1 Shine your copper pots.

Whether you have copper-bottomed cooking pans, architectural detailing, or shiny knick-knacks, trade the costly metal polish pastes, and make use of those old ketchup packets stashed away in your kitchen drawers.

Here's a simple recipe from Michael de Jong, author of the Clean series of simple living books: Massage ketchup over the copper and watch it dissolve the tarnish away (thanks to the acid). In the event that you have stubborn spots, add a pinch of table salt while you polish.