Asked on Sep 08, 2012

I have ruined my copper sink! Please help!

I'm hoping to save my copper sink, but I am afraid I have totally ruined it. I need some suggestions on how to save it! What can I spray it with, or where can I find a 17 inch drop in sink that is brown? They don't seem to exist. There has to be some easy solution I hope! Thanks! http://www.redheadcandecorate.com/4/post/2012/09/my-copper-sink-is-ruined.html
If you look closely you can see the green and dullness. We have tried polishing it, but since I sanded it...it's doomed!!! http://www.redheadcandecorate.com/4/post/2012/09/my-copper-sink-is-ruined.html
  43 answers
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Sep 08, 2012
    How did it get this way?
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 08, 2012
    I explained everything in my post...I did it :( I am guilty!!! I am embarassed to say I used several wrong methods to take care of it.
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Sep 08, 2012
    Sorry, I don't follow links very often. Hope you find someone that can help you.
  • Debra D Debra D on Sep 09, 2012
    Can't help you with this sink but I just spent some time at your blog reading the post and your granite nightmare. WOW, why did they install it like that, were they having a bad day?
  • Donna C Donna C on Sep 09, 2012
    Well I have always cleaned copper bottoms of pots with ketchup and salt or lemon juice and salt have you tried that?
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 09, 2012
    Hi Debra...they arrived late, and were crabby to start-I greeted them very happy and excited. The one argued with me about having to carry the piece through the dining room (we have a side door through our dining room that leads directly to the kitchen). He told me they may have to charge extra. I didn't fall for that one, but I let them cut in the house. Thanks for stopping over at RCD...It's great when followers actually read the post and learn from my experience!
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Sep 09, 2012
    Have you looked at signature hardware?...they have tons of stuff...I'm sure if you gave them a call they could find something that would work for you. http://www.signaturehardware.com/product7025 this one above is glass mosaic that is a bit wider but only very slightly deeper...this may fit will just some minor hole modifications.
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 09, 2012
    Donna-Thank you! I tried ketchup last night after receiving a comment from a nice woman on my blog. It worked pretty good, but it still isn't what it should be. KMS-WOW! I love that sink! We are thinking about trying it...thanks so much!
  • Trudie S Trudie S on Sep 09, 2012
    Try Bar Keepers Friend- (Powder or Liquid) can be found at Wal-mart. I use it on my cooper bottom cookware. It will also remove the (stains) from cooking rice or beans on the inside bottom of the pots. Hope this helps, i love the product.
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Sep 09, 2012
    Wow! the things we learn on here. Certainly would make one think twice before getting a high maintenance sink. I thought aluminum /s/steel was a pain! I had a regular sink, but I had brass for the faucet and drain. In the bathroom one day I evidently ran finger nail polish remover down the drain, and it discolored the brass around the drain terribly. Never inquired what to do about it. So are you going to try more ketchup? Or replace it so you wont have to worry about it anymore? (I am going to remember ketchup for when i run out of Barkeeps friend!.)
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Sep 09, 2012
    But that sink still has copper aound it, doesnt it?
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 09, 2012
    yes...still has copper, but I am thinking about just replacing it like KMS Woodworks suggested...just don't want to spend $200 smackaroonis!
  • Monica Koerperich Monica Koerperich on Sep 09, 2012
    What about Brasso? My ex used it when he was in the Sea Bees. Good for his Crows I think. Any way, try Brasso. It certainly won't make it worse. Did you put something on it to remove the Brass, or is this just years of use?
  • Donna C Donna C on Sep 09, 2012
    well sorry Ketchup didn't do the trick, try half cut lemon pour coarse salt on lemon and scrub, It def. takes some elbow grease and a few times but usually works great.Good luck to you!
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Sep 09, 2012
    Nope, Make a paste of cooking oil and Baking soda, scrub until it returnes to the shiny copper look you want then rinse and dry with a soft towel and wax with paste carwax. I keep a jar of cooking oil and baking soda mixed next to the kitchen sink for removing adhesive stickers off of "stuff" and for scrubbing my copper bottom pots and pans and or my glass bakeware if soaking in baking soda isn't enough....LOL
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Sep 10, 2012
    FYI http://www.aboutcoppersinks.org/ many copper sinks of lesser origins are lacquered...
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 10, 2012
    great info...you guys are the best!!!
  • Monica Koerperich Monica Koerperich on Sep 11, 2012
    Poor Redheadcandecorate, hope you get it shiny again I don't think you removed all the copper, just keep trying some of these home remedies. May save you alot of money.
  • Redheadcandecorate.com Redheadcandecorate.com on Sep 11, 2012
    Thanks Monica! :)
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Sep 11, 2012
    So, have you had a chance to try the cooking oil, baking soda scrub? Oh I forgot...use a soft cloth rather than a sponge cause it's easier to control how much baking soda is on the cloth at once cause you'll need to add a little more pretty frequently....
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Dec 09, 2013
    call the maufactor don't use ketchup it's acid and will only make the problem worse.
  • Brasso,or a mixture of baking soda and lemon. Rub it in and let it dry,after buff it,hope it works for you.
  • Yvonne Day Aka Miss Ruby Yvonne Day Aka Miss Ruby on Jan 25, 2015
    Use wine! I had a friend who put a copper top on a bar and used wine to clean it with and it was beautiful! Cant hurt to drink it and clean while you do!
  • Richard Monje Richard Monje on Feb 12, 2015
    This might help...I would clean it with some Brasso first http://www.finishing.com/504/55.shtml
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Feb 26, 2015
    Barkeepers Friend is the best....it is a powder. Sprinkle it on your sink, wipe with a damp sponge, and it will shine like new! It leaves a nice shiny, polished surface. I use it on my copper bottom kitchen pans and they look great.
  • Comet Comet on Feb 26, 2015
    This post is orig from THREE YEARS AGO----if the Op didn't solve the problem she can post an update. And--the green "drips" That IS the copper naturally doing what copper DOES. If you want it to STAY all nice n shiny you have to buy or polich and then SEAL the crap outta it. Copper is meant to age and look different over time. Just saw a gorgeous bathroom hammered copper sink in a restaurant and it was BE YOU TI FUL with the age and different shades. Would happily have taken this posters sink and adopted it!
  • Heidy Heidy on Jun 21, 2015
    A product called Penny brite renews copper like no other! I use it on the copper jewelry I make after soldering.
  • Lyn Lyn on Jul 29, 2015
    I used to use vinegar and salt with some elbow grease to shine the bottom of my Revereware copper bottom pots. They really shined. Start with just vinegar and you may not need the salt.
    • Joy Rogers Caron Joy Rogers Caron on Jan 29, 2017

      Wow that was a lifesaver. I splashed some bleach in my sink thinking it needed disinfecting. I came back later to see it corroded. I rubbed vinegar on it and it worked!

  • Tracy Long Alday Tracy Long Alday on Aug 27, 2015
    Barkeepers friend MAY restore the shine but it will probably be a dull one at that, it needs to be SEALED immediately after cleaning!! If you do this yourself please rinse repeatedly BK does leave a white filmy residue if not rinsed enough. The sealer should be for COPPER, if it doesn't say so on the container itself, DO NOT use it regardless of what anyone tells you, I have made that mistake myself. If the metal isn't listed on the container NEVER, EVER use it.
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Nov 18, 2015
    Did you get it fixed? If not take it out, put in dishwasher with a tablet or two Finish. It keeps my cooper bottom pots looking like a new penny. Then you need to seal it. Looks like what happen was you inadvertently removed the sealer. Unsealed cooper will oxidize (green) think Statue of Liberty.
  • Lou Camp Lou Camp on Mar 27, 2016
    Try Kaboom
  • OzGirl OzGirl on Jun 12, 2016
    Copper sink? Why would you have it as a sink. Most copper is best as bowls for beating egg whites like no other bowl. Using it as pots is great too as it's a great distributor of heat, also as decorative items, but to use it daily as a sink is a no no in my books, because no matter what you seal it with, the sealer will eventually wear off in spots here and there then under the exposed copper will spread. Best to do is strip the previous varnish, if it has it at all, that would probably be the hardest part depending on the varnish or resin used on it. I would not varnish it at all but what you have to do is keep it dry after each use. Clean it unvarnished when needed, you will see it go dull, slice a lemon in half sprinkle with either salt or bicarbonate of soda and rub it all over and you don't even have to press hard, you will see the difference as soon as you touch the sink with the lemon, rinse off and dry it with a soft cotton cloth. Copper is one of the metals, that no matter what any product will tell you, that it will seal it and that the sealant is everlasting is a liar. Copper doesn't like being sealed.
  • Bev Bev on Jun 12, 2016
    Try soaking it with cloths soaked in tomato juice. The find out how to reseal it.
  • Patti Patti on Jun 23, 2016
    Copper is supposed to have anti bacterial properties and it touted as an ideal sink material. I think you may be expecting it to look like something it is not capable of doing for a long period of time. Just clean it regularly and let it be what it is. Copper doesn't stay shiny like a new penny. Here is one website with copper sink care info, but google it and I'm sure you'll find many more. http://www.treasuresdeoldmexico.com/careofcopper.htm
  • Yvonne Day Aka Miss Ruby Yvonne Day Aka Miss Ruby on Jun 24, 2016
    You did not ruin so to speak. Copper oxidizes and anytime water gets on it this is the natural reaction. Now if you are wanting it to shine up you can get some copper cleaner and reseal with a product like car wax and buff in. This will make water bead up. Now I had a friend who had a copper bar top and used felt over wine to clean it and it was always beautiful. Hope this helped.
  • OzGirl OzGirl on Jun 24, 2016
    Just cut a lemon in half, sprinkle with baking soda and rub, rinse and dry with soft cloth.
  • Jea6112389 Jea6112389 on Oct 21, 2016
    It was stated that they sanded it. Once you remove any sealer I have never heard of anything that will restore copper to a shine.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 02, 2023

    Air will oxidize the sink for you over time!

  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 01, 2023

    I would try a simple solutin of equal amounts of vinegar and water. Rinse and then see if you need to repeat this process.


  • Betsy Betsy on Aug 12, 2023

    Hi Redhead: Have you tried cleaning it with Barkeepers Friend? That stuff works great. Here's a video that may help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvUCp35a7vE


    Good luck

  • Dee Dee on Feb 21, 2024

    Crazy as this sounds but you can clean the sink with a cheap Ketchup and salt. I used that on my copper bottom pots years ago and it still works.