Best Ways to Clean Your Kitchen Sinks and Drains
As one of the most frequently used pieces of your kitchen and even your entire home, your kitchen sink needs to be cleaned at least twice a month if not once a week. Considering everything that goes into a sink, from leftover bits of food to the dishes you left for an hour (or more) before cleaning it, a lot of germs can get stuck on not only the surface of your sink but also in the drain.
In this post, we’ll give you our best tips for keeping your kitchen sink and drain spotless and fresh, no matter what the material.
Getting Started
First, you’ll need a few things. Rubber gloves are particularly handy to protect your skin and keep your hands from feeling dry and gross once you’re finished. You’ll also need a non-abrasive scrubber to make sure you don’t damage the surface.
In terms of cleaning solutions, you should gather dish soap, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and lemon. You can also grab some kosher salt, but it’s not necessary. Before you begin, you should sanitize the sink. Make sure it’s clear of all rogue dishes, then wash it down and get any simple stains off.
Cleaning the Sink
Not all sinks are the same, and we don’t just mean the shape and size; there are different types of materials that sink surfaces can be made of, and while cleaning them is similar, there are certain things to look out for with each one.
Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel is the Iron Man of the sink world, tougher and less likely to rust than its counterparts. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. A stainless steel sink is still prone to acidic damage, as well as bleach and abrasive scrubbers, which can damage the steel’s finish. To preserve this type of sink, avoid letting highly acidic foods sit in the sink for too long.
Begin by using baking soda, spreading it all over the surface of the sink. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your sink, you can give it a moment before scrubbing, to let the baking soda settle. Next, use hot water and dish soap on your sponge or other non-abrasive scrubber, starting with the tops and sides and working your way down. Then simply rinse away! To really take it to the next level, use a microfiber cloth to make sure there are no spots.
White Sink
This type of sink is the most prone to rust and food splatters, as well as wine, juice, and coffee. Luckily, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are here to help. Simply pat the sink down with a wet cloth, then once again sprinkle baking soda onto the surface until it’s coated. Using a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, scrub away the powder with your sponge. Rinse off your sink and dry it off and it’ll be sparkling and good as new!
Porcelain Sink
A porcelain sink can easily gather its own share of rust and stains, and while you can use the same methods we’ve already mentioned, there is a better way. Sprinkle the kosher salt onto the half of your lemon, then scrub directly onto the stains and rust as needed. Then wash off once again and dry up the liquid. Make sure to save the lemon, as we’ll use it later!
Faucet and Handles
You can clean off the faucets and handles with a bit of soap and water, no matter their material, as long as you dry them off effectively. However, faucets and handles sometimes have smaller pieces that are harder to clean as well as the wide, open surface of the sink. For these areas, you can buy a toothbrush specifically for this purpose.
If you’re experiencing a lot of white spots even after scrubbing, you might have some lime buildup from minerals in your tap water. Add some vinegar to the soap mixture and scrub once more to get rid of the buildup.
The Drain and Disposal
Last but not least, it’s time to conquer your drain and disposal, which can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to your kitchen sink smelling and feeling more fresh and clean. You already have all the supplies for this from cleaning the surface.
For the drain, you can use a 1-to-2 ratio of baking soda to white vinegar to create a solution. Pour that mixture down the drain, then wait fifteen minutes (or more, if you’d like) so the mixture can work their magic. Then, simply wash away with piping hot water.
For the disposal, get the lemon and salt we used earlier. Cut the lemon into wedges, then pour salt into the drain with the wedges and some ice cubes. Now, simply run the disposal until all three elements are gone. The salt scrubs the blades, while ice helps to destroy buildup. The lemon helps deodorize and add freshness to the sink.
Don’t forget – we can do all the hard parts for you! Contact us today to get your home cleaned. For other questions, call us today at 918-376-4114, or visit our website at custommaidok.com!