Truth be told, the majority consider cleaning the sink by just running some water around it. Whether it’s the kitchen sink or bathroom sink, these guys can pick up a lot of bacteria, dirt, and other unwanted markings/stains. It only gets worse; some people use it as garbage disposal and do not clean it properly. Bathroom sinks also have a lot of toothpaste, makeup, and hair that gets washed down. A simple splash of water won’t do the trick.
But cleaning the sink doesn’t have to be hard either. There are a lot of good tips and tricks on how to clean a sink the right way. However, did you know that not all sinks are the same? How to clean a stainless steel sink is going to be slightly different than how you approach a marble sink. So let’s get started.
Step 1: Choose Your Cleaning Product
Most people start to wonder how to clean a sink drain that smells and that’s how people usually notice it may be time for cleaning. The first mistake is going right for the drain. Before you do anything you will want to figure out what some of the best cleaning products are for your situation. Many go right to the store and pick up a cleaning product that has a great marketing label. What happens here is that it is either ineffective or has harmful chemicals that can ruin your sink.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Cleaning Products
- What type of material is your sink made of? Marble is a porous and easily scratched material compared to metal.
- Non-toxic vs toxic cleaners are important as you may put dishes in the sink.
- How effective is the cleaning product you are using?
Homemade Cleaning Products
The best route you can take when it comes to cleaning products is to make them at home. These are natural and effective ways to clean sinks. Oftentimes they make the best kitchen sink cleaner. Here are a few ideas:
Baking Soda Drain Cleaner and Vinegar Disinfectant
A popular option is using baking soda as a drain cleaner and washing it down with vinegar as a disinfectant. It’s easy to make and chances are you have them lying around your house. So, no need to go to the grocery store! People also love cleaning with these products because they are all-natural, guaranteed no toxins, non-abrasive, and best of all cheap and affordable.
How to clean the sink drain:
Just remember this is not the first step but since we are talking about homemade cleaning products here is the best use for it.
- You won’t mix the two instead you will simply pour a half-cup of baking soda down.
- After pouring one cup of vinegar and plugging the drain.
- Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
- Rinse with hot water.
Vinegar as a Disinfectant
Vinegar is great to wipe down counters and the base of sinks. You can mix an equal 50-50 ratio of vinegar and warm distilled water to create a natural cleaning product for your sinks. This works well both in bathrooms and kitchens.
Step 2: Start With the Base
Since we already got two homemade cleaning products it is time to start with the base. The main reason to clean the base of your sink, or the bowl, is because likely a lot of stuff will go down the drain at the end. However, we still want to prevent clogging the sink drain by wiping up things first.
- Take a disinfectant wipe or a towel sprayed with vinegar and wipe the bowl of the sink and nearby countertop. The goal here is to get up hair, food, or anything that can clog a sink. Granted this happens anyways so we will talk about how to clean a clogged sink later.
- Next, take a bucket filled with the vinegar and warm water combo and soak a towel or sponge. Scrub the sink and surrounding area to get up anything hard to remove.
- Some people like to soak their sink by using the plug and filling it with the hot water and vinegar combo. After 10 minutes, let it all drain.
This works for whether you want to know how to clean a granite sink or how to clean a ceramic sink. Just be aware if you use other products that are store-bought that they won’t damage the material.
Step 3: Get to the Drain
Now that you have handled the outside it’s time to learn how to clean the sink drain. Whether you are wondering about the kitchen drain or how to clean a bathroom sink drain, you will treat it similarly if you are using baking soda or another product to unclog it.
First for kitchen sinks and bathroom sinks try using the baking soda method. If your sink is particularly tricky, this is how to clean a clogged sink:
- Pick up Drano Clog Removers.
- Pour the recommended amount down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes for mild issues and 30 minutes for tough problems.
- Rinse down with hot water like you would for the baking soda.
Drano is good for:
- Sinks that get clogged with a lot of hair that goes down the drain
- Sinks that get a lot of toothpaste and makeup down the drain
- Sinks that have a poor functioning garbage disposal
How to Clean A Kitchen Sink Drain That Smells
Cleaning a kitchen sink drain that smells will be the same method above. However, there are a few tricks that you can do to make the drain smell better once you do go through the baking soda or Drano option. You can put a few good-smelling items down your drain. Here is what you can use:
Some people have also put bath salts down their drains that are scented. This can work as long as they easily dissolve with water. Dr. Teal scented Epsom salts are always a good one.
Step 4: A Final Wipe Down
Once the base is scrubbed you can do a final wipe down. Return to the vinegar solution and wipe down with a cloth the entire area to give an overall fresh and clean look.
Easy Peasy
Rinsing a bunch of water and dish soap is never a great way to clean a sink because it doesn’t address all the areas. It especially can’t help you unclog a gross and smelly drain. But using homemade solutions and natural cleaners certainly can. You can use store-bought products to clean your sinks but if you want a non-toxic and easy option baking soda and vinegar work wonders.
But where most people go wrong is the steps in which they clean the sink. Most people think to tackle the drain first but it will just get clogged again when you rinse everything down it. By following this order you can have a longer-lasting clean sink. And just remember that not all sink materials are the same. While you can use vinegar and baking soda for nearly every sink, some store-bought products can do damage to different sink materials!
