How to keep the kitchen sink sparkling
How many times do you use your kitchen sink in a single day? From washing your hands to washing dishes, cleaning vegetables and draining pasta, this is one of the most frequently used areas of your kitchen.
Sadly, although we spend such a lot of time cleaning other things in them, our kitchen sinks don't clean themselves – and they can be a magnet for bacteria. In fact, the average kitchen sink is home to 100,000 times more germs than a bathroom or toilet, according to the NHS. So keeping the kitchen sink sparkling is more than just a matter of keeping it looking good.
Here's what the experts at the GHI recommend to keep clean your kitchen sink thoroughly and efficiently.
General cleaning tips
Giving your sink a wipe after use will prevent germs and grime from building up. Use a damp cloth with a washing up liquid solution or an anti-bacterial spray. Always clean your sink after preparing raw foods and rinse away liquids like tea which might stain lighter coloured sinks.
Don’t leave wet cloths and sponges sitting in the sink overnight because food and drink residues can encourage bacteria to breed.
GHI Tip: Don’t overlook the taps. Give them a regular wipe with detergent solution to remove grime, and buff dry to prevent water spots.
Limescale
If you live in a hard water area (you can find out if you do using AquaCure's postcode checker), limescale can build up in and around your sink. To keep it under control, make up a spray bottle of half distilled white vinegar and half water and use this regularly. Always rinse thoroughly with plain water afterwards and never use vinegar on gold plated taps.
Plugholes and overflows
Plugholes and overflows get dirty, too, so use a thin bottlebrush to give them a good scrub once a week.
To keep sinks draining freely and remove grease build up, at least once a month pour a cup of washing soda crystals down the plughole, followed by a kettle-full of boiling water. Do this weekly if your sink is prone to draining slowly.
Ceramic sinks
White ceramic butler sinks or Belfast sinks have become increasingly popular in the last decade, but if you’re not careful these sinks can stain. Cream cleaners work well for deep cleaning ceramic sinks. For an eco-friendly alternative, scrub with paste made from bicarbonate of soda and water.
To remove particularly stubborn stains, put the plug in, fill with warm water and add biological washing powder, leaving it to works its magic for a few hours or overnight.
Stainless steel sinks
Stainless steel is relatively maintenance free and as long as you keep it clean and remove limescale deposits, stainless steel sinks shouldn’t require too much deep cleaning. But to remove water marks we recommend buffing with a fine microfibre cloth after cleaning – we rate e-cloth. For deeper cleaning and to revive the shine try Bar Keepers Friend Cookware & Stainless Steel Cleanser & Polish.
Composite and granite composite sinks
These can come in a variety of colours and are also low maintenance, however you should avoid using acid-based cleaners regularly. Diluted vinegar as recommended above can still be used to remove limescale deposits but never use neat vinegar and always rinse away thoroughly after use.
Scrub stains with soapy water and a nylon bristled brush. For light coloured sinks, a 50:50 solution of bleach and water can also be used for scrubbing particularly tough stains.
Never use very abrasive cleaners like steel wool or scouring pads and avoid harsh chemicals.
GHI Tip: If your sink marks easily, avoid using a plastic washing-up bowl as this can trap grit underneath and cause scratching.
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