Caring for Your Copper Sinks and Bathtub
A unique group of luxury items,
copper sinks and bathtubs are incredibly easy to
care for. They don't require any
special treatment and are much
easier to maintain than you�ve been led to
believe! Not only will the
'right' copper sink and bath tub be virtually
maintenance free... it will, in essence, practically take care of itself!
First of all, it�s helpful to know that
copper itself is indestructible! It�s
simply NOT possible to damage copper. It
is however, possible to damage the patina
finish. For this reason alone, here's what you
need to know in the way of properly caring for and
maintaining your copper sinks and tub.
Good News!
If you grew up having to clean the shiny copper
bottoms on your mother's pots and pans, you probably believe
that copper is a high maintenance item, in constant need of
scrubbing and polishing.
Well, great news! While scrubbing
and polishing may be true for those shiny copper
bottoms... that's certainly not the case where
our copper sinks and copper bathtubs are concerned!
Here's why...
Maintaining Copper
Our
copper kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, vessel sinks and bath tubs are
completed with a patina finish that is �fired� into the material,
giving them a weathered or 'aged' appearance. If you scrub,
or polish...
or use anything abrasive or acid-based on your copper sink or
bathtub, you will damage the patina finish.
So, the key to maintaining copper sinks and
bath tubs in perfect condition
is all about what you don't do. And, what
you don't do, is... scrub... or polish! How cool is that?
Here's what you do...
Rinse your copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink or bathtub with water after each use
and pat it dry. Give
it a thorough cleaning with mild soap and a soft cloth from time to time...
and, always avoid using anything abrasive on it.
That's it! Really!!
With nothing more than this simple routine of 'rinse
and wash', your copper sink or bath tub will give you lifetimes of enjoyment!
Hard Water Areas
If you live in an area where the mineral content in your
water is high, it's best to wipe your copper sink or bathtub dry after each use to prevent
unsightly spotting.
When 'hard' water is
left to stand, minerals in the water accumulate and begin to form
deposits on your sink or tub. Once that happens, they'll be
difficult to remove and could even ruin the patina
finish.
A Light Wax Coating
For an added layer of
protection (especially in 'hard water' areas), consider giving your copper
kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink or bath tub a very light coat of wax.
A high quality wax,
specifically made for plumbing fixtures, will protect your sink and
tub against the build up of mineral deposits and other types of
water/soap residue. For those who live in
a 'hard water' area, waxing your sink or bath tub is a definite
plus.
How often should you
apply a new coat of wax? As often as needed. When you notice that water is no
longer 'beading up' on the surface of your copper sink or bathtub, it's time to apply another coat.
Cleaning Your Copper Sink
Copper is naturally
antibacterial and more sanitary than all
other materials currently used to make kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks
and bath tubs. Recent
studies
have shown that bacteria can only live for hours on copper,
as compared to living for days on stainless steel and, longer
still on
all other
types of kitchen and bath surfaces! For this reason alone,
many hospitals have now begun the process of replacing stainless
steel counters and fixtures with those made of copper!
Because it's naturally antibacterial, your copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bath tub will do most of the
work in keeping itself clean. All you really have to do is help
your sink or tub maintain itself by giving it an occasional cleaning with
a very gentle soap.
To clean... use a soft,
non-abrasive cloth, mild soap, warm water and gently wipe the
interior and exterior of your copper sink or bathtub. Rinse
thoroughly with clean water and wipe your sink or tub dry with a clean soft cloth.
Warning!
Housekeepers love to scrub and polish and typically use a variety
of abrasive cleaning agents and disinfectants when they clean your
kitchen and
bathroom. If they are not informed about the proper care of
your copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bath tub, they may unknowingly damage the
finish.
Be sure to go over this information with your housekeeper and educate
her or him, about the proper way to clean your copper sinks and tub.
One Final Note
For your copper kitchen sink...
All acid based foods and/or food items such as... lemons,
tomatoes, mustard, pineapple, vinegar, etc... have the potential to
damage the patina finish. To avoid ruining the finish it is best to
leave water running while working with products and foods of this
nature and remember to thoroughly rinse your sink immediately after use The 'Right' Copper Sink and
Copper Bath Tub It's important to note that not all copper sinks and bath
tubs are made of high quality copper and can, in fact, be a problem
to live with. Be sure to
check out the truth about copper and discover the secret to choosing the 'right'
copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink and bath tub... ones
that will remain beautiful, function perfectly and literally provide
lifetimes of use
and enjoyment! Printed Version If you
would like to have a printed version of this information, you can
download a copy in PDF form by clicking on this link...
Caring for Your
Copper Sink & Bath Tub
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