A green-bluish gunk that accumulates with ages on brass or copper has a scientific name! This is VERDIGRIS — a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on certain metals by atmospheric oxidation. The word is French by origin, “Vert de Grece” and it means literally “The Green of Greece” – because it was originally noticed on antique Greek objects of art and jewelry. Verdigris forms through a chemical reaction with acids, often from moisture and environmental pollutants, leading to the formation of copper salts like copper carbonate.
Because Verdigris is mildly poisonous (symptoms of toxicity include nausea, anemia and death), I will use rubber gloves to clean it. I will also use a sharp steel dental toothpick, old toothbrush, Blue Magic Metal Polishing Cream, Palmolive dish soap, and clean rug to wipe it off and dry after a thorough rinse.
