A greasy kitchen sink is common since you do most of your washing there. Over time, gunk can build up on its surface, presenting an unsightly view.
Luckily, deep cleaning your stained kitchen sink is a fairly easy process that will take up a little of your time. Here’s how to make your kitchen sink shiny again:
How to Deep Clean a Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
You must clean your stainless steel kitchen sink for aesthetic considerations and preserve corrosion resistance.
Routine cleaning of your stainless steel sink is necessary if you want to preserve the appearance and integrity of the surface. Unlike some materials, excessive cleaning makes it impossible to “wear out” stainless steel sinks.
When cleaning a stainless steel sink, your biggest concern should be scratching it during the cleaning process. When you begin deep cleaning, ensure that you’re scrubbing with the natural grain.
Here’s how to deep clean your stainless steel kitchen sink:
What You Need:
- Dish soap
- Non-abrasive Sponge
- Soft-bristled scrub brush
- Microfiber cloths
- Spray bottle
- Baking soda
- White distilled vinegar
- Cream of tartar
- Olive oil or coconut oil
Procedure:
- Rinse your stainless steel sink well using a cup, hot water, or the faucet’s spray arm. Start at the top of the sink and rinse away any residue on the sides and bottom of the sink.
- Sprinkle dry baking soda on every surface, including the faucet area. It should stick easily on damp surfaces. Using baking soda on your sink is a great idea because it’s a gentle abrasive that will help remove stuck-on food and cut through greasy residue.
- Use a soft-bristled brush or a non-abrasive sponge to clean the sink in the direction of the metal grain. You’ll notice that brushed stainless steel sinks have faint lines or “grain” due to the manufacturing process. Follow the lines to prevent additional scratches.
- After scrubbing with baking soda, spray the sink with distilled white vinegar.
- You will see some foaming action as the baking soda and vinegar react; however, don’t be worried about it. Vinegar’s acidity will help cut through mineral deposits that cause spots and streaks.
- Rinse the faucet area and the sink well when the fizzing stops with hot or warm water.
- Use a microfiber cloth to dry the faucet and sink completely.
- Treat any stubborn stains like rust from a utensil or discoloration from water immediately.
- You can remove rust and other stains by creating a paste of one-fourth cup of cream of tartar and one cup of distilled white vinegar. Cover the stained area with the paste, and rub it with a sponge.
- Allow the paste to work for at least five minutes, and then rinse it away. Repeat if needed.
- Once the sink is clean and dry, put a few drops of coconut or olive oil on a microfiber cloth and buff the sink and fixtures. The oil will make the stainless steel shine.
You can keep your stainless steel sink clean for longer by always rinsing away residual soap after cleaning dishes. You can also rinse and wipe down your sink after each use as a preventative measure.
How to Deep Clean a Copper Kitchen Sink
A copper sink makes a stunning centerpiece for your kitchen. However, such a unique piece requires special attention; therefore, if you clean your copper sink like any other, you’ll probably end up disappointed.
When you use your copper sink regularly, it will likely develop a patina and also experience spotting and stripping of the patina. However, neither of these changes should cause alarm because changes to the patina do not indicate the sink is damaged. It’s simply copper’s nature.
Routine cleaning will help keep your raw or lacquered copper sink looking beautiful for years to come. Here’s how to clean a copper sink:
What You Need:
- Non-abrasive sponge or dishcloth
- Mild dish soap
- Cotton or microfiber cloth
Procedure:
- Rinse the sink with hot or warm water to remove particles or residues on the sink’s surface.
- Use a non-abrasive sponge and a mild liquid dish soap to wipe the sink’s entire interior. Pay extra attention to the rim because liquids and food can splatter and become lodged in that space, causing damage to the finish.
- Rinse away soapy residue using hot or warm water, and then use a microfiber or cotton cloth to dry the sink and fixtures thoroughly.
How to Make Your Copper Sink Shine
If you prefer your copper sink to shine instead of developing a darker patina, you can buy a lacquered copper sink to slow down the patina’s development and help you maintain shine. However, you’ll still need to care for it regularly to maintain its shine.
Clean and wax the sink regularly if you want a like-new look. If the sink starts to get dark, use copper polish to restore it; however, ensure that it is designed for copper. After polishing, apply copper wax and buff it to get the shine you want.
You can do this every four to six weeks or more often if you notice the sink starting to discolor.
How to Deal With Green Spots or Discoloration
Green spots or discoloration on copper, also known as verdigris, occur naturally and are not harmful to the metal. Instead, it’s a build-up of minerals that can be caused by prolonged exposure to moisture and by some soap.
You can prevent verdigris by wiping your copper sink after each use to keep water from pooling and to ensure that soap residue doesn’t linger on the surface. Also, pay special attention to the drain, faucets, and other fixtures where water lingers, causing discoloration.
When verdigris occurs, wipe it off with a cotton or microfiber cloth. You can apply additional pressure with a fingernail; however, do not scratch verdigris off a surface using an abrasive. If you need more scouring power to remove verdigris, make a paste of baking soda and water and use a sponge to apply it to the copper in a circular motion before rinsing off.
How to Clean a White Porcelain Kitchen Sink
Porcelain is elegant, sturdy, and prone to blemishes and grime. Food stains are the primary problem for porcelain in your kitchen; therefore, promptly clean up tea bags, coffee grounds, and food scraps.
You can protect your porcelain sink by placing a soft dish mat or drainer into the basin. However, if you notice some staining despite implementing the preventive measures, you can try the methods below to clean your porcelain kitchen sink:
Before you clean your porcelain sink, remember that the best rule of thumb is to not clean porcelain with anything that would scratch the glass.
What You Need:
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Dish soap
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
Procedure for Regular Cleaning and Removing Surface Stains
- Wet your non-abrasive sponge or microfiber cloth with warm water and a few squirts of dish soap.
- Wipe down the sink and apply a little elbow grease to any extra dirty spots.
- Rinse away the soap and grime.
Deep-Cleaning a White Porcelain Kitchen Sink
You can use the method below when deep-cleaning your sink monthly or to get rid of stubborn stains, gnarly grime, and rust spots.
Here’s how to do it:
- Wet your sponge or microfiber cloth, and then sprinkle the sink with baking soda.
- Scrub the baking soda into the sink in circular motions.
- Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the sponge or cloth and continue scrubbing.
- Rinse the sink thoroughly and ensure that baking soda or hydrogen peroxide doesn’t remain on your sink.
What Shouldn’t You Use to Clean Porcelain?
Porcelain is a strong, low-maintenance material. However, it’s also a brittle material with a tendency to scratch. Therefore, you should avoid these products and tools if you want to keep your sink looking its best:
- Abrasive tools such as steel wool and scouring pads can cause unsightly scratches on your porcelain sink.
- Chlorine bleach can permanently damage the finish on antique and colored porcelain if left on any porcelain sink for too long.
- Abrasive cleaners that contain harsh chemicals can stain, scratch or damage the finish on porcelain sinks.
Regardless of your kitchen sink type, you’ll want to tackle the faucet, drain, and handles when deep cleaning. You can use an old toothbrush to get into the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
The dirtiest parts of a sink include the drain area, strainer, and right around faucet area. When cleaning this area, you can use a hard toothbrush and a magic eraser.
However, be sure not to mix chemicals when cleaning your sink because they can produce dangerous toxins that might pollute the air in your home.