Did you know that it is more hygienic to eat in the toilet than in your sink? This is alarming because food preparation starts and ends at your kitchen sink. Fresh fruits, vegetables, raw meat, dairy and eggs – all these items are either washed or gets thrown here. This post will show you how to have a clean kitchen sink!
Thorough cleaning should be done after every use. And a deep cleaning with a disinfectant once every week. Deep cleaning is a job anyone can do, provided you have the right cleaning supplies.
Clearing The Counter
Disinfection is not thoroughly done if some items are still left on your sink or kitchen counter. This is because remaining food waste may still carry germs and this can spread to other parts of the sink.
Before you start cleaning the sink, you should clear all the unnecessary items first. This ensures that your cleaning and disinfecting solutions penetrate all nooks and cranny. This goes by the rule: clean first before disinfecting.
Click here for more disinfecting tips.
Consider The Sink Material
Different sink designs and materials require various types of cleaning materials, some are especially made. Bleach for example is a bad choice for an Acrylic Sink as it can easily deteriorate the material. It is best to identify what your kitchen sink is made of first before using any solution to avoid any damage.
Ditch The Sponge
Heavy contamination happens every time you wipe off your counter with a dirty sponge or a rag. Furthermore, drying these two on the counter also damages the sink’s finish over time.
If you insist on using sponges and rags, you should wash them with disinfecting solution or toss them in the microwave at least once a day. Then completely dry them out after each use.
How To Clean Kitchen Sink With Baking Soda
Baking Soda has been a constant champion ingredient of many do-it-yourself household projects. It proves to be a great natural neutralizer, deodorizer, and cleaner among its many uses. It is readily available, cheap, and achieves your desired cleaning result. All without the harmful chemicals other solutions have.
You may clean your kitchen sink using Baking Soda by following these instructions below:
- Begin by rinsing the counter, faucet, and sink with soap and hot water.
- Take out the sink stopper and soak it in a bowl with soap and hot water solution.
- Pour Baking Soda all over the sink including the sides and faucet.
- Gently scrub the Baking Soda with a Soft rag. Go along the grain of your sink. You may use a small toothbrush for hard to reach areas of the faucet.
- Pour Vinegar and let the chemical reaction take place. Pour a generous amount of vinegar to drain all the Baking Soda into the sink.
- Rinse the sink with hot water again. Make sure to wash down all of the baking soda-vinegar and mixture to prevent streaks on your sink.
- Wipe off the excess water and enjoy your clean kitchen sink.
How to Clean Kitchen Sink Drain
Leaving your kitchen sink drain dirty poses possible problems in the house. Smelly and clogged drains are two most common issues that you might encounter. For starters, declogging drains cost a lot of money as you will need a plumber’s professional help. Smelly drains are not only offensive but also harmful for the family. These problems can be easily prevented by consistently cleaning your sink drain.
You can use store bought chemicals for home use. Or use a combination of hot water, Baking Soda and Vinegar for a sink drain deep cleaning. You can easily follow these step by step guide below:
- Start by running hot water for a few minutes to warm up the drain pipes.
- Generously pour half cup of Baking Soda, followed by 1 cup of vinegar.
- Once the bubbling stops, you can flush it with hot water for a few minutes again.
We highly recommend that you do a preventive declogging of your sink drain at least once a month.
What Is The Best Way To Clean A Stainless Steel Sink?
Stainless steel sink proves to be a preferred choice for many families. It is relatively easy to clean and maintain and it is durable – qualities best for daily house use.
For daily upkeep, it is important to remember to immediately clean any dirt off with hot water. Baking Soda solution is most recommended for stainless steel as it is strong enough to strip off the grimes and dirt. Yet, it is not abrasive enough to damage the sink.
Although stainless steel sink is a low maintenance material, it can be easily damaged by common mistakes like the following:
- Wrong cleaning solution. It’s easy to scratch stainless steel sinks. Abrasive cleaners such as bleach and chlorine are not recommended.
- Abrasive pads. Steel wool and steel brushes are easy ways to bid your shiny steel sink goodbye. The harsh material of these brushes can strip off the thin finish that keeps your sink shiny and looking new.
- Leaving dirty water and or any liquid to dry out. Dried out liquid might leave hard to remove stains and streak.
Final Thoughts On Deep Cleaning Your Kitchen Sink
For most of us, cleaning our kitchen sink multiple times a day surely is not the best thing there is. But knowing that you have a clean and safe space for food preparation provides a next level satisfaction. And having a well-polished and pleasant smelling one is an icing on top of the cake.