If you have installed a hammered copper sink, you will now need to learn all about copper sink care. It won't require a great deal more time than most other sinks, but it does have some specific needs that are unique to copper.
First, you need to determine what you would like your copper sink to look like as the years go by. A patina can look attractive on a sink; it will look like an older penny. Oxidation causes this look, and it's quite similar to what happens to silver before it is polished.
There is nothing wrong with having a copper sink with a patina finish, but if you'd prefer a shiny sink, you can polish the copper. Check with your manufacturer first, before you polish, because some copper sinks have their own coating that makes it unnecessary to polish them. Wax can help to protect a copper sink from the build up of mineral deposits. You can wax your sink occasionally, to help care for its finish.
You will need to do routine cleaning of your copper sink, of course, just as you would with any sink. The difference with copper is that you cannot use any abrasive cleaners, or they might scratch the finish. Check the labels of cleaners before you buy, and make sure that the one you choose says “non-abrasive” on the label.
If you install a copper sink in your kitchen, you need to be even more vigilant about keeping it clean. Foods that have acids in them, like citrus fruits, can leave shiny spots in the patina of a copper kitchen sink. You'll want your finish to be uniform in all parts of your sink, so use proper copper sink care to insure you don't have strange spots in the sink bowl.
A hammered copper sink isn't a great chore to keep clean. It's much easier than the time you used to spend cleaning white enamel sinks that were so easily stained. Copper sinks rarely develop any stains, so that is another point in their favor.
Check with your retailer before you take your copper sink home and find out if it's unfinished or finished. The way you care for the sink will be different if it is treated than if it is untreated. If you have someone come in to help you clean house, be sure they know not to use any abrasive cleansers on your copper sink, or it could be scratched.
A proper hammered copper sink is made from one piece of copper that was previously cut, and is then heated in a wood fire and hammered until it shows the desired shape. The copper goes through one more step before it is completed. This is the “patinating” step, which helps to protect the surface against harmful elements, and it also gives copper its patina'd look.
When you select your new copper sink, ask the retailer what products he recommends for cleaning it. Copper sink care isn't really much more difficult than cleaning any other type of sink, as long as you keep the specific needs of copper in mind.
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