To clean a brass sink without stripping the patina, rinse it with warm water, wash it with a few drops of mild dish soap on a soft cloth, rinse again, and dry it completely with a towel. That is the whole daily routine. Skip bleach, ammonia, abrasive pads and acidic cleaners, which strip the finish unevenly. Polish only when you want the bright brass back, never because you have to.
Unlacquered brass is alive. It reacts to water, air and touch, and it slowly darkens into a warm, amber patina. Good care is not about stopping that change. It is about keeping the sink clean while the patina develops evenly. Here is exactly how we recommend caring for the hand-hammered brass sinks we make in Fes.
In this article
- What do you need to clean a brass sink?
- How do you clean a brass sink in 5 steps?
- What should you never use on a brass sink?
- How do you remove water spots and marks?
- Should you polish a brass sink or let it patina?
- Is cleaning brass different from cleaning copper?
- FAQ
What do you need to clean a brass sink?
You already own almost everything. A brass sink needs gentle tools, not special chemicals.
- Warm water for rinsing
- Mild dish soap (the same one you use on your hands and dishes)
- A soft cloth or non-scratch sponge
- A dry microfiber or cotton towel for drying
- Optional: a brass polish, if you want a bright finish
- Optional: a light wax, to even out the tone of an aged finish
How do you clean a brass sink in 5 steps?
Do steps 1 to 4 whenever you use the sink. Step 5 is a choice you make every few weeks or months, depending on the look you want.
Step 1: Rinse with warm water
After each use, run warm water around the basin to lift food, soap and grease before they have a chance to sit. Residue left overnight is what causes uneven dark spots, especially around the drain.
Step 2: Wash with mild soap and a soft cloth
Put a few drops of dish soap on a soft, damp cloth and wipe the whole basin, including the rim and the area around the strainer. Use light pressure. On a hand-hammered sink, follow the curve of the bowl so the cloth reaches into the hammer marks without scrubbing them.
Step 3: Rinse away every trace of soap
Rinse the basin thoroughly. Soap film left on brass dries into dull, cloudy patches, so give the sides and the drain area a final pass with clean water.
Step 4: Dry the sink completely
This is the step that matters most. Wipe the basin dry with a towel after use. Standing water is what leaves spots and darker rings on unlacquered brass, and drying is the simplest way to keep the patina even.
A round, hand-hammered brass bar sink in 8, 10 or 12 inch sizes, with a warm aged finish and drain included.
Step 5: Choose your finish: patina, polish or wax
Now decide how you want the sink to look. You have three options, and you can switch between them at any time:
- Let it patina. Keep doing steps 1 to 4 and nothing else. The brass will slowly deepen to amber over months and years.
- Polish it bright. Apply a brass polish with a soft cloth, following the product's directions, then rinse and dry. This brings back the golden shine.
- Wax it even. On an aged finish, an occasional light wax helps even out the tone where some areas have darkened faster than others.
What should you never use on a brass sink?
Most damage to a brass sink comes from cleaning it too hard, not from using it. Keep this table handy.
| Safe to use | Avoid | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mild dish soap | Bleach | Harsh chemicals can discolor brass and strip the patina in patches |
| Soft cloth or non-scratch sponge | Steel wool, scouring pads, abrasive powders | They scratch the surface and wear through the patina |
| Warm water | Ammonia-based cleaners | Ammonia reacts with brass and can leave uneven marks |
| Brass polish (only when you want shine) | Vinegar, lemon or other acids left sitting | Acids brighten brass fast and unevenly, leaving blotchy spots on an aged finish |
| A dry towel after every use | Leaving water to air dry | Standing water leaves spots and rings |
How do you remove water spots and marks from a brass sink?
Start with the gentlest fix. Wash the area with warm soapy water, rinse, and dry it straight away. Most fresh water spots lift with nothing more than that.
If a mark stays, you have two choices. You can leave it, because everyday marks tend to blend into the patina as the rest of the sink darkens. Or you can polish the spot with a little brass polish. Bear in mind that polishing brightens the metal, so on an aged finish it can leave a lighter patch. If you polish one area, work outward in soft strokes so the edge blends, or polish the whole basin for an even look.
Should you polish a brass sink or let it patina?
There is no wrong answer. It depends on the look you love, and on the finish you chose.
- Polished finish: rinse and dry after use to slow the darkening. A light brass polish restores the shine whenever you want it. If you stop polishing, the sink will gradually age into a warm patina.
- Aged patina finish: the surface already has its rich, weathered character. Just wash gently and wipe dry. Avoid harsh abrasives and acidic cleaners, which strip the patina unevenly, and use an occasional light wax if you want to even out the tone.
Either way, expect the color to shift over months and years. That is the nature of unlacquered metal, and it is why no two of our sinks ever look the same. For the full routine for each finish, see our Care and Patina Guide.
A 42 inch brass kitchen sink with an integrated drainboard, formed by hand in Fes, with a brass basket strainer included.
Is cleaning brass different from cleaning copper?
Very little. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc (the Copper Development Association explains the different brasses), and unlacquered brass and copper sinks share the same gentle routine: rinse, wash with mild soap, rinse, dry. The difference is in how they age. Copper deepens toward a darker, chocolate brown, while brass mellows from gold to amber and changes more slowly.
If you have a copper sink too, our guide on how to clean a copper sink and keep the patina covers it step by step. Still deciding on a metal? Read brass kitchen sink pros and cons or our side by side copper vs brass comparison.
A round, hand-hammered brass vessel sink in five sizes from 8 to 16 inches, drain included.
Frequently asked questions
Does a brass sink tarnish?
Yes. Unlacquered brass naturally darkens as it reacts with water and air. That darkening is the patina, and it is part of the material rather than a defect. You can let it develop, slow it by drying the sink after use, or polish it back whenever you like.
Can I use vinegar or lemon to clean a brass sink?
Not for everyday cleaning. Acids like vinegar and lemon brighten brass quickly and unevenly, so on an aged finish they leave blotchy spots. If you want a brighter look, a brass polish gives you more control. If acid does touch the sink, rinse it off well and dry the basin.
How do I make my brass sink shiny again?
Wash and dry the sink, then apply a brass polish with a soft cloth, following the polish's directions. Rinse thoroughly and dry. The sink will start to darken again with use, so repeat whenever you want the shine back.
How often should I polish a brass sink?
Only as often as you want a bright finish. Polishing is never required. Many owners never polish at all and let the sink age naturally, while others polish every few weeks or months to keep it golden.
Will scratches show on a hammered brass sink?
Fine everyday marks are far less noticeable on a hand-hammered surface than on smooth metal, and they tend to soften into the patina over time. Avoid steel wool and abrasive pads, which cause the deeper scratches you do want to avoid.
A sink that gets better with every year
Hand-hammered, unlacquered brass sinks made by artisans in Fes, Morocco.
Shop brass sinks →In stock sizes ship from New Jersey. Unused in-stock items can be returned within 30 days of delivery.