A shelf of tarnished copper pots and pans that need cleaning. - Jack N. Mohr/Getty Images There's something magical about cooking with copper pots and pans. Maybe it's the shine, the way they hold ...

In contemporary kitchens, the act of cleaning utensils combines the use of detergents or liquid soaps and chemical powders.

There's something magical about cooking with copper pots and pans. Maybe it's the shine, the way they hold heat, or last for ages. But there's one major downside to copper: its tendency to tarnish.