and wipe it. The surface can be polished with a piece of soft cloth. A common method is to use special gels and powders for cleaning stoves. Such measures have to be resorted to due to the difficulty of cleaning stainless steel. No matter how effective this method is, it is not advisable to use chemicals, because this is the inner surface for boiling water.

Golden samovar

To clean a gold-plated samovar, you must use a rag soaked in turpentine, alcohol or denatured alcohol. A mixture of egg white and 8% hypochlorite solution is also suitable. To ensure that the cleaned product regains its original shine, rub it with a solution of ammonia and borax or a solution of ammonia and tooth powder.

Silver samovar

Never use metal cleaning products containing strong acids or harsh abrasives. Perhaps you don't need to get too carried away? An antique samovar should still have some notes of antiquity. A silver samovar can be cleaned with a sodium hyposulfite solution - it will restore the shine of the silver surface.

Cleaning the samovar from the inside

Scale is the sore spot of every samovar. It can be removed in the following ways:

Buy a plaque remover. Choose only one that is suitable only for cleaning the kettle, but not for the dishwasher or washing machine. Read the instructions and follow them strictly.
Acetic acid can help - pour the liquid inside and heat it to 60 degrees. In this state, the acid should be left for several hours until it eats away the plaque. After this, the product must be rinsed thoroughly.
You can use not only acetic acid, but also citric acid. A pack of acid must be diluted in water, pour the mixture into the samovar and boil. In this state, the acid should stay in the samovar for about a day. Instead of acid, you can use a kilogram of lemons.
If there is a small coating, cook 1 kilogram of potato peelings in a samovar. After a few hours, drain the water and remove the plaque with a soft sponge.
If the samovar is clean enough, you can wipe it with a brush and detergent.

After cleaning, be sure to disinfect. To do this, you can use potassium permanganate, diluted according to the instructions. It needs to be poured for 20 minutes.

Proper storage and careful handling make it possible to clean the samovar very rarely. For care, it is necessary to select products that are suitable for specific materials. If you want to clean an antique samovar with medals and inscriptions, then it makes sense to turn to professionals for quality cleaning.