Decorating the kitchen or restroom with a hammered copper sink has become a popular trend recently because this material brings excellent consistency and a luxurious look with its copper or gold-copper color.
However, unlike frequent sinks made of stainless steel or ceramics, this material is different in appearance, surface, and feature. Therefore, cleaning this kind of furniture is also different. And if you want to bring back the new and premium look to the sink, refer to our detailed steps about how to clean a hammered copper sink below.
Contents
Things To Prepare Before Cleaning A Hammered Copper Sink
Of course, depending on how dirty the sink is, we may have different cleaning methods. However, this post will demonstrate detailed steps to clean a copper sink with tough dirt and strains. Below are several things to prepare:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Clean water
- Copper cleaning liquid
- Sealant
- A new paintbrush
- Clean microfiber cloths
- Plastic gloves (kitchen gloves recommended)
- A face mask
- A soft sponge
How To Clean A Hammered Copper Sink: Step By Step
Step 1: Preparing cleaning liquid
First, prepare a mixture of 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of white vinegar (use clean water if vinegar is unavailable) in a small bowl (ceramic bowl recommended).
Then, use the teaspoon to stir the mixture evenly until it becomes a thick paste. This mixture will be the primary detergent for our process.
Remember to put on gloves and facemask, as baking soda may irritate your skin. Also, open all the windows before using baking soda to maintain ventilation.
Step 2: Cleaning the stains
When you’re done preparing your mixture, use the paintbrush to apply the paste onto the strains you want to clean, or you may apply it all over the sink with a thin layer for deep cleaning.
Wait a few minutes until the dirt gets loosened, then use the sponge to rub the dirty areas. You may apply more vital force for severe stains. Do it to the tape and other objects if they are made of copper also.
After finishing wiping, wash the whole surface with clean water, then check whether there is any stain left. If yes, apply the mixture and repeat the actions until all is gone.
Step 3: Removing ugly areas
After prolonged use, your copper appliance may have some discolored or oxidized areas on the surface. These are not stains or dirt, but they make the sink look bad.
After cleaning stains with baking soda, pour a little copper detergent into the cloth, wipe the discolored areas until clean, and wash the sink with water. Check the copper tape and do the same things if it is in the same situation.
Remember to read the instructions carefully before applying copper detergent because some substances are more difficult to use than we think. Contact customer service for support if necessary.
Step 4: Polishing the sink
All is clean, and it’s time to bring back the luxurious look. Use a dry cloth to wipe all the water on the sink before polishing, as the sealant may dissolve in water.
Pour a little copper polishing substance (often wax or lacquer) onto another dry cloth, then wipe all over the surface of the sink and wait for a period (depending on the substance) before using again.
Below is a video posted by Kimmy Loves Cooking, showing the overall cleaning process of a hammered copper sink:
Read More:
How To Get Rid Of Kitchen Sink Smell? (6 Easy DIY Methods)
FAQs
What are the pros and cons of hammered copper sinks?
A hammered copper sink is an excellent choice for decorating your kitchen or restroom. A high-quality one is often made of 99% copper and 1% zinc. Sometimes the material includes lead and mercury. Below are the pros and cons of this kind of sink:
Pros:
- Sturdy and consistent
- Have a unique and luxurious look
- Lots of styles
- Recyclable
- Corrosion-resistant
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Expensive
- Some maybe scratchable
- Sensitive to heat
Can we clean hammered copper sinks without chemicals?
The answer is yes. With some simple materials, we can make a cleaning mixture that works on copper sink surfaces.
Vinegar is still necessary for our cleaning, but you may use lemon if vinegar is not available. First, put ¼ teaspoon of salt, an identical amount of flour, and some vinegar (or lemon and water) into a small bowl, then stir it evenly to form a thick paste.
Next, use a new or clean paintbrush to apply the paste on the copper sink surface and do the same as we described above until everything is clean.
Remember that this method is applied to minor stains only. For heavily dirty and discolored or oxidized sinks, we need to follow the 4-step instruction above.
What is the role of vinegar in cleaning hammered copper sinks?
In any method of cleaning copper or any metal, vinegar plays an important role.
This substance is a light acetic acid liquid, which can dissolve any metal oxide, the primary element of metal rust. Therefore, a mixture between a detergent and vinegar can effortlessly remove rust and metal stains in two steps: dissolve the dirt and then clean it.
If you don’t have vinegar, use lemon liquid instead because lemon contains a similar acid to dissolve dust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is not difficult to clean a copper sink, provided that you strictly follow the instructions on how to clean a hammered copper sink above.
If you have more tips and experience in cleaning this piece of furniture, don’t hesitate to share them with us. Also, don’t forget to introduce our method to your friends if you think it is helpful.
