How to clean a copper sink

All copper sinks should be washed with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge. Dry your sink after cleaning or using it to prevent mineral deposits and green spotting. If you want to keep your polished sink shiny, apply a copper cleaner and wax at least every six weeks.

Do routinely wash your sink to keep it looking new.

One of the easiest ways to stop kitchen sinks from aging is to routinely wash them with a little dishwashing liquid and water. For stubborn stains, you could also make a paste using baking soda and water.

Rub a coat of old-fashioned furniture wax, beeswax or copper wax into the surface of the sink to clean it; the wax helps slow down the patina development. Use a soft cloth to apply the wax, rubbing it in with a circular motion. Use the wax every time you clean the sink for best results.

When you have clean-lined copper cookware, you‘ll want a cleanser that’s safe for both the copper surface and the lining. Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser is safe for most surfaces.

“Always clean the copper bottom with a nylon scrubbing pad or soft sponge. Do not use abrasives such as steel wool or scouring powder, as these may scratch the finish on your cookware. Buff the copper cleaner off the bottom with a clean, dry rag to restore shine.”

Copper oxide dissolves in water, but it usually takes a long time. The combination of vinegar (a weak solution of acetic acid), and table salt (sodium chloride) helps to dissolve the copper oxide, and also forms the blue copper(II) ion, which is soluble in water. The penny becomes shiny again!

Copper Cleaner

The acid in the Coke makes the copper look shiny and new—without scrubbing. This cleaning trick works on plenty of other household copper accents as well.

To protect the finish on copper sinks avoid using abrasive cleaners. No coarse, acidic, or alcohol-based cleaners should be used. No Steel wool, Brillo pads, or wire brushes as they can may scratch copper surfaces. Clean with hot soapy water and scrub with a soft nylon brush.

In the case of a copper cooking pot or skillet, there may be some blackening of the bottom. This is not tarnish and can be scoured away with the steel wool and dishwashing liquid. You can also use commercial soap pads such as SOS. Use them in a circular motion to prevent leaving permanent marks.

Lemon Juice + Salt

Create a paste with lemon juice (lime or orange juice works, too) and salt at a 3:1 ratio, respectively. Make sure salt is dissolved so as not to scratch the copper. Rub a small amount of paste on the soiled copper object with a clean cloth until you start to see the grime loosen up.

Wipe the copper dry and clean and polish it after using it or touching it, and do not place it in a dishwasher under any circumstance. Additionally, you can coat your copper object by wiping it with a light coat of baby oil, mineral oil, olive oil, WD–40, or even a thin layer of carnauba wax or beeswax.