Studies show that Cyprus, with a rate of 9%, ranks among the top 5 countries in terms of water hardness. When our water has a high salt content, it not only becomes unsuitable for consumption but also causes other types of problems, such as ‘white deposits’ and limescale on bathroom tiles and mixers.

The issue with white deposits and the erosion of mixers has become increasingly pronounced over the last 5 years, where the fashion of the 70s returned, and colored mixers dominate the market.

Embracing every imagination, finish colors inspired by global color trends emerge in every bathroom and kitchen space, offering a note of refined difference.

But what happens when these beautiful colored mixers that decorate our bathroom are not properly cleaned and start to accumulate salts, limescale, and begin to peel off?

Firstly, let’s look at the three main technical processes used to create colored finishes for faucets and other bathroom items: electrolytic plating, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), and powder coating.

Electrolytic plating is the most common process for adding color and has been used for many years. The plating method uses electric energy to apply a material to another. Typically, a layer of nickel is applied first, followed by the desired metal color. It might be the process with the most finish options in a more metallic look. 

On the other hand, achieving PVD is done through a vacuum deposition method, which moves from a condensed state to vapor and then applied as a thin film resulting in a uniform finish. While electrolytic plating was the recommended choice for colored mixers and bathroom accessories, PVD has greatly increased in popularity. The colorings are almost the same between the two and are indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Moving to our last process, the powder coating, we see that, unlike the previous two, dry powder is electrostatically applied to a surface and then hardened at high temperatures. With this method, we cannot create any metallic colors, only black and white matte. Although economical, this finish can be prone to peeling and scratches with daily use.

Whichever finish you choose, its appearance and longevity depend on the method of process, the brand and quality, and of course, the proper cleaning required to maintain it.

After each use, you can clean your colored mixers with a soft microfiber cloth and plain soap, without ever using any chemical product from the market.

So, if you live on an island like Cyprus and want to add creativity to your space with colored mixers, then choose the PVD process to sleep more peacefully at night. It may be a bit more expensive than the others, but it is environmentally friendly, more resistant to scratches, tarnishing, wear, corrosion, and also discoloration.

The cleaning instructions still need to be followed as normal but you know that you made the safest choice for your mixers.

Elena Kyriacou

Marketing Executive