The Best Guide to Copper Sink Cleaning & Care

Your copper sink is a treasured feature in your kitchen. Between its warm coloring and beautiful sheen, it may easily add a perfect touch of individuality and charm to your room. Unfortunately, copper can lose its luster, become tarnished, or even show damage from scratches and other blemishes as you continue to use the sink on a daily basis. Understanding how to properly care for your copper sink will help you to maximize its life and its overall appeal in your home.

• What to Avoid

Before you learn how to care for your copper sink, you need to know what products you should absolutely avoid using. For example, never use a steel wool scrubber or other harsh abrasives that may scratch the copper’s surface. You also should avoid exposing your copper sink to bleach or bleach-based cleaning products. Even acidic foods, such as ketchup and spaghetti sauce, can tarnish and even permanently damage the sink’s surface. If your copper sink is in the bathroom, rinse the toothpaste off of the sink thoroughly as soon as possible.

• Daily Cleaning Tips

To keep your sink as clean and as well-maintained as possible, you need to follow a few daily cleaning tips. Many types of food and liquid particles that may remain on the copper surface after use can damage the material in various ways if they sit on the copper for a lengthy period of time. Because of this, you should always thoroughly rinse the sink out after each use.

For the best results, use warm water and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe away any grime that otherwise may accumulate on the sink. If hard water is problematic in your area, you should take the additional step of drying the sink with a second microfiber cloth. This will reduce the amount of buildup that accumulates on the sink from hard water.

• Deep Cleaning Strategies

Your copper sink will require more significant cleaning efforts as well. The frequency of these efforts will depend on how often you use the sink and what items you put into it. In some cases, a deep cleaning may be required daily. For a deeper clean, you can add some liquid dishwashing soap that is bleach-free as needed for your regular cleaning efforts outlined above. After you wipe down the sink using soap, water, and a clean cloth, you can rinse and dry the sink as usual.

You may notice green spots developing on your copper sink over time. These spots, which are known as verdigris, are most commonly the result of moisture sitting on the copper for too long. To remove these spots, make a paste out of baking soda and water. Rub this paste onto the green spots using a clean cloth. Once the spots are removed, rinse and dry the sink thoroughly. You can dramatically reduce the likelihood of verdigris forming by keeping the sink dry.

An alternative solution for sanitizing copper sinks is to use a mixture of white vinegar and warm water. Scrub the vinegar and water onto the copper sink using a clean microfiber cloth. For the best results, use firm pressure and a circular motion. The vinegar and water mixture should be washed off of the copper as soon as possible. Keep in mind that vinegar should not be used on vintage copper sinks.

• Restoring the Sheen

With the effects of time and regular use, your beautiful copper sink will lose the warm sheen that you love. This sheen comes from lacquer that will wear off over time. The longevity of the lacquer will depend on how frequently you use the sink. With average use, the copper sink should be restored using this special waxing and cleaning process approximately every month or two.

To restore the sheen, you will need to use a copper cleaning product that is specifically designed for use on this type of metallic surface. Once you have followed the directions on the cleaning product’s label, you will need to wax the sink. You can choose between special copper wax or Carnauba wax. The application instructions generally on the wax product include a buffing step after the wax is applied. If you are uncomfortable polishing your copper sink yourself, you can hire an expert to do the job for you.

Taking care of your copper sink requires special effort, but the steps are relatively fast and easy to complete. Before you put any products on the copper, carefully research those items to ensure that they will not damage the sink.

Now your copper sinks are clean and polished, you may want to do a deep clean around the house. We’re more than happy to make your home sparkle from top-to-bottom, book or get your free estimate online.