So I have these Revere ware pots with copper bottoms, and I know there is some old-fashioned way of making them shiney with ordinary household stuff… Too lazy to try to find the ingredient list right now, anybody know what is used? It’s not baking soda and water, I just tried that.
Don’t want to go out and spend real $$$$ on real copper cleaner, you know…
M 
I don’t know of anything more natural (unfortunately…I may have to google it though), but this stuff works FANTASTICALLY well, and is really cheap at pretty much any grocery store (or at your local big box mart which I will not name 
)
It also cleans the stains off “stainless” steel (my pots and pans have never looked better), enamel sinks, and even copper bottom pots. I think it also is supposed to clean brass too, but I haven’t tried that one.
When we were kids, my brother and I would clean pennies with vinegar and salt. I suppose that method still works.
You can clean them with catsup. I tried that with my old Revere Ware a year or so ago. I also tried some other homemade clensers on them, just to see what worked the best. Some had tomato base with lemon and salt. I seem to remember that store-bought copper clenser was less messy. But the catsup/lemon and whatever else, pretty sure it was salt, worked well.
Vinegar. I’ve cleaned tons (well, many pounds) of copper stuff with it. Salt may help, too, as in Tony’s and Cowtime’s (both vinegar and salt in catsup) recipes.
One data point that may be of interest is that the copper won’t conduct heat any better with the schmootz removed from the surface, but it may absorb heat better WITH the schmootz. So it you’re after performance, leave it, if you’re after aesthetics, remove it.
Lemon juice and salt.
You might even be able to borrow some from Jerry
ha ha! I saw that!
Off to the cupboard, thanks for the suggestions, y’all!
M
My Mom says hers stay as shiny as new because when she wants dinner, she makes reservations. 
(After raising 7 of her own and 7 foster children, she’s earned it).
Small world! Same pots, same problem! Solved it with Calphalon. 
oooooohhh, Nice!
I just bought a few pieces of All Clad and must say I like it very much!
But I have a sentimental attachment to the RevereWear, nevertheless ~ I’ve had them for over 30 years!
(The copper bottoms must REALLY be corroded, I tried the vinegar and salt, and the catsup, neither took off all the crud. I guess I’ll pick up some copper cleaner next time I’m out somewhere that has it.)
M
Catsup. Heh.