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Cleaning Care for Your Copper Sink

What is a Patina or a Living Finish?

The beauty of copper is its living finish or patina. It builds overtime and works as a protective coating. The patina is a rich weathered finish with light and dark tones complementing each other and creating the unique effect of copper. It is also what gives copper its natural anti-bacterial properties. Certain chemicals can strip the patina. These products will remove the finish leaving your sink shiny: Soft Scrub, Clorox Bleach, Drano, or Acids. However, because it is a living finish, it will heal itself. Given time the copper sink will gradually return to the rich brown color and cover up spots and scratches.

How to Care for Your Copper Sink

  • Wash with soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge.
  • Wipe off surface to remove standing water, whitening tooth paste, acidic substances, etc.
  • Copper is naturally anti-bacterial and will eliminate bacteria and viruses from its surface, when maintained properly.
  • For extra protection use Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish. (Follow Renaissance’s directions on how to use wax.)
  • NEVER USE anything abrasive like: Soft Scrub, Steel Wool, Chore Girl, etc.
  • NEVER USE the following products: Brasso, Clorox, Drano or Similar Products.
  • Acidic substances tend to leave shiny spots, like: Lime, Lemon, Tomato Juice, etc.

Polished Copper

  • This finish will patina If you wish to slow the patina process, wax your sink. Use a product like Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish (Follow Renaissance’s directions on how to use wax.)
  • If the patina grows too dark and you wish to restore the sinks shiny finish, use a copper polish like Wright’s Copper Cream (Follow Wright’s cleaning directions on how to use copper cream.) Then re-wax your sink.
  • NEVER USE anything abrasive.

Fired Copper - Black Copper – Antique Copper

  • These finishes will patina Any spotting caused by normal usage will eventually fade back into the patina.
  • To protect and slow the patina, use a product like Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish (Follow Renaissance’s directions on how to use wax.)
  • NEVER USE metal/copper polish or anything abrasive.

Multi –Colored - Black Nickel - Antique Satin Gold

  • These finishes come with a protective coating
  • Finish will not patina
  • NEVER USE anything abrasive.

Brushed Nickel - Polished Nickel

  • These finish will not patina
  • NEVER USE anything abrasive.