GUIDE: HOW TO CLEAN A COPPER SINK
The beauty of copper sinks and faucets will enhance the look of any bathroom or kitchen. Copper has a living finish that enhances and develops with age. If you know how to clean a copper sink, you’ll have a tried-and-true method to remove tarnish, water spots, and mineral deposits.
Your sink will remain as shiny and clean as new when you have reliable cleaning methods. This article discusses how to clean a copper sink. We show you things you can do every day to effortlessly keep your sink looking great. Most of the solutions work hard on stainless steel as well.
The sink can be raw copper, treated copper, or polished copper with a shiny lacquer finish; whichever you choose, cleaning is simple if you stay away from harmful cleaning products. If you want to keep your sink in good condition, you’ll need to follow a few simple rules. Here are some cleaning tips to use and avoid on copper.
Also read : How to fix Clogged Kitchen Fast trap
How to Clean A Copper Sink
Daily Treatments
Copper faucets and sinks are perfect for the home. Copper is as simple to clean as stainless steel, and copper comes with antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. In this part of our guide, we provide daily maintenance and cleaning instructions.
The care and cleaning tips in this area of the guide will help you prevent clogs after you unclog your copper sink, or clean your dirty pot or pan after a day at work.
1. Dish Soap Treatment
- A soft sponge, dish soap, and warm running water are all you’ll need to clean your copper sink. This standard routine cleaning applies to all copper sinks, whether vintage, hammered, raw, or polished. You can clean your copper sink with mild dish soap and a soft sponge on a regular basis.
- You can use both a dish soap and warm running water to clean your sink. Make sure the sponge or cloth you are using is soft, non-abrasive, and does not contain steel wool.
- Do not use steel wool or other harsh scrubbers.
- Wet the sink with warm water and use the sprayer to wet the sponge. Spray two to three drops of dish soap onto the wet sponge. If you want your sink to stay in good condition, take a sponge and soapy water and wash it from top to bottom on all sides.
- Rinse it with warm water after thoroughly wiping it down. Dry it with the towel after finishing cleaning it. To prevent mineral deposits in a sink, dry it thoroughly after use.
- If there is a stubborn stain, dab a little baking soda on a cloth and, while running warm water, gently scrub the area.
- Baking soda and vinegar can be used to remove stains from polished or finished sinks.
- For antique sinks or those with patinas, you should not use vinegar.
2. Damp Sponge Treatment
Cleaning a copper sink isn’t just about using complicated, advanced techniques to get copper looking great.
You do not have to have advanced ways to clean copper sinks to make them look beautiful. Simple methods seem to work best when you do not have a messy sink, already set-in spots, or uneven patina.
- In many cases, warm water, a sponge, and elbow grease are sufficient to clean dirt and prevent the accumulation of grime.
- Put on gloves and wet the sponge in warm water to facilitate the necessary cleaning. This method doesn’t involve any added chemicals.
- From top to bottom, scrub the sink with a sponge in a gentle motion. When you are finished wiping, dry the sink to prevent forming further water spots or discoloration. Scrub gently in any areas that need attention.
3. Vinegar Treatment
Fortunately, white vinegar contains acetic acid, making it a very effective mid-level sink cleaner.
It works wonders at removing mineral deposits and tarnish from copper sinks. Vinegar also works well for porcelain sinks.
- It enhances copper’s natural shine when washed with vinegar. Try vinegar before moving on to stronger cleaners. Don’t use it on vintage patinas, where vinegar’s acid is likely to remove the color from the finish.
- Copper sinks can be cleaned with a solution of vinegar and water. Mix the solution in a container, and use a damp sponge to scrub at stains and discolorations. Rub the sponge gently against stains and discolorations, using circular motion.
- Continue to rinse the copper until it is clean and shiny. Then, dry it with a clean cloth to prevent damage from further oxidation and stains. Vinegar can also be used to remove copper stains from other places in your home.
- vinegar is an inexpensive and versatile cleaning agent that works well on ornamental accents, jewelry, and even colle-ctible coins. Even copper coins can be cleaned with vinegar. However, make sure you don’t destroy the value of collectible coins by cleaning them.
Also Read: How to remove chemical stains from stainless steel sink
How to Clean A Copper Sink – Tough Stains
Here are the steps you need to take in order to clean your sink to get rid of tough stains. We provide home remedies for tough stains involving baking soda, as well as a guide describing how to use copper cleaners and sealants to ward off stains in the future.
Taking on stubborn stains or unsightly spots on your sink with baking soda is a great alternative to the other cleani–ng treatments.
Baking soda is an effective way to clean brass as well as copper. We love baking soda for cleaning various home surfaces and getting all kinds of stains out.
1. Baking Soda Treatment
- Apply baking soda and warm water to make a paste. If you are cleaning a new sink without patina, you may substitute vinegar for water. Apply the paste with a sponge to each stain and let it sit for a minute until it loosens a bit.
- You can also use this recipe to clean dirty copper pipes that have tarnish, dirt, and other stains that may have built up. Just scrub gently, rinse the sink with warm water, and dry the entire area with a clean cloth.
2. Copper Cleaner
- Copper sinks can also be maintained by regular treatments with a copper cleaner. A copper cleaner is necessary for battling tarnished, discolored copper. When using copper cleaner, wear gloves, and if needed, goggles and safety glasses.
- Follow the manufacturer‘s instructions, and contact the company if necessary. Open windows and allow enough ventilation for the process.
- If you wish to prevent further issues, rinse and dry the copper surfaces after you have cleaned them.
How Frequently a Copper Sink Should be Cleaned
Copper sinks need to be cleaned daily, just as any other sinks in the kitchen or bathroom. In hard-water areas, the minerals will create water spots on the sink’s surface.
To prevent water spots on the sink, ensure that the copper sink is completely dried after each use.
If you have a polished copper sink that is lacquered and want to keep its glossy appearance, you may need to recoat or clean the sink with a copper cleaner and wax the sink with carnauba wax or a specialized copper wax regularly if you want to maintain its appearance.
What You Shouldn’t Use to Clean a Copper Sink
Here is a summary of the things you should never use on copper sinks.
Cleaning copper sinks is very easy if you know what not to do, and the products you shouldn’t use.
It is better to learn what not to use on copper. Aggressive cleaners, steel wool, bleach, harsh scrubbers etc.
How to Take Care of Your Copper Sink
It takes more than just scrubbing to keep a copper sink clean. How you use the sink every day can affect its appearance.
To help prevent food from building up inyour copper sink, rinse after every use.
This can prevent acidic foods from damaging the patina.
The combination of iron, copper, and moisture can cause rust on cast iron skillets and other items left in the sink.
Grids and trays can also be added to elevate pans and other items so that they do not sit directly on the bottom of the sink.
After rinsing, dry the sink to prevent rust and buildup, especially if your water is hard.
How Do I Shine My Copper Sink
You should clean your copper sink every six weeks if it is polished or finished. Clean the sink with a copper cleaner and wipe all surfaces, then rinse and dry it.
If you are uncertain about how your copper cleaner should be used, check the instructions.
Copper, because it is a living surface, will develop a patina over time, but copper cleaner can delay that process and keep the surface looking polished.
Your sink will also remain bright and shiny if you apply a copper protectant or wax after cleaning and drying. When cleaning vintage sinks or if you wish to create a patina, avoid using a copper cleaner.
If you plan to use a spray, apply it to your sink with a spray bottle. Then wipe all sink surfaces with a microfiber cloth
You can also keep your copper sinks looking brilliant by buffing them with carnauba wax and applying a copper wax every six weeks .
Copper products that are formulated specifically for copper can also be applied.
You don’t have to worry about dents or dings if your copper sink has been hammered or has a patina. However, polished copper sinks should be kept away from dishware in order to preserve their shine.
If you wash dishware in the sink, rest it on a sink grid, and let it air dry on a countertop rack.
FAQ
How to Clean a Copper Sink that has Turned Green
As with any other patina on copper, these green spots can be removed by using copper cleaner, lemon juice, or vinegar. The patina represents the old state of the metal, so by removing it you are returning it to its original state, which is like finding a brand new one.
