Copper Sinks Care & Maintenance

Copper sinks will weather/age/patina with time and normal use. To prevent this, we need to dry it after every use or apply normal wax at least once in 30 days.

Copper is a natural antibacterial product that requires minimal care. For regular maintenance, simply rinse the sink after each use. Otherwise, wash occasionally with dish soap and a sponge for a more thorough cleaning. The sinks we supply are waxed by hand. Copper sinks have a living finish, which evolves over time, which can be prevented by the use of wax.

Newly constructed copper sinks go through a natural aging process and may appear unsightly for a very short, “break-in” period. Initially, they will be pink in color and evolve into a rich, golden or caramel-brown color. In a short time, your sink will develop dark spots and marks where water or other products have caused natural oxidation. This is normal. These spots will blend together and transform your sink into a beautifully vibrant display of color. Acid products, like ketchup or lemon, will remove the patina on your sink if left on for a while. Not to worry… The patina will revive quickly and any spots will vanish in a short time, depending on the minerals in your water.

Those customers who prefer a polished copper finish will have to withstand more regular maintenance. There are products on the market, such as Barkeepers Friend and Wrights Copper Cream that are efficient, low-abrasive cleansing agents. A quality car or furniture wax may also be applied to the surface of a freshly cleaned sink to protect its finish. The wax will inhibit the antibacterial properties of the copper.

Generally, copper sinks should be left to age naturally.

Copper has the unique advantage of oxidizing over time, which means that its color continues to evolve with the life of the sink. The older it gets, the more attractive it looks. Any scratches and flaws that occur on its surface will disappear into the metal as it oxidizes.

We recommend just washing your sink with mild soap and water.

Please do not use any harsh chemicals for cleaning.

Other Care Tips that might be helpful

Regular cleaning and care should resolve most of the issues you would run into, but under a few circumstances, you might find you need a little extra help.

Bright spots – If you see a small bright spot appear on your sink from a leftover piece of lime or a forgotten blob of ketchup, don’t worry! The area will re-patina back to a darker tone with time. To help it fade more evenly in with the sink, clean the area with water and mild soap, and then consider using a stiff bristle to wear off some of the darker patina around the edges of the spot. This will allow the area to blend better with the rest of the sink as it ages and darkens.

Green spots – Overexposing your sink to moisture for prolonged periods of time could cause some green spotting. This is just a mineral build-up that can easily be removed with a soft cloth or even a fingernail. This will typically occur around the faucet, drain, or other areas where water pooling can occur. To prevent this, keep water from gathering and sitting in these areas. If it does occur, don’t worry! It’s very easy to wipe off or scratch off with your fingernail (avoid scratching it off with anything metal or too hard). Some soaps may cause green spotting if it is left to sit on the sink’s surface for a prolonged period.

Brown film – Sometimes there may be a build-up of the patina in certain areas of the sink where water can collect or pool (similar to green spotting). Any brown film build-up can easily be wiped off with a cloth or scraped off with a fingernail.

Copper is naturally resistant to corrosion, so copper sinks or baths never rust. Each copper bathtub and sink is coated with a lacquer that maintains the finish, which means that the bathtub should only be cleaned with a non-abrasive household cleaner and wiped with a soft cloth. The coating is durable and flexible, allowing it to withstand the demands of regular use.

Warning!

Never use corrosive or ammonia and acid cleaners as they can damage the surface of the copper bath. Use only mild detergent or mild soap.

Do not use steel wool and brushes as they may scratch the surface of your bathtub. Use a soft cloth instead.

After each use, dry the sink no matter what surface you have (copper, nickel-plated, colored surfaces), otherwise, you may have traces of water.

Scratches

Copper is a soft metal, and therefore scratches can easily occur, but due to the “self-healing” nature of copper, these scratches disappear because the copper surface constantly reacts with air and gradually changes color and appearance. This is called patina.

Instead of trying to repair scratches, you should begin to love them, because these scratches, wells and battered areas create a unique copper character and enhance the rustic feel of a metal product.

Patina

When a copper bath or sink begins to age, rich dark tones begin to form, in a warm brown color known as patina. This is quite normal and is essentially a copper property. Patina is a “live finish” because it is constantly changing and evolving.

While some customers who understand the patina copper process like the way their bath or washbasin develops as they age, others who do not know about the properties of copper blame the manufacturer for a poor quality product. Patina or copper surface treatment is its natural property and cannot be considered as a mistake! This is, in fact, evidence that the bath or sink is made of pure copper.