How to Clean Kitchen Sink

Learning how to clean the kitchen sink is one of the best ways to keep your kitchen neat and sanitary! 

The kitchen sink is an important feature in your home. It’s where you prepare almost anything you serve to your family. A clean kitchen sink also ensures healthy and safe food. 

No matter what type of kitchen sink you have, there’s an all-in-one cleaning mixture that you can use. It removes grease, debris, stains, bacteria, and even germs. 

Today, you will discover my secret on how I keep my kitchen sink clean and sanitized. I’ve been using it for years, and not once has it failed me. The best part is it’s easy to do! 

What Causes a Dirty Kitchen Sink?

Over time, your kitchen sink will surely get dirty, especially when using it daily. It is only natural for your sink to get dirty because it is where you wash food, dishes, and other kitchen utensils. 

Rinsing it with some soap and water is not enough to thoroughly clean it. Sometimes, you may not have much time to clean your kitchen sink properly. There is also a proper way of cleaning your sink. 

Even your faucet is at risk of getting bacteria and germs because of hard-water buildup. Putting hot pans and pots in the sink is also a factor in why it becomes unclean. 

Grease from cooking food can also leave stubborn marks and an oily texture in the sink. There are many reasons why the kitchen sink gets dirty, but you can solve all these by learning how to clean it! 

Why Should You Keep Your Kitchen Sink Clean?

Believe me when I tell you that learning how to clean the kitchen sink is a MUST for every homeowner! 

With a clean sink, you can ensure that you’re preparing safe and healthy food for yourself and your guests. Your food will also have a pleasant taste and a longer shelf life. 

Deep cleaning the kitchen sink also removes any foul odor from the drain and garbage disposal. When you clean your sink, you can use it for a longer time without replacing it. 

Moreover, a clean kitchen sink frees your kitchen from bugs and insects that can contaminate your food. It’s also a simple way of keeping your kitchen aesthetically pleasing. 

What You’ll Need

These are the go-to materials that I use whenever I clean the kitchen sink:

Cleaning Mixture

How easy is the cleaning mixture? You only need three ingredients to make it! 

Bicarbonate of Soda

Did you know that the bicarbonate of soda is more than a baking ingredient? It’s one of the most effective cleaning agents for different surfaces and areas. 

According to Good Housekeeping, you can use bicarbonate of soda for the following:

• Food containers
• Fruits and vegetables
• Refrigerator
• Dishes and pans
• Sponges
• Carpets
• Bed mattress
• Walls
• Laundry
• Drains
• Garbage cans
• Closets

Bicarbonate of soda can deodorize and cleanse your kitchen sink for a potent clean effect. You can even mix it with essential oils to give it a pleasant scent. 

It also helps remove mold, grease, or dirt from hard-to-reach areas. I usually mix it with other liquid cleaning agents to make a paste for effortless cleaning.

Aside from using the bicarbonate of soda for the kitchen sink, I’ve also used it to clean the kitchen drain and pots, and it always gave me the best results! 

Vinegar

If you want an affordable and accessible cleaning agent, look no further. Maybe all you need is vinegar. It’s a natural cleanser that gets rid of stains and odors. 

However, NSF found that vinegar is not as effective as bleaching cleansers, which can really disinfect surfaces. You can mix it with water to make a spray for easy cleaning. 

Vinegar is 5% acetic acid, which makes it easier to remove dirt, oil, and stains. However, to prevent damage to the stone, aluminum, or cast iron parts of your kitchen sink, do not use it. 

When using vinegar for cleaning, let it rest for up to 30 minutes to break down any stubborn stains or odors. It’s also my go-to cleanser for cleaning the bottom of cooking pots! 

Washing-up Liquid

Make the cleaning mixture better by mixing in some washing-up liquid or dishwashing liquid. You can use any commercial dishwashing liquid that you already have in your kitchen. 

It’s an all-purpose product that removes grease and gets rid of bacteria. While you usually use it for dishes, pans, pots, and utensils, you can also use it to clean the kitchen sink. 

Dishwashing liquid is made up of ingredients that work well against food residue, dirt, and grease. It also has fragrances to deodorize dishes and surfaces.

Instead of mixing it in water like you usually do, you can combine it with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to make a potent cleaning agent for your kitchen sink!

Materials

Clean the kitchen sink thoroughly with these materials:

Non-scratch Scourer

You can best activate the cleaning mixture by scrubbing or rubbing it on the kitchen sink or other surfaces. Use the non-scratch scourer to brush and clean all of the dirt on the sink. 

With a non-scratch scourer, you can ensure that the sink is not damaged while cleaning. It can also remove watermarks or hard water build-up.

Toothbrush

In case your scourer can’t reach tight areas in your kitchen sink, you can always scrub with a spare toothbrush. I suggest using toothbrushes with hard bristles to break down particles. 

You can also use it to scrub along the edges of the faucet or drain. It certainly makes cleaning simpler and quicker. The toothbrush is also a good option for cleaning the stove, carpets, and garbage disposal. 

Without further ado, let’s go into how to clean the kitchen sink! 

How to Clean a Kitchen Sink

Follow these simple steps to make your kitchen sink look new again! 

1. Mix the bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, and washing-up liquid in a small bowl to form a paste. 
2. Dip the scourer in the cleaning mix. 
3. Coat the faucet and sink with the paste. 
4. Let it set for 15 to 20 minutes. 
5. Dampen the scourer and scrub the sink. 
6. Use a hard toothbrush to rub the corners of the faucet. 
7. Scrub the sink again to clean it thoroughly. 
8. Then, rinse the sink. 
9. Wipe it clean with a cloth. 
10. Dry the sink with a kitchen towel for the finishing touch! 

I don’t think cleaning your sink gets easier than this. Whenever you have free time, use this as a guide to clean your sink to see how effective it is! 

Alternative Ways to Clean Kitchen Sink

The secret to cleaning the kitchen sink is usually knowing which products work best for the material used. 

White Kitchen Sink

A white kitchen sink can be difficult to maintain. It is prone to rusting, stains, and food splatters. To clean this kind of sink, I suggest mixing equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. 

1. Dampen the sink with a cloth.
2. Use a sieve to sprinkle baking soda until the sink is fully covered.
3. Add hydrogen peroxide drops over the baking soda. 
4. Then, scrub the sink with a scourer or sponge. 
5. Once you’re happy with how clean it is, rinse the sink and wipe it dry.

Porcelain Kitchen Sink

Nowadays, porcelain kitchen sinks are a popular option for homeowners. Like other kitchen sinks, they can attract different kinds of stains, such as rust and dirt. 

You can try cleaning your porcelain kitchen sink with some salt, lemon, soap, and water. 

1. Slice a lemon in half. 
2. Sprinkle salt on the lemon halves. 
3. Use the lemon to scrub the surfaces. 
4. Then, rinse it with water and soap. 
5. Dry the sink with a cloth. 

Composite Sink

Is your sink made of granite, quartz, or Corian? If so, you need an effective way of cleaning it to maintain its texture and color. For this kind of sink, you will need bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, olive oil, and some water. 

1. Make a paste with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. 
2. Rub it all over the sink with a soft cloth.
3. Rinse it with water and dry it. 
4. Then, rub olive oil into the sink. 
5. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. 
6. Wipe off the oil with a paper towel. 

Copper Sink

Since copper sinks have a unique color and shine, they need a different kind of cleaning than other sinks. Fortunately, all you need is soap, water, and a cloth. 

Scrub the sink with the soap and water mixture until the stains are gone. Be careful about using other cleaning agents, as they can do more harm than good to a copper sink. 

No matter what material your sink is made of, remember that there is a proper way to clean it. Now that you know how to clean the kitchen sink, all you have to do is maintain it! 

How to Keep the Kitchen Sink Clean

Cleaning the kitchen sink is one thing, but making sure it stays clean is another thing. 

Here are some of the best tips I can give to maintain how clean your kitchen sink is:

• Every time you use the sink, wash it with soap and water. 
• Use your antibacterial spray to cleanse the sink. 
• After rinsing raw food, clean the sink right away.
• Keep wet clothes and towels away from the sink. 
• Use a different scourer or scrub for your sink and the dishes.
• Don’t let dirty dishes stay in the sink for a long time. 
• Disinfect the kitchen sink every time you use it. 
• Regularly clean the garage disposal to avoid any odor. 

Remember to clean your sink weekly to keep it clean, safe, and sanitary!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective way to clean a kitchen sink?

After trying different ways of cleaning my kitchen sink, the most effective way for me is to use a cleaning mix of bicarbonate soda, vinegar, and washing-up liquid. 

I coat the sink and faucet with the paste and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes to break down the bacteria and residue. Then, I scrub the sink twice for a thorough cleaning. Finally, I rinse and dry the sink for an extra shine! 

What is the best way to clean a stainless steel sink?

For a stainless steel sink, you can start by rinsing it with water. Coat it with baking soda and scrub away. If you see any residue, rinse it with vinegar and scrub. 

What can I pour down my kitchen sink to clean it?

When cleaning your sink, make sure to clean the drain, too. To do this, you just need equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Add the baking soda down the drain and pour in the vinegar. Let it activate for about 15 minutes. Wash it away with boiling water for an extra clean drain! 

How do you clean a badly stained kitchen sink?

If your sink is badly stained, keep rubbing it with the bicarbonate of soda and vinegar mixture. This will loosen up the dirt, making it easier to scrub and wash.