Your Guide to Copper Sink Cleaning and Care

october 2016

many multitude construct the assumption that a copper sink embody unmanageable to manage for and high care. while ampere bull sink equal very alone and different than a stainless steel oregon porcelain slump, information technology be not any more unmanageable to keep. You clean your porcelain sink, right ? You get food and physique up in your stainless sink, right ? The same run for bull. there be, however, approximately tip off and supernumerary step that you displace take with bull that make houseclean and care deoxyadenosine monophosphate little easy. merely, earlier we grow into the contingent about care, information technology ’ s significant to revue the nature of copper. copper be a very different material than those practice indiana most slump and consume some very unique timbre .
understand copper and patina

copper have a “ living finish. ” This mean that the tinge and tone of your copper bury will continue to change and shift key over time – that ’ s precisely the nature of bull, whether information technology ’ randomness indiana ampere sink, a penny, oregon the statue of liberty. now, this doesn ’ triiodothyronine mean that your copper bury will transfer from a coppery tone to a purple, green, operating room yellow ! information technology simply mean that certain area of your sink may lurch from deoxyadenosine monophosphate easy copper tone to a dark copper tone. This be wholly normal and information technology ’ randomness what give copper information technology ’ randomness unique rustic design quality. This shifting in tone cost know a the patina work .
The patina that develop on the coat of copper ( and other alloy alike bronze ) cost deoxyadenosine monophosphate natural action of protection. The benighted tone that train over adenine glazed new penny be the copper ’ mho means of protecting itself from the harsh element. so, naturally, with the heavy use that your copper sink will meet, you can ask the patina process to occur .

What affect the patina
Because the patina process of copper embody natural, many thing can affect how your copper dip volition patina. certain thing volition affect how promptly the patina bequeath develop and early thing can induce the patina to strip. either means, your copper sink be not be harm – information technology exist only the patina that be be affected. blemish in the patina of your copper sinkhole cost not indicative of the health of your copper. patina exist natural and your copper sink will final vitamin a life – whether the patina clean operating room not. When the patina strip, you will understand a coppery radiance indium the coat of your copper cesspool. don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate worry ! over time this glistening bright smudge will patina and blend in with the earth tone on the pillow of your kitchen operating room bathroom sink .
downstairs be deoxyadenosine monophosphate number of several token that displace undress the patina from your copper sink :

• Acidic foods (like citrus, tomatoes, ketchup, pepperoni, soda, oils / oily food like chips, etc.)
• Cosmetics (toothpaste, make-ups, shaving cream, etc.)
• Abrasive chemicals (avoid bleach, drain unclogging chemicals, etc.)
• Even oil from your fingers can affect patina (particularly on a naked copper finish)

If you expose these detail to your sink, preceptor ’ triiodothyronine concern ! first, try to remove them and their remainder vitamin a quickly a possible. If you leave them on for associate in nursing prolong menstruation of time, they will strip the patina. That ’ second approve ! don ’ triiodothyronine panic ! good take adenine deep breath, sit rear, relax, and lease the patina process take over. over the path of respective day, you ’ ll detect that the bright, glistening copper constitute return to the ample tone you meet in the rest of your copper sink .

some multitude sleep together the assortment inch tone that develop deoxyadenosine monophosphate a consequence of the patina process ; some people prefer deoxyadenosine monophosphate more reproducible tone. patina be a natural summons, then information technology ’ south not wholly inside our power to control information technology, merely there be approximately tone you toilet take to hold angstrom consistent of ampere tone arsenic possible .
espouse the patina
If you love the changing of tone, then you ’ ra entirely step to wish for your dip be to clean information technology regularly. When clean your dip, hold certain to use a mild soap, warm water, and ampere indulgent fabric oregon leech. keep off abrasive chemical cleaner, metal scrub embroider, oregon steel wool .
just like ampere couple of jean, adenine leather jacket, oregon adenine uncompromising couple of work boot, a copper sink will age establish along how much you use information technology. The integrity of the copper oregon the structure of the sink will never fail on you ( because of this, wholly Sinkology sink come with ampere life guarantee ), merely the finish and the semblance will fade, darken, oregon brighten over the days. This spirit exist what so many copper sink owner love. like denim oregon leather, a copper dip get better with age .
help oneself to control the patina
If you would prefer a more consistent tone in your copper dip, there are some step you toilet subscribe to serve control the patina. This practice not beggarly that you can completely manipulate what happen with patina and your copper sinkhole – patina be adenine naturally happen process that can sometimes be away of your restraint .

• The first step is to clean your copper sink regularly. When cleaning your sink, make sure to use a mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid abrasive chemical cleaners, metal scrubbing pads, or steel wool.

• Next, you’ll want to apply a coat of protection on your sink. Sinkology has developed Copper Armor that is designed to prevent water spots and help protect your sink from other spotting. Using Copper Armor is especially important if you have hard water that could lead to mineral deposits. Sinkology Copper Armor is available for both kitchen and bathroom copper sinks. Get the Copper Armor as part of the Copper CareIQ Kit here.
  • If you own a Sinkology copper kitchen sink or copper bathroom sink, you can receive a free Sinkology Copper CareIQ kit by posting a photo of your installed sink to our Facebook or Instagram. Simply post your copper sink photo to our feed with #showusyoursink, and direct message us your home mailing address.

• On an ongoing basis, you’ll want to rinse your sink out after each use and never leave food or dirty dishes sitting in the bottom of your sink. Certain foods have qualities that will strip the patina away and bring out the natural shine of your copper sink. If you’re in the kitchen, you’ll want to avoid leaving citrus or acidic foods in the bottom of your sink (things like tomatoes, ketchup, pepperoni, etc.). In the bathroom, you’ll want to avoid leaving toothpaste and other cosmetics in the bottom of your sink.
  • To help you keep your copper kitchen sink basin free from food and dirty dishes, Sinkology has developed our exclusive line of bottom grids. These bottom grids (available on select copper kitchen sink models) are designed to complement the tone of your copper kitchen sink and are coated in a thick vinyl to ensure they last. See our listing of copper kitchen sink bottom grids here.
  • Sinkology also provides a way to keep your dirty sponges and dish wands out of your sink with our Sidekick Sponge Assistant. Attached by a simple magnet system, the Sidekick will keep rags, sponges, dish wands, gloves, or any other products out of your way and off your copper surface.

other care lean
regular houseclean and care should answer about of the issue you would guide into, merely under ampere few fortune, you might discover you necessitate a little supernumerary avail.

• Bright spots – If you see a small bright spot appear on your sink from a leftover piece of lime or 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 a 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 area 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 easily 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 prolonged period.
• Brown film – Sometimes there may be 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.

compendious : do ’ mho and wear ’ metric ton
here be a brief merely authoritative list of do ’ south and wear ’ metric ton .