Summary for copper sink stains Discussion
Copper sink stains are the main issue in this thread: the original poster says Tarn-X removed tarnish but left black dribbles that won’t come off, and wonders whether well water is causing the problem and whether spray copper paint would help. The replies point in different directions. Barry says black staining can happen from water contact and mineral content, and suggests a patina approach using Barry’s Restore It All kits plus regular copper wax to manage and protect the finish. Another answer says powder coating is not a practical option for an installed sink because it requires professional oven baking. James Watts says the sink is a poor material choice for this use and suggests Incralac or other clear lacquers, though he doubts they will last long. Terry Hickling says acetone likely damaged a protective coating, while another reply argues the damage may be to patina or wax rather than a clear coat, and says the finish may be delicate but fixable.
Q. I tried everything to safely clean my huge copper kitchen sink and finally had to use Tarn-X tarnish remover
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
. It cleans it with lots of scrubbing and then rinsing off the white residue. The ugliest part of this is the black dribbles down the sink that won’t come off. Is it from my well water? I am about to paint the sink with spray copper paint. Does that ever work or does it come right off? Thank you. I can’t deal with this black mess any more.
Candace Heath
Home owner – Underwood, North Dakota
October 13, 2021
A. Hello Candice. Sorry for your challenges with your copper sink. The ‘black staining’ can occur in response to water contact and especially to the mineral content from the source of your water.
adv.
Barry’s Restore It All Products offer 2 size kits to turn your bright copper to a brown to black patina which will help manage this staining.
After you finish the repair you should maintain with a good copper wax.
Barry Feinman – Chief Restoration Officer
BarrysRestoreItAll
Carlsbad, California
October 19, 2021
BUT, is there any product I can use to paint or otherwise cover the copper? I’ll try the product you suggest, but I’ve tried Barkeepers Friend
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] and it doesn’t make a dent in the blackness of the copper, as suggested in a different post. So if it’s similar I don’t have high hopes. I’ve also waxed after I’ve cleaned it and that doesn’t begin to stop the discoloring, not one bit or for one minute. I’m ready to paint it! Is there a sink paint?
Candace Heath [returning]
Home owner – Underwood, North Dakota
October 20, 2021
A. Barkeepers Friend (powder not the liquid)
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] should have worked with a 7447 3M Scotch-Brite pad
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] .
Unless you hire a painter with an HVLP sprayer
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
you are limited to spray cans with color of your choice.
Mark Rekdahl
Metal Refinisher – SAN BERNARDINO, California
October 29, 2021
⇩ Similar, related, Q&As — oldest first ⇩
Q. I and my neighbor/friend used to use a cleanser for cleaning our brass, stainless steel, bathroom sinks, etc. It is called Cameo. My friend and I have been looking for it for a long while and we can’t find it in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. When you make a paste out of it (with a bit of water) it’s a quick, and fab cleanser (especially for Copper) If anyone in this area knows where we can purchase Cameo, please let us know. Thanks,
Dianne Holowka
– North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
2004
Ed. note: Cameo Copper Brass & Porcelain Cleaner
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
and Cameo Aluminum & Stainless Cleaner
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
are available from Amazon, eBay, etc., Dianne. Barkeepers Friend
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] is probably rather similar.
Q. I have a client with a hammered copper bathroom sink. I use a copper cleaner to shine it, but as soon as the water is turned on there is a blackish streak. I wondered if a clear powder coat was the proper solution to retain the shine and beauty of the copper while giving it a shield from the water. Also, is this a permanent solution or one that will have to be repeated? If it has to be repeated, then how often, under normal use?
Jo-Ann Peabody
Executive household property manager – White Lake, New York
2007
 | A. Hi Jo Anne, first off, powder coating requires baking in an oven done by a professional powder coating company; so unless the sink is removable, this is not an option. Also, potential cracking by pots and utensils would create a maintenance problem to come. Did you want to polish the sink to bright copper look? The discoloration you report is most likely due to some high chemical content in your water. adv. Frequent waxing will help protect the restored surface and maintain your patina. Best
2007 A. Try Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] coating.Hope it helps and good luck! Goran Budija |
A. I would suggest two possible answers.
Incralac
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
is a very good clear varnish containing inhibitors to prevent copper tarnishing. There are clear electrophoretic lacquers which may be tougher but need specialist application.
I would not expect either to last very long.
However, the bottom line is that you have just discovered the hard way why there are so few copper bathroom sinks. It is a totally unsuitable material for that use. The same goes for gold plated taps (faucets ?)
Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England
2007
C-L-R Ruined my copper sink
Q. I noticed the problem of using CLR on copper and just wanted to say that I used CLR on my new bathroom sink while cleaning, and it ruined the ring around the stopper by eating into the chrome finish around the stopper. I ran water in the sink but it still caused the solution to form around the ring and eat away the chrome finish around the stopper.
How can I fix this problem without removing the ring around the stopper? It is sad when this product can destroy the metal in a sink and yet is completely safe for plastic as the stopper was unmarred. Because of this damage, I am afraid to use CLR on anything. I hate CLR! It is not consumer friendly! The warning is not to use it on metallic glazed surfaces but when almost all sinks and bathtubs have these metallic glazed surfaces in sinks around the stoppers, how can they recommend it as safe to use on cleaning any sinks or bathtubs! Who can I write to to complain about this potentially destructive product?
Signed, disappointed in CLR
Navona McMahan
home owner – Woodlake, California
December 1, 2009
A. There is no way to properly fix the chrome ring except to have it plated. You could have a new one installed cheaper than electroplated. If a product claims it will remove calcium, lime and rust you would think the mfg would know it is going to come in contact with chrome plated drain hardware, whether it be in sinks or tubs. Did you let the CLR sit for a extended time in the sink before rinsing away? Nevertheless, I would write the company and tell them their product ruined your sink. Take pictures to send along with the letter. They may send you a check for the damage if you persist enough. Good Luck.
Mark Baker
Fellow Plater – Syracuse, New York, USA
December 3, 2009
Acetone damaged the finish on copper sink
Q. I spilled acetone (nail polish remover) in the metal sink in our bathroom. This is a coppery colored sink not stainless steel. Within a few minutes the finish was damaged, leaving washed out light streaks. Is there anything I can do?
Joli Hohenstein
Home owner – Decatur, Illinois
December 8, 2010
A. The sink probably had a clear coat on it that the acetone attacked.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
December 10, 2010
| Is there anything I can do? Joli Hohenstein No… as James has explained, the Acetone has acted as a partial paint stripper causing irreparable damage to the coating that is protecting the copper. Terry Hickling |
| The damage *might* be superficial. Try polishing the surface with very fine, 000 or 0000 #0000 steel wool ⇦ on eBay or The only other fix would be to remove the sink, strip all the clear coat with paint remover ⇦ on or Amazon [affil link]
Two choices; try to respray the whole zinc with a bright or medium bright copper paint spray can, or give up and replace the entire sink. I would talk to the folks that made the sink to see what their ideas might be. James Watts |
A. I feel a need to correct the suggestions offering an explanation re: clear coat. Why do we assume there is a clear coat over the copper as only one manufacturer has a clear powder coat over theirs while all others offer raw copper (maybe waxed) product. Besides, the writer doesn’t say anything about a ‘white film’ which would be result of acetone damage of clear coat. What we have here is damage to patina or wax coating.
adv.
BarrysRestoreItAll offers a Copper Patina Repair kit and proprietary waxes. Hope this gives hope to you. The finish is delicate but fixable.
Barry Feinman – Chief Restoration Officer
BarrysRestoreItAll
Carlsbad, California
Q. I cleaned an antiqued brass sink with a mixture of salt, vinegar
⇦ in bulk on
or
Amazon [affil link] and flour. It is now clean and shiny. Since it is a sink that is used, what is the best way to get the antique look back and what needs to go on it to protect it from future stains. Also, what is the best product to use for routine cleaning?
Sharon Nivens
– Kings Mountain, North Carolina USA
March 20, 2017
Q. We have updated our new/old home and have installed a copper bathroom sink which has turned black. There is no amount of work that will keep it looking like new and wondered if there is a product that I can use to keep the sink looking like new.
Thanks for your advice.
Jane Whitmore
restorer – Delaware, Ohio
October 6, 2017
Plumbers Putty Ruined Finish on Copper Sink
Q. Just installed this new copper sink. When installing the faucet, the plumbers putty removed the finish of the copper.
Any suggestions to repair? I know copper will have areas of dark and light, but I just don’t want an eternal ring around the faucet!
Karlovec Jennifer
– Medina, Ohio
December 19, 2017
Q. My husband just installed a new copper sink in bathroom. In order to weight it down after it was installed to get the glue to set, he used some plastic weights, the small kind that you use for weight lifting. The weights left marks where they sat. Is there anyway to get the marks out? Thank you.
Allyn Stoller
– albion, Indiana, United States
August 1, 2019