The Elegance of Copper Sinks

Copper sinks are very elegant. They can be used to make a bathroom look elegant or a kitchen look antique. There are many different types of copper sinks. Each one is nicer and more elegant than the next. Choosing the copper sink for you can be a bit more difficult.

There are many bad choices to be made when choosing a copper sink. Unless you are aware of what you are doing, you could make one of the several mistakes.
You could choose a sink that does not age well, loses its shape, or turns rusty. There is a lot of research to be done when it comes to copper sinks. There are many different types of copper sinks and many different rules to follow when choosing and caring for a sink.

Are Copper Sinks Easy to Care for?
Many people make the mistake of not purchasing a copper sink because they think that there is too much maintenance involved in taking care of them. People believe this because of the day of the copper bottom pans. Before there was Teflon there was the copper bottom pan. These pots and pans required regular scrubbing and polishing.
This was too much work for most people. People look back and they remember how terrible it was to polish and scrub a pan, why would they want to polish and scrub and polish a copper sink? The scrubbing and polishing are just a myth. Unless it is a highly polished, decorative piece, polishing and scrubbing is not necessary. Copper sinks require no maintenance at all.

How Should I Maintain my Copper Sink?
Maintaining a copper sink is not difficult at all. When it comes to maintenance of a copper sink, the less you do the better. Copper sinks do not require any type of polishing or scrubbing. Copper sinks are made with a patina appearance. The look is “fired” in. It gives the copper sink an aged, weathered look. This is the desired look for copper sinks.

There are a few things that you can do for your copper sink to keep it looking its best. The first thing that should be done is rinsing. After you are finished using the sink, it is a good idea to rinse out whatever soap is left behind. If you live in an area where the mineral content in the water is high, it is a good idea to wipe out the sink after you rinse it.

If the hard water is left to sit on the sink’s surface for too long, it can cause spots on the sink or even ruin the patina finish. Cleaning you soap with a cleanser is necessary occasionally. It is very important, however, to use the right cleanser and cloth. All you need to clean your copper sink is a soft cloth and a very mild cleanser. Anything abrasive can scratch the sink and ruin the patina. Polishing is something that you can do whenever you feel necessary. It is especially important if you have a high mineral content in your water.

The wax will protect your sink from developing hard water stains. The best way to tell if your copper sink is in need of a polish is whenever the water stops beading up on the surface of the sink.Copper is a natural antibacterial. Unlike stainless steel sinks, copper sinks actually fight bacteria. It has recently been proved that bacterial can only live on a copper sink for a few hours. Bacteria can live on stainless steel for several days. Your copper sink actually does most of the cleaning work by itself.

It is important to know, if you have a kitchen sink, the foods that could be dangerous to your copper kitchen sink. Acidic foods such as tomatoes, lemons, vinegar, or mayonnaise can damage the patina of the sink. If these types of foods sit on the surface of the sink too long, they can end up causing permanent spotting. When using these foods, it is important to clean the sink thoroughly when you are finished.

Will my Copper Sink Dull with Age?
Many things in life become dull and lose their luster with age. Copper, however, is lucky enough to improve with age. When a copper sink is first made, it has a pinkish salmon hue.
As time goes by the pink fades to a nice russet shade, then becoming a nice, deep, rich tone. The speed that the copper begins to dull and become more beautiful, depends on a few different things. The first is how much the copper sink is used. If, for example, it is in a person’s guest bath which is hardly ever used, the aging will take longer. If it is used daily, it will be faster. It is nice to know that there are some things in life that look even nicer as they age.

What Should I do if I Scratch my Copper Sink?
The fact that copper looks more beautiful with age is amazing enough, but the idea that copper sinks can heal themselves is almost unbelievable. It is true though. If you happen to scratch your copper sink, you should do nothing.
Because of coppers “living finish” properties, the copper sink will heal itself. All that you are required to do is maintain your copper sink in the same manner as you usually do. In time, the scratches on the sink will fade out and disappear, making the copper sink look beautiful.
With all of these wonderful qualities about copper sinks, a person would be crazy not to want one. They require no maintenance, they improve with age, and they heal themselves. Along with looking beautiful they are the easiest type of sink to maintain.

http://awesomesinks.com/Copper-Sinks.html

Copper Sinks From AlphaOutlets.com

A FEW COPPER SINKS OFFERED BY ALPHAOUTLETS:





Houzer Opus Hand Hammered Copper Vessel Sink

Houzer Club Copper Bar/Prep Sink

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Antimicrobial Properties of Copper May Aid in Food Safety

Dr. Venkat Yelamanchili
"These results clearly demonstrate the antimicrobial properties of cast copper alloys with regard to E. coli O157, and consequently these alloys have the potential to aid in food safety,"

By American Society for Microbiology, A new study suggests that the use of cast copper alloys during food processing may help prevent cross-contamination of E. coli better than stainless steel say researchers from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom and Copper Development Association Inc., New York. Their findings appear in the June 2006 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.Escherichia coli O157 is one of the most serious food-borne pathogens worldwide causing physical effects ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis. Cattle is a major reservoir of E. coli O157, therefore outbreaks are primarily associated with consumption of undercooked ground beef. Cross-contamination of infected meat with points of contact during processing makes it extremely difficult to maintain. Currently, stainless steel has been the metal of choice for food preparation, however, studies have shown that even with consistent cleaning and sanitation procedures bacteria can remain viable.In the study cast copper alloys (a mixture of metals containing varying degrees of copper) and stainless steel were exposed to E. coli, some mixed with beef juice, some without, and incubated at either 22 degrees Celsius or 4 degrees Celsius for up to six hours. Results showed that three copper alloys not exposed to beef juice completely killed E. coli when stored at 22 degrees Celsius and only the alloys containing high quantities of copper (85% or more) significantly reduced E. coli at 4 degrees Celsius. With beef juice, alloys consisting of 93% or more copper greatly reduced E. coli at 4 degrees Celsius, while only one alloy (containing 95% copper) completely killed the bacterium at 22 degrees. No significant reduction in cell numbers was reported for stainless steel."These results clearly demonstrate the antimicrobial properties of cast copper alloys with regard to E. coli O157, and consequently these alloys have the potential to aid in food safety," say the researchers.

http://www.rxpgnews.com/health/food/article_4469.shtml

Materials: Antimicrobial Copper For Your Kitchen Sink

Antimicrobial Copper

Copper has been recognised as a hygienic material since the dawn of civilisation and, in the last two centuries, the anecdotal evidence has been supported by scientific research showing that copper is antimicrobial, i.e. it inhibits the growth of harmful pathogens - bacteria, moulds, algae, fungi and viruses.
The antimicrobial uses of copper currently include fungicides, antifouling paints, antimicrobial medicines, oral hygiene products, hygienic medical devices, antiseptics and a host of other useful applications. The latest scientific research demonstrates copper’s antimicrobial effect on a range of disease-causing organisms including MRSA, Clostridium difficile, E.coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Influenza A and Aspergillus niger, indicating a role for copper in applications where control of these germs would be beneficial:

Healthcare
Food processing
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
Transportation
Through the ages

It is important to note that, while copper's antimicrobial properties inhibit the growth of micro-organisms, it is also an essential mineral and vital to the good health of humans, animals and plants.

Healthcare Applications
Each year, hospital-acquired infections in England cost the National Health Service in the region of 1 billion pounds (infections result in an average extension to a hospital stay of 11 days per patient) and at least 5,000 patients die of complications from infections that they contracted in hospitals, according to a report by the National Audit Office. At any given time, 9% of hospitalised patients in the UK i.e. 300,000, have an infection that they did not have before they arrived.
Not all hospital-acquired infections are preventable but UK infection control teams recognise that a 15% reduction could be achieved through a series of infection control measures, including improved hygiene, which would lead to savings of approximately 150 million pounds a year. 80% of infectious diseases are spread by touch. It has been shown that a hand contaminated with influenza A virus will contaminate the next 7 surfaces that are touched.
Replacing frequently touched surfaces with copper or high-copper alloys such as brasses and bronzes, which are naturally antimicrobial, could be an important infection control measure and complement other measures such as hand washing, patient screening and isolation, and improved cleaning. Frequently touched surfaces in hospitals/care homes which could be made from copper or copper alloy include: door handles, push plates, light switches, bed rails, grab rails, intravenous poles, dispensers (alcohol gel, paper towel, soap), dressing trolleys, counter and table tops. These touch surfaces are all potential reservoirs of infection, and reducing the number of live germs on these surfaces could help in controlling the spread of MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections.
Copper alloys are homogenous, will go on working 24/7, will withstand wear and scratching, so integrating these materials into the hospital environment could provide another weapon in the fight against hospital- acquired infections.

Through the ages
Microbes weren’t discovered until the 19th Century but copper’s hygienic properties were well known through experience and tradition. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used copper compounds for the treatment of disease and good hygiene. Egyptians used copper as a sterilisation agent for drinking water and wounds. Hippocrates treated open wounds and skin irritations with copper. The Romans catalogued numerous medicinal uses for copper for various diseases. The Aztecs treated sore throats with copper, while Persia and India applied copper to treat boils, eye infections and venereal ulcers. Once the germ theory of infection linked bacteria and other microorganisms to infection and disease, scientists began to understand how copper’s antimicrobial property could be harnessed to provide additional benefits.

http://www.copperinfo.co.uk/antimicrobial/