Kitchen sinks get a lot of use, and aside from washing dishes and soaking items in them, we wash our hands in them, rinse food from plates and all manner of other things that have the potential to leave germs behind and cause unsightly stains.
While it can be all too easy to think of sinks as being clean because of the amount of washing and rinsing with water we do in them, you might be shocked to know that they can actually be dirtier than a toilet.
If your sink is beginning to look dirty, or you’re worried that it might not be as hygienic as it looks, here are some tips you can follow to get it spotlessly clean:
Cleaning precautions for different types of kitchen sinks:
Stainless steel – try not to use acids, salts, ammonia and bleach on a stainless steel sink, and avoid the use of sponges with an abrasive texture.
Ceramic – avoid the use of all abrasive materials or cleaning agents
Cast iron – because these sinks have an enamel coating, you’ll need to take care when scrubbing it and avoid the use of abrasive cleaners, sponges and wire brushes.
Copper – harsh chemicals should never be used on a copper sink, and acid should be avoided, too.
Stone – absorbing whatever it comes into contact with, harsh chemicals and acids should never be used on a stone sink
Porcelain – most cleaning products are okay to use on a porcelain sink, but avoid leaving acidic solutions such as lemon juice or vinegar sitting on it for too long
Simple steps for a clean sink:
Begin by rinsing out the sink and clearing any pots and pans from the area. Then, sprinkle baking soda around the inside of the sink, grab a sponge, and start gently scrubbing.
You’ll notice that the baking soda will form a thick paste when it comes into contact with the wet surface of the sink, and this doesn’t just help remove stubborn debris, but also eliminates stains and buffs the surface of the sink.
The same baking soda paste can be used to clean all other areas of the sink, including the faucets and handles. Try using an old toothbrush to get into all the harder to reach areas.
Now you’ll need to rinse the sink thoroughly and wipe down any surfaces that may have still have the baking soda paste on them.
Depending on how grubby your kitchen sink gets, you might be able to get away with deep cleaning it using the above method once a fortnight, but if it gets a lot of usage and you live in a multiple occupancy home, you might need to do it every few days. For a sink that’s clean enough to eat your dinner out of, simply hire a professional cleaning company and have them get every sink in the home, spotlessly and hygienically clean, all of the time.
