How to Care for Your Copper Kada or Keychain

Copper is honest about how it's treated. Ignore it and it'll tell you.

If you've bought a copper kada or keychain from us, here's what you need to know to keep it looking the way you want it to.

It will darken over time

This is normal. Copper oxidises when it's exposed to air, sweat and moisture. The surface develops a patina — darker, sometimes greenish in spots. Some people love this look. It feels aged, like something that's been worn and lived in. If that's you, do nothing. Let it go.

If you want to keep it bright

Clean it occasionally with lemon juice and a little salt. Rub it gently with a soft cloth, rinse with water, dry it fully. It'll come back close to how it looked when you got it. Don't use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers — copper scratches easily.

The green tinge

The greenish colour that sometimes appears (called verdigris) isn't harmful. If it's bothering you, the lemon and salt method will take care of it. If your skin is turning slightly green where the kada sits, that's also just the copper reacting with your skin chemistry — completely normal, not a sign of poor quality metal.

Keep it dry when you can

Take it off before swimming or heavy workouts if you want to slow the oxidation down. If you forget, just dry it properly after. Don't leave it sitting in water.

One more thing

The stamped letters on hand stamped pieces can sometimes collect a little tarnish in the grooves over time — this actually makes them more readable and adds character. If you want to clean inside the letters, use a soft toothbrush with the lemon and salt mix.

Copper is not a low-maintenance metal. But that's also what makes it interesting. It changes with you.