Copper Sinks 101

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Copper Maintenance

How To Care for a Copper Sink

Caring for our copper sink is surprisingly easy and virtually maintenance free. A copper finish is a living finish and never really stops changing in color. That being said, the evolution of a copper finish is gradual, and as it ages it becomes even more handsome. You can greatly reduce this change with the use of wax (see below).

For basic cleaning simply use a mild soap and water – other cleaners are not necessary. Copper will naturally patina over time and develop a warm medium patina. Unless you want to maintain a shiny copper finish, do not use copper cleaners. Do not use abrasive materials or harsh chemicals on any of our products – these can harm the surface.

If your water has a high mineral content, you may want to wipe your sink down periodically with a soft cloth as you would any sink to avoid possible build up. For extra protection, a product such as "Renaissance Wax" may be applied to the copper surface periodically. This will help maintain the luster and provide better water runoff. Enjoy the living qualities of your beautiful hand hammered sink - truly a unique and functional work of art!

Maintenance by Finish

Dark Smoke and Rio Grande Finishes
These darker finishes have gone through an "accelerated patina" process and will not change much more relative to the lighter finishes. Soap and water is generally all the cleaning you will need to do. Other colors can also come about depending on the environment the copper is exposed to. If an acidic product such as ketchup or lemon juice removes some of the patina, don't worry. The patina will return over time.

Café Natural
This finish will naturally darken and patina over time. If you want to maintain the look of this finish, you can periodically wax the bowls with Renaissance Wax. You can purchase this wax from Copper Sinks Online (find it in the Accessories section). You can also choose to purchase your copper sink "pre-waxed" by us at the factory. This option includes a tin of wax as well (two sizes available).

Matte Copper
This finish will require the most maintenance and is the only finish that copper cleaners may be used to maintain the shiny appearance. Using a wax or a protective sealant will reduce the maintenance necessary to maintain the finish and delay the natural patina process.

Nickel Finish
These finishes are not like stainless steel and will gradually patina over time. Most common metal cleaners can be used to brighten the finish periodically. As with an unfinished copper, you can use a wax or protective sealant to reduce the maintenance required.

For further information, please refer to "FAQ's".