Cottaquilla Copper

COPPER KILLS COVID-19

Uncoated Copper is Highly Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Antibacterial

We have been aware of copper's antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties for years, and have worked with several clients in the healthcare field. Now, more than ever, copper can ensure our health, serving to disinfect the tabletops, bar-tops and counter-tops that are constantly being touched so many times during the day. Please see our well documented statements below.

The element copper is a completely natural material. It has been used for making jewelry, weapons, tools, and vessels for over 5,000 years. Our products are made of 98% -99% (1% zinc and trace amounts of iron) pure recycled copper in the Mexican state of Michoacan, where coppersmiths have worked this precious and useful metal for over 500 years. We do not use 100% pure copper because it will not take a patina in the same way recycled copper will. We have had our recycled copper professionally analyzed for content by Luvak, Inc of Boylston, MA. The results indicate that the recycled copper we use is 98%-99% pure with trace amounts of iron and up to 1.78% zinc, which we have added for strength.

Our product are hand-hammered by individual artisans from a sheet of recycled copper that has been melted and rolled in local foundries. The process combines prehispanic, colonial, and modern techniques to produce a product that is completely unique in color and hammer pattern. The hammered pattern of our products adds not only long lasting beauty but hardness and rigidity to each product. We will offer you smooth copper if you prefer that, at the same price for many products.

The beauty of unpolished copper in a sink or other copper product is unsurpassed. Its colors are rich, profound, and varied. Climate, heat, and type of wood used in firing influence the natural resulting colors of our products. The colors of natural copper change over time, as the "patina" ages. Our artisans do not use selenium dioxide or lacquer to produce or retard the patina of their products.

COPPER KILLS COVID-19 (Smithsonian, April 14, 2020). If the VIRUSES THAT CAUSE COVID-19 land on a copper surface, MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THEM DIE IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, and ALL ARE GONE IN FOUR HOURS (New England Journal of Medicine, March 17, 2020). On other surfaces, such as plexiglass, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramics, teflon, glass or stone, these viruses can live for days.

UNWAXED copper is a natural disinfectant. It eliminates dangerous viruses and many kinds of bacteria (see: anti-microbial qualities of copper). Simple contact with copper kills many dangerous noroviruses, flu viruses, and coronaviruses, as well as dangerous bacteria, namely Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. Coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (“MRSA”). These microbes die much more rapidly on copper than they do on plexiglass, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramics, teflon, glass, wood, or porcelain surfaces.

Only unwaxed and un-lacquered copper has anti-viral, antibacterial qualities.This is why Mexican Home Art gives its customers a choice in finishes. If the antimicrobial quality is essential to you, you can choose a product that is free of wax. If your product is waxed (to slow patina change), the wax can be washed off, with hot water and soap, and applied later if you would like. The continuous reduction of viral and bacterial contamination and the residual self-sanitizing activity abilities of copper have been recognized by the EPA. Similar results were found during trials by the Medical University of South Carolina done for the US Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC).

We recommend cleaning copper after each use with mild dish soap and water. No harsh chemicals needed. Along with frequent hand washing and other general cleanliness practices, copper can be a useful part of a solid cleanliness program.

Please see our restaurant and hospitality industry product choices in the menu above.

We can replace your current tabletops with copper; and you'll be able to use your existing bases.

Call for more information or a quick quote. 256-283-6496