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Although we use dish soap and clean our dirty dishes in our kitchen sink, we tend to forget that sometimes the kitchen sink also needs a little bit of a clean. It can be surprising how quickly water spots and grime can build up, thanks to food particles from dishes.
Cleaning your kitchen sink on a regular basis is a great method to reduce the number of bacteria there and keep it looking spotless all the time. This article will guide you on how to clean a kitchen sink, offer pro cleaning tips, and answer the questions of how to deep clean your kitchen sink and what is the best way to clean a stainless steel sink as well. By the time you are done reading, you should be able to clean your kitchen sink and remove any residual stains like a pro.
Getting Started
How Do I Deep Clean My Kitchen Sink?
How to deep clean a kitchen sink can vary somewhat based on what kind of sink you have. A porcelain sink requires different maintenance than a stainless steel sink; however, some cleaning techniques work for all materials. While there are several methods to deep clean a kitchen sink, the procedure described below is our favourite for kitchen sinks, regardless of the material.
Additionally, deep cleaning your sink will vary somewhat based on whether or not it has a garbage disposal or a basic drain. Keep reading to find out what we mean.
Pro Tip: If you are looking for a quick clean instead of a deep clean, simply skip steps 4 and 6.
Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
Before you start cleaning your kitchen sink, we recommend gathering all of the supplies needed to get the job done.
Some people choose to use a commercial kitchen sink cleaner to remove food and clean their sink’s basin. However, the method we describe below uses ingredients you most likely already have in your home. Our method is also all-natural, and the ingredients can be used for various household cleaning tasks.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Lemon juice or lemon half, salt, and ice cubes (if your sink has a garbage disposal)
- Dish soap
- An all-purpose cleaner (optional)
- Paper towels
- Clean sponge or cloth for scrubbing
- Soft cloth for drying
- Clean running water
- Boiling water
- Old toothbrush (optional)
How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink: Simple Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Rinse Your Kitchen Sink Thoroughly
This may seem a bit obvious, but before you start cleaning your kitchen sink, you will want to wash any dirty dishes to get them out of your way.
To start the cleaning process, use warm water to rinse away any leftover food particles or crumbs from dishes in the sink.
Pro Tip: We recommend you rinse your kitchen sink with hot water every day to help prevent stains and protect the sink surface from possible damage caused by acidic or salty food particles.
Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda Over the Entire Surface
After the initial rinse, generously sprinkle baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, over the top of the entire sink surface. To get the best results, try to coat the entire basin, walls and edges of your sink surface with baking soda. Don’t worry if the baking soda is uneven. Coverage is more important.
Baking soda is often used in cleaning projects because it is somewhat abrasive but won’t damage most materials used to make sinks.
Step 3: Scrub With Dish Soap and a Soft Cloth or Sponge
For the next step, you will want to put a small amount of dish soap on a clean cloth or sponge and scrub the sink surface. We recommend you scrub in a small circular motion and move around the sink slowly until you have scrubbed the entire sink. Pay close attention to the area around the drain opening, as it tends to build up grime and stains more rapidly than other parts of the sink.
Pro Tip: Try using an old toothbrush to scrub tough stains out of your sink surface. A toothbrush will not be as abrasive as steel wool but may be more effective than a sponge for some food stains. Furthermore, the bristles are really good at cleaning out any crevices.
Step 4: Rinse and Sanitise the Sink Basin With White Vinegar
When you are done scrubbing, the hard part is over. Give your sink a good rinse with warm water to wash away the soap and baking soda.
Now it is time to sanitise your kitchen sink with white vinegar and paper towels. Vinegar is excellent at removing hard water stains and works as a natural sanitiser.
Moisten several paper towels with white vinegar and lay them over the sink until the entire surface is covered. We like to overlap the paper towels slightly to ensure complete coverage. Let the paper towels and vinegar sit for approximately 20 minutes. When the time is up, remove the paper towels and throw them in the kitchen bin.
Step 5: Clean the Faucet, Handles and Spray Nozzle
Once your sink basin has been sanitised, it is time to clean the faucet, handles, and spray nozzle. Take time to thoroughly wipe down each of the surfaces with a sponge or cloth and a little dish soap. All-purpose cleaning products can normally get the job done fairly easily as well.
Next, use another paper towel or cloth soaked in vinegar to wipe down and sanitise the handles, faucet, and spray nozzle. You can also cover them and let the vinegar sit if you like, but often wiping them down will more than suffice, especially if it is part of your regular sink cleaning routine.
Step 6: Deodorise the Kitchen Drain and Disposal
At this point, your kitchen sink is clean, but we strongly recommend deodorising the drain or disposal as well to complete the process.
If your kitchen sink has a drain without disposal, slowly pour about half a cup of baking soda down your drain. Then add about one cup of vinegar to the drain. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes while it fizzes and works its magic. Rinse it away with hot water.
If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, add ice cubes, followed by salt and lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes. Then, with the cold water running, turn on your garbage disposal until all of the ice has been broken up. The salt and ice will help reduce buildup on the blades, and the lemon will add a fresh scent while cutting through grease.
The final step to achieving a clean kitchen sink is to wipe down and dry the sink completely using a clean, soft cloth or another piece of paper towel. Drying the sink’s surfaces will help prevent water spots from developing and give it a sparkling clean finish.
Step 7: Rinse Again and Dry With a Soft Cloth
Cleaning Your Kitchen Sink Made Easy
After reading through our step-by-step sink cleaning directions, you should be more than prepared to incorporate this process into your regular kitchen cleaning routine. Just remember that the more often you do it, the easier it will be. So what are you waiting for? Do it now; a clean sink and drain await!
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Emily is a woman of many talents. She has a B.A. in English and enjoys writing. Emily loves accessorising her home with quality products that not only serve a purpose but also enhance the overall convenience and tranquillity of her living space; there’s nothing like coming home to your own personal sanctuary after a long day! She loves anything that can make life easier or more comfortable—from dishware to furniture to lighting fixtures.
