Restoring Copper Sinks

Restoring copper sinks is a relatively simple matter. While these sinks look beautiful at first, many homeowners quickly become distraught when they see a new "stain" that has been left by a certain type of food, or cleaner. When this stain doesn't immediately go away, it is a common belief that the sink is ruined. The thing is, this couldn't be further from the truth. To get your copper sinks looking beautiful once more, all you need to do is follow these simple guidelines. You will soon find just how easy restoring copper sinks can really be.

• Give it time. One of the easiest ways that a copper sink can get "stained" is by leaving an acidic type of food to sit on it for too long. Examples of these foods would be any kind of citrus fruit, tomatoes, or vinegar. The resulting stain will be a particularly shiny patch that doesn't match the rest of the sink. The best way to restore copper sinks from this kind of a stain is to use a little bit of regular soap and water to clean the area, and then leave it alone. Over time the sink will turn more brown as it ages, and the shiny spot will disappear.
• Stain the entire sink to match. Another solution to the common citrus stain is to go ahead and "stain" the rest of the sink to match. This would result in the shiny patch being the entire sink, but can leave streaks. This should always be done as a last result, and if done use care. Apply some vinegar or citrus juice to a clean cloth, and then wipe out the entire sink. Once finished "staining" the sink, wash the entire sink with regular soap and water (using a different rag) and then wipe dry. The copper sink should now be the same color, and thus "restored."
• Chemical stains. There are times when you can find yourself faced with a chemical stain when certain cleaners react badly with the copper in the sink. There is really only one way to restore a sink after a problem like this, and that is to clean and polish the entire sink the old fashioned way. This means you will need to use a lot of elbow grease, and it can take a lot of time so be prepared. First you will need to clean the entire sink using regular soap and water, and scrub away any dirt that may be in the sink. Once the sink is "clean" use a copper polish such as Brasso to help restore the look of your copper sink. Follow the directions on the back of the polish as listed by the manufacturer to avoid any problems. Continue polishing until the chemical stain has been removed. After you have finished restoring the copper sink, you will need to apply a wax sealant to the surface to help protect it in the future. Such sealants are brands like Renaissance Wax and Wright's copper Cream.