Shop Patches

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.

*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.