Frequently Asked Questions

Customers should continue in their standard cleaning procedures but rest assured that the patch is continually neutralizing microorganisms at all points in-between cleanings. The patch can be polished as it “loses its shine” but it doesn’t have to be. Surface appearance does not impact the antimicrobial capacity of the product in any way (and actually decreases the kill time due to increased surface area).

​Cleaning can be done with any standard house-hold or facility grade cleaning solutions. Strong acids, bases, and oxidizers can degrade the surface (so we don’t recommend using undiluted bleach, for instance) but you should not have a problem with any pre-mixed cleaning solution.

Do note, however, that copper is a “living” surface. Our alloying prevents the patches from turning green as pure copper does, but the patches will darken with time and use. Some customers like the aging look and others prefer to give the patches a quick polish every so often with Bar-Keeper’s Friend or similar. The patina does not impact the antimicrobial efficacy of the copper, only the look.

All Covers are brush finished to avoid scratches and reduce sheen. There are no polishes, coatings, or other substances added to the cover to maintain antimicrobial efficacy.

The covers are effective at killing bacteria for as long as the patch is in place i.e. the copper itself cannot “run out” of antimicrobial capacity. If the copper is present, it is neutralizing microorganisms.

However, the adhesive backing will wear out over time and create a situation where the patch should be replaced. The timing of this can vary quite a bit depending on where the patch is applied. We advertise a lifespan of “up to 2 years” for the adhesive, but your situation might exceed that timeline. The more complex the surface geometry you are applying the patch to, the shorter the lifespan of the adhesive.

Our products are thick enough such they cannot be removed by hand, although thin enough that they can be removed with nose pliers. If the base material has a coating, caution must be used to preserve the coating. If there is any adhesive left on the surface after removal it can be cleaned with Goo-Gone or similar.

*Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: MRSA, VRE, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7. Antimicrobial Copper surfaces have been shown to inhibit microbial contamination from these microorganisms, but do not necessarily prevent cross contamination or infections. Antimicrobial copper surfaces are a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices. Users must continue to follow all current infection control and sanitation practices.

​When you sanitize a steel surface you are eliminating microorganisms that are currently on the surface. However, the sanitizing solution provides no “prevention” protection. As soon as the solution dries the surface can begin harboring microbes once again. Our copper clean product turns a standard steel surface that is touched by many people throughout the day into a self-sanitizing surface that is continually killing microorganisms as they are introduced.

Studies have show that inactivation of viruses/bacteria occurs within the first two-minutes of contamination. It may take 2-hours for the surface to be classified as 99.9% sanitary, although exponential decay begins immediately, unlike common surfaces like stainless steel, which breed exponential growth. Video explanation here

You can find a video of an installation using the Link Here

Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials (MBio, vol. 6, no. 6, 2015). Link Here
Highlight – “Human coronavirus 229E was rapidly inactivated on a range of copper alloys (within a few minutes for simulated fingertip contamination) […] Exposure to copper destroyed the viral genomes and irreversibly affected virus morphology, including disintegration of envelope and dispersal of surface spikes.“

From Laboratory Research to a Clinical Trial (Health Environments Research & Design Journal, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015). Link Here
Highlight – “The infection rates were found to be reduced by 58% in patient rooms with components made of copper, when compared to patients’ rooms with components made of standard materials […] Thus, based on the presented information, the placement of copper alloy components, in the built environment, may have the potential to reduce not only hospital-acquired infections but also patient treatment costs.“

Antimicrobial efficacy of copper surfaces against spores and vegetative cells of Clostridium difficile (Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Volume 62, Issue 3, September 2008). Link Here
Highlight – “Copper metal eliminated all vegetative cells of C. difficile within 30 min, compared with stainless steel which demonstrated no antimicrobial activity.“

Survival of Clostridium difficile on copper and steel (March 2008 Journal of Hospital Infection). Link Here
Highlight – “Copper alloys in hospitals and other healthcare facilities could offer the potential to reduce spread of C. difficile from contaminated surfaces.“

Copper Destroys Viruses and Bacteria. Why Isn’t It Everywhere? (Vice, 2020). Link Here
Highlight – “Doctors and healthcare workers might not be aware of [copper’s] properties, as Keevil wrote in The Conversation: “When doctors are asked to name an antimicrobial metal used in healthcare, the most common reply is silver—but little do they know that silver does not work as an antimicrobial surface when dry—moisture needs to be present.” […] it’s possible that the pandemic could raise awareness for copper—if it motivates anyone to start using it.”

Our products have passed the rigorous testing standards that were required to achieve our certification. Our Health Canada PMRA registration number is #31974 (link here).

Texas. All copper is sourced from PMRA and EPA-approved suppliers within the U.S.

​4 mills (0.004 inches).

​Copper Clean holds the IP for the only PMRA-registered adhesive copper cover. Their first antimicrobial alloy was developed in 2014 by Emily Hunt, the Dean of Engineering at West Texas University. Ms. Hunt was tasked by the U.S. military with developing an antimicrobial alloy that would protect deployed soldiers’ masks from harmful gasses. The alloy she invented was such a success, they decided to spin out the lab into a commercial operation, which became the foundation of our Copper Clean. The parent company has a few other antimicrobial solutions they offer, including antimicrobial paints and pipe coatings for the mining sector. Coptek is the exclusive distributor of Copper Clean products in Canada.

When you sanitize a steel surface you are, if the proper cleaning solution is used in the correct fashion, eliminating microorganisms that are currently on the surface. However, the sanitizing solution provides no “prevention” protection. As soon as the solution dries the surface can begin harbouring microbes once again. Copper Clean turns a standard steel surface that is touched by many people throughout the day into a self-sanitizing surface that is continually killing microorganisms as they are introduced. According to the U.S. EPA, our Copper Clean surfaces continually neutralize 99.9% of the 6 most common and dangerous pathogens. Recent scientific research has also proved the copper alloy surfaces are very effective in eliminating various types of viruses. Here is a link to one such study (https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces), and an article talking about it in depth (https://www.fastcompany.com/90476550/copper-kills-coronavirus-why-arent-our-surfaces-covered-in-it).