Cleaning your Kitchen sink

Your sink sees it all- the smell of leftovers you couldn’t quite finish, the gravy you devoured and left no traces on the plate and the foam left on the crevices of your favourite utensil cleaner liquid! Therefore it is natural for your sink to become smelly and dirty with the natural build up of old food and grime lingering around the drains and corners of your sink. How often do you do something to get rid of it?

Washing dishes during this cold winter is not an easy job at all! Washing an entire sink- seems impossible doesn't it? Here’s the fact: A good sink and faucet can last you at least 10 years but if you don’t maintain it properly, it will stop functioning properly after just 4-5 years. Wondering how to maintain the longevity of your beloved sink? Keep reading on!

How to clean your sink naturally

Sadly, a lot of us do not have dishwashers that have a self-cleaning function. But luckily, you have us! Deep cleaning of your sink is an absolute necessity, at least once a week! Let’s gain some insight on how to deep clean your sink naturally, without having to use harsh chemicals that leave a residue we rather not have in our homes. 

Recognize the sink installed in your home

Sinks have a variety too! They come in a lot of materials such as Fireclay, Cast Iron, Granite and Porcelain. Make sure to ask your remodelling manager for specific instructions pertaining to maintaining your kitchen sink. However, today we will be talking about cleaning stainless steel sinks that are commonly found in most homes. 

What you’ll need to deep clean your sink

• Sponge 
• Old toothbrush
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Koparo’s Dishwashing Liquid (for some natural goodness)
• Any citrus peel (Lemon or Orange
• Olive Oil

Deep cleaning your sink

According to Trisha Lake of TLC Cleaning, if you have a stainless steel sink, your biggest concern should be scratching it during the cleaning process. When you begin your deep clean, be sure you're scrubbing with the natural grain. Here’s how to go about it step-by-step:

1. Rinse the Sink

Firstly, start out by cleaning the sink with some water and Dishwashing Liquid. Remove all the morsels and food bits clearly visible in the drain. Go over the faucet with some the dishwashing liquid and an old toothbrush to clean out the difficult stains. Rinse all of the sink and then wipe the faucet and drain to avoid water stains. 

It’s time to scrub your sink. However, remember to be as gentle as possible to avoid those deep scratches that will take forever to go away. Use a new and soft sponge. Sprinkle some baking soda on the sink and start scrubbing the yellow side of the sponge in small circular motions. Make sure to use the toothbrush (again, super gently) to reach the crevices and tough spots

2. Removing the inevitable scratches

We clean our utensils in our sink at least 3 times a day. Naturally, some scratches are bound to occur even if we go super gentle. Here’s how you can get rid of them. Follow the grain of the steel and use your sponge again with baking soda and water mixture. Go in the same pattern as the grains. According to Food52 , the baking soda and water creates a delicate but abrasive paste to buff out all those scratches. The deep scratches can also be removed, in due time. You will need a wooden scrub to get rid of them.

White spots on your sink?

Still seeing white spots after your scrub? According to Better Homes and Gardens, that’s lime buildup from the minerals in your tap water. Adding a spoonful of vinegar to the soapy water mixture and doing one final scrub should do the trick.

3. Get rid of the funky smells and germs

Here’s the fun part: sprinkle one part of baking soda on the entire sink. Now, slowly pour two parts of white vinegar all over the sink. Let the bubbly concoction do its magic. White vinegar includes acetic acid, a natural disinfectant that effectively kills common germs. For surfaces that aren’t vinegar-safe, use a mixture of hot water and antibacterial soap. Wait for 15 minutes and then wash away with boiling hot water to rid the drain of any remaining residue.

4. Deodorize your sink

Take a lemon or orange peel and rub it along the sink- even the nooks and corners! This will help in your sink smelling fresh and fragrant!

5. Last but not the least, Let it Shine!

Nothing looks better than a gleaming kitchen. A gleaming sink, you ask? That’s pretty easy! Take a microfiber towel and dab a little olive oil on it. Now wipe your entire sink with it and use the dry side of the towel to get rid of any excess water or soap, if any. 

This simple six step routine requires no heavy duty chemicals or time consumption! So, no procrastinating and let this weekend be a start to deep cleaning your sink every week! If you are looking for a dishwashing liquid that’s not harsh on your utensils, here’s a good option: