Copper is a natural material, it has better malleability characteristics better than iron and more hardness than zinc, it is reddish-brown, shiny, ductile, resists corrosion and through the times it has become the metal that has more uses, for its power, it is a metal that since ancient times has been given a great use in everything related to the home.
Due to its natural antimicrobial properties, it represents a durable and safe element for utensils, such as kitchen utensils, sinks, basins, etc.
Nowadays, this metal has become the latest fashion in household items, and the reason is aesthetics and attractiveness, this is provided by its rich color and the glorious shine it offers to a piece such as a sink, this kitchen component made of copper, now brings elegance, luxury, and exquisiteness, and is a great alternative to stainless-steel varieties and conventional porcelain.
This type of copper sinks, increase the value of kitchens, and provide an air of dynamism, are glamorously seductive, have a spectacular appearance, but there are other qualities and benefits that these sinks by the fact of being completely copper present, among the series of advantages we have:
- Because of their aesthetic beauty they are very popular, they have a very distinctive style, providing the kitchen with a fresh and optimistic atmosphere.
- They are created from a single sheet of copper, which is hammered and exposed to water and air in order to form the patina, creating a deep, rich copper tone that appeals to many customers, and for those who love the color of the original copper, there are coated copper sinks that preserve the original color.
- A copper sink has fundamental antimicrobial properties, in this they are significantly ahead of conventional sinks, in these the harmful bacteria survive for weeks, which is dangerous for people’s health, in the copper ones, these bacteria die in a couple of hours.
- Copper sinks are manufactured in a wide variety of models and styles, among which there are sophisticated and very artistic designs.
- They do not rust or corrode in daily use.
But copper sinks apart from these advantages and benefits also have disadvantages, let’s see what are the disadvantages of these attractive sinks:
- The reactivity of copper sinks is very high, causing darkening in the metal over time.
- Copper sinks stain easily, the patina of the sink is damaged by acidic liquids, forcing caution with orange juice, lemon juice, and even toothpaste, and abrasive cleaners.
- Thinner metal models can suffer deformations and dents.
- A copper sink has a higher cost than a conventional sink.
- One of the most significant disadvantages of copper sinks, is caused by a natural cause of the metal.
In the copper a layer composed of the salts of the metal is generated, a product of spontaneous corrosion, this layer is called patina, which depending on the type of salts that form it can be stable and beneficial, or the so-called unstable and destructive.
This destructive patina produces a greenish color layer, which makes the sink look dull and takes away its original luster.
Fortunately, there are many methods and techniques on how to clean a copper sink, here are some of these effective methods.
How to clean a copper sink with dish soap and water
Materials required
- Warm water
- Soft, non-metallic, non-hard-fiber sponge
- Dishwashing soap, Light, non-abrasive dish soap
- 2 Dry dish towels
Procedure.
- Dampen the surface of the copper sink with plenty of warm water.
- Soak the sponge in the dishwashing soap and scrub the entire surface of the sink, using firm, circular motions.
- Then rinse the entire sink with plenty of warm water.
- Dry the entire surface of the sink with the dishcloth and repeat the operation with the second dry cloth until no stains are visible on the sink. With this method you can clean the copper sink daily to make it look glamorous and shiny.
How to clean a copper sink with salt and vinegar
This procedure is for copper sinks without varnish coating.
Materials
- Warm water
- 1Tablespoon of salt
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 3 clean and dry kitchen towels
- 1 Plastic container
Procedure.
- Pour the cup of white vinegar into the plastic container.
- Add the tablespoon of salt to the container with vinegar and mix well.
- With a clean cloth, dampen it in the solution and apply it firmly in a circular motion over the entire surface of the copper sink.
- Rinse the sink with plenty of lukewarm water.
- Using the two dry cloths, sufficiently dry the entire surface of the sink.
For copper sinks with a protective layer of varnish, the procedure is similar, but to the mixture of salt and vinegar three glasses of water are added, and the mixture is put to boil, once it is boiling it is applied with the help of a spoon on the whole surface of the sink.
After a few minutes wash the sink with water and dishwasher soap, rinsing it with enough water, and then dry it with dry cloths.
How to clean a copper sink with salt and lemon and flour
Materials.
- Warm water
- 2 Tablespoons of salt
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- 1 Lemon
- 3 clean dry cloths
- 1 Plastic container
Procedure.
- Cut the lemon in two halves.
- Place a tablespoon of salt on the pulp of one of the lemon halves, and rub firmly in a circular motion over the entire surface of the sink.
- Pour plenty of warm water to rinse and dry well with a dry cloth.
- In the plastic container squeeze the other half of the lemon, add the other tablespoon of salt and the flour and mix well.
- With one of the cloths apply this mixture with circular movements on the surface of the sink, with this action it is achieved to polish the copper, giving it an excellent shine.
How to clean a copper sink with baking soda
Materials
- Plenty of warm water
- 1 Tablespoon
- 2 tablespoon of baking soda
- 2 Liters of water
- 1 Large pot
- 3 dry and clean kitchen towels
Procedure
- Place the two liters of water in the pot and add the two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Bring the mixture to a boil
- Once the mixture has boiled, pour the boiling mixture over the entire surface of the sink with the ladle.
- With the help of one of the cloths, rub firmly the surface of the sink.
- Pour the lukewarm water over the sink for rinsing.
- Efficiently dry the sink surface with the two cloths.
How to clean a copper sink with tomato sauce
Materials
- Warm water
- 5 tablespoons of tomato sauce
- Soft fiber sponge
- 2 Clean, dry cloths
Procedure
- Apply with the sponge the tomato sauce on the surface of the sink, making firm and circular movements.
- Pour a generous amount of warm water over the surface and with the help of the sponge remove the sauce residues.
- Dry the surface of the sink with the two clean cloths.
How to clean a copper sink with bleach
This method is very useful when the condition of the sink has an advanced greenish tone.
Materials
- Warm water
- 1 Spoon
- Soft fiber sponge
- Neoprene gloves
- Dishwashing soap
- 2 Liters of water
- 2 Liters of bleach
- 1 Large pot
- 2 Clean, dry dish towels
Procedure.
- Pour the two liters of water and bleach into the pot and bring it to a boil.
- Once the solution boils, put on gloves, with the help of the spoon pour the solution over the surface of the sink and stir firmly with the sponge until the greenish layer comes off, repeat the operation until there are no traces of the greenish layer.
- Apply a layer of soap with the sponge, moving it in a circular motion.
- Pour plenty of lukewarm water over the sink to remove the soap residue.
- With the help of the clean cloths, dry completely the surface of the sink.
How to clean a copper sink with Muriatic Acid
This method is very effective, but extreme care must be taken, as this is a chemical product that carries risks of danger, to use it you must use additional protections, gloves, and face masks to avoid inhalation of the acid.
It is only recommended in very extreme cases of corrosion of the copper sink, but it is very effective to eliminate the green layer of the sink and leaving it as new.
Materials
- Muriatic acid
- Warm water
- Cold water
- 2 Brush with long end
- Latex gloves
- Dishwashing soap
- Facial Mask
- Dry and clean cloths -Dry and clean cloths
Procedure
- Put on gloves and face mask.
- Take one of the brushes by the end and dip it in muriatic acid, do it with caution, keeping the acid away from your face and skin, do not forget to cover the acid container.
- Rub over the surface of the sink firmly, with emphasis on the most affected areas.
- Dispose of the brush by placing it in a plastic bag and sealing it.
- Pour warm water over the sink and pour sufficient dishwashing soap over the entire acid-impregnated surface, and with the help of the other long-handled brush, brush the surface to remove the acid residue.
- Pour plenty of warm water again to remove the acid and soap residue.
- Make sure to remove any acid residue by pouring plenty of cold water over the entire surface of the sink.
- Dispose of gloves and face mask by placing them in a bag and sealing it.
- Use plenty of soap and water to wash hands.
