Cleaning Tips, Guides & Resources

Sink Into Sparkling Clean: How To Clean Your Kitchen Sink

sink into sparkling how to clean your kitchen sink custom graphic

 Like your bathroom sink, the kitchen sink is jam-packed with germs, bacteria, and other nasties from food, leftover beverages, dirty utensils, and unavoidable cooking spills. Together, these various residues make your kitchen sink the perfect breeding ground for primordial germs and bacteria which have the propensity to make you and your household members sick. This is a risk no one wants, or should ever take. 

The solution, of course, is to introduce a kitchen sink cleaning routine that will not only kill the bacteria, but also keep the sink looking clean and shiny. What’s great about this cleaning guide from MaidFor You is that you’ll only need cleaning utensils and tools that are already readily available in your home. On the off-chance that you don’t have everything you need, you’ll be pleased to know that the tools and materials required to clean your grimy kitchen sink are inexpensive to purchase. 

With that, let’s learn the best way to clean a kitchen sink. 

Things to Be Aware Of

minimalistic clean kitchen with stainless steel sink and stone benchtop

Before you start, it’s a must to check the exact material your kitchen sink is made from. If the sink and surrounding benchtops are made from easily damaged materials like natural stone (marble, slate, granite) or brass, you can still use our cleaning guide below, just make sure to use a pH-neutral cleaning solution. If you use an acid or alkaline-based cleaning product, it can leave your benchtop susceptible to irreparable chemical burns.

For kitchen sinks made from stainless steel, using a scouring brush can also cause micro scratches on the surface of the material, thus leading to costly repairs or permanent damage. So, when it comes to the safest way to clean a stainless steel kitchen sink, our experts advise only using a microfibre cloth as a substitute.

How Often Should You Clean Your Kitchen Sink?

contrasting photo of a clean and dirty sink side by side

Ideally, to keep your sink free from harmful germs and bacteria, you should be cleaning it after every use. If that’s impractical, cleaning it every day is the most effective way to make sure your kitchen sink is constantly pristine. 

Another important tip is to wash up dirty dishes before they become a pile, as well as to make it a habit to remove food scraps from inside your sink drain as soon as you spot them. This will go a long way in making your regular cleaning routine easier, and maintaining a sanitary kitchen sink for everyone in your home.

With this crucial information out of the way, let’s get to our easy and effective kitchen sink cleaning method.

What You’ll Need

an assortment of items needed to clean a sink on a white background

Thankfully, cleaning your kitchen sink isn’t too difficult. You’ll be able to complete the full maintenance cleaning of your sink with cleaning equipment and chemicals that you are more than likely to already have in your home. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Protective gloves
  • Hot water
  • Soft-bristled brush
  • Sponge
  • Lemon rinds
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Microfibre cloths
  • Dish soap

Once you’ve got the above utensils, it’s time to start cleaning your sink.

Step 1: Clear Your Sink and Rinse It

The first step is to completely remove any leftover dishes, old sponges, cutlery, or other items away from your sink. Our method is to wash and dry them first, that way you have a clean slate to begin with. 

When you are done with that, be sure to wear rubber gloves, and thoroughly rinse your sink with hot water. This will help break down stuck-on grease, food scraps, and any other loose debris that has built up over time. 

Step 2: Scrub Your Sink With Dish Soap

Apply a liberal amount of dish soap to a sponge or brush, and scrub your sink in its entirety. Make sure to scrub the drain, sides, and taps thoroughly to remove any grease and hard water stain buildup. We recommend using dish soap because it has molecules that are both fat and water-attracting which helps the water (which we’ll use later to rinse the sink) wash away any oil and cooking fats.

When you are satisfied with the scrub down you’ve given your kitchen sink, rinse off the soap with hot water and proceed to our next step. 

Step 3: Apply Baking Soda

Create a paste of baking soda and water, and apply it to all the hard surfaces within your sink. Let it sit for five minutes or so before scrubbing the sink with a soft-bristled brush. Along with neutralising bad odours, baking soda is water soluble, and its abrasive nature makes it a must for cleaning hard-to-remove stains like those present in and around your kitchen sink.

Post-scrubbing, it’s best to rinse off the leftover baking soda with cold water. Using hot water will cause the baking soda to bubble, leaving streaks, marks and, ultimately, baking soda residue. Cold water, on the other hand, will neutralise the base of the baking soda and help eliminate the powder altogether.

Step 4: Scrub Your Sink With Lemon Rinds

Cut a lemon in half and use one of the pieces to wipe down your kitchen sink. The citric acid will not only make your sink and kitchen smell fresh, but the acidic nature of the lemon also helps to break down pent-up grease and hard water stains.

Once you’ve wiped down the sink in its entirety (including the faucets), rinse the surfaces with hot water and proceed to the last step. 

Step 5: Wipe Down Your Sink and Finish

To finish up the cleaning process, simply use a microfibre cloth to wipe down any remaining liquid from your kitchen sink. The amazing thing about microfibre cloths is that they’re super absorbent, making them second to none when it comes to picking up and holding onto minute dirt particles.

Finally, as an additional tip, you may want to give your kitchen sink, taps, and faucets two passes before everything is really sparkling clean. 

So, there you have it, a clean sink, otherwise known as the perfect pairing to a clean kitchen and clean home! If the simplicity of this kitchen sink cleaning guide leaves you feeling pleased, we have no doubt in our minds that the results will do just the same! 

For more household cleaning tips, visit our cleaning blog where we cover how-to guides on how to clean every nook and cranny of your home and office. Not wanting to clean your kitchen yourself, book our regular cleaning service. You can book ad hoc cleaning through our online form, even if you only wanted your kitchen cleaned. 

Adriana Aziz is the operations manager at MaidForYou. With over 6 years of experience managing cleaning operations, she knows all the best hacks when it comes to cleaning residential and commercial buildings. With expert experience in managing house cleaning operations, interior design and logistics. She spends her free time with her family and as a freelance food critic.

Leave a Comment

Be the first to comment.

We’re Committed To 200% Customer Satisfaction Each And Every Time

If you’re not happy with our work, we make it right!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Call Us Now
Scroll to Top