Care & Cleaning

Brass and copper are living surfaces. They react with their surroundings, so your patina will keep developing over time. That gentle change is part of the character of every Metal Clad panel. We can lacquer most of our finishes to significantly delay any further development.

How we finish your panels: Every panel is either oiled and waxed or lacquered before it leaves our workshop. This slows the patina's development. Frequent washing will make it develop more quickly, particularly if not lacquered.

Everyday cleaning

• Wash gently with warm soapy water only.
• Never use acidic or alkaline cleaners.
• On verdigris finishes, wipe gently so you don't rub the patina away.
• To protect the surface, apply a light coat of Jade Oil, or a microcrystalline wax buffed with a soft, lint-free cloth. Both are available from hardware stores.

How often? It depends where the panel is. A wardrobe door may need nothing for a year or more. A splashback behind a hob needs cleaning, oiling and waxing far more often.

Liquids: Wipe up and dry any liquid, including water, as soon as you can. Acidic liquids like vinegar or fruit juice can remove the patina.

Heat and sunlight: Always use a trivet or placemat under hot pans and plates, as heat can warp the metal. Metal gets very hot in direct sun, so please talk to us before using panels outdoors.

Iron pans: Iron, such as a cast-iron skillet, can react with brass and copper. Don't put iron pans directly on a Metal Clad surface.

Good to know: Copper is naturally antibacterial. Most common bacteria can't survive on it for more than a few hours, and brass has some antibacterial action too.