Many people avoid purchasing a copper sink, believing them to be time consuming to care for and clean. In fact, nothing could be further than the truth. While it must be acknowledged that a copper sink does, indeed, take a little more looking after than its stainless steel counterpart. The difference is negligible, and a small price to pay for introducing a truly individual work of art to your home.

Copper has what is referred to as a living finish, its patina will gradually develop and age over time, bringing with it an incredible breadth of tones and colours which enhance the appearance of the sink. While it is possible to spend hours polishing and shining a copper sink to give it a mirrored quality (specialist copper cleaners are available), most owners prefer to let the natural beauty of the metal emerge, embracing the uniqueness this brings to their home.

When caring for your new sink, there are a couple of items you should avoid, such as abrasive cleaners and harsh chemicals which can injure the patina and harm the surface of your sink. The other items most likely to affect the finish are acidic foods such as lemons, oranges and brown sauce. While short periods of contact with these items will not affect the sinks appearance, prolonged contact with the acid can cause a shiny spot which will be noticeable against the living finish. The simplest way to avoid this happening is to rinse with soap and water, and then wipe over with a dry cloth.

The other thing which can affect the appearance of your sink is the quality of water in the area in which you live. If you are in a hard water area, it is particularly important to dry your sink after use, rather than leaving the water to rest in the bowl.  Left to lie, hard water can cause spotting which can be difficult to remove once it has marked the surface. Waxing your sink from time to time can help avoid these marks occurring and also provides better water runoff, giving additional protection.

If you do accidentally mark your sink in any way, you will find that as with all things, time is a great healer. The copper’s living finish will mature, and it won’t be long before the mark once again blends with your beautiful sink.

A copper sink is a true work of art. The amount of care you give it depends on the finish and the colour you wish to achieve. Properly maintained a copper sink will last a lifetime, and be a truly unique centrepiece in your home.