How to Clean Kitchen Sink and Drain – Best Cleaning Hacks

Are you finding out the best cleaning tips for your kitchen sink and drain? We have gathered some easy and effective methods that will help you make your kitchen sink sparkle.

Your kitchen sink deals with oils, sauces, raw meat, spices, coffee grinds, tea, and much more. Consequently, the daily used kitchen sink needs proper cleaning to fight the breeding of germs in your kitchen and home. The old food particles can linger on to the kitchen sink, ultimately leading to the growth of bacteria.

So spare some of your precious time to clean your kitchen sink and drain deeply. If you want to keep your kitchen sanitary, you must incorporate this cleaning task into your busy schedule. For this, you won’t need much expensive cleaning products. Just make use of some natural and homemade cleaners already available in your kitchen.

Things you’ll need:

• Mild dishwashing soap
• Baking soda
• Lemon
• White vinegar
• Ice
• Salt
• Hydrogen peroxide
• A soft sponge or a non-abrasive scrubber
• An old toothbrush

Best ways to Sanitize Your Kitchen Sink and Unclog Drain

We will provide you the best kitchen cleaning tips that will be budget-friendly. So just read the full article and make your kitchen sink shine like never before.

Clear your sink basin from all types of dishes, cookware, and food items. Then rinse your basin to remove any visible particles. The next thing you have to do is use the cleaning product that works best with your kitchen sink material.

How to Clean a Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink

Stainless steel is the most sturdier kitchen sink material. It neither rusts nor stains. However, it cannot bear acidic foods and harsh cleaners. Moreover, abrasive scrubbers can scratch their surface. So be careful to use them while cleaning a stainless steel kitchen sink.

For cleaning a stainless steel kitchen sink while maintaining its elegant finish, you have to sprinkle some baking soda onto the wet sink. Then mix a little dish soap with hot water. Next, grab your sponge and dip it in the prepared soapy solution. Now, rub the whole sink with your non-abrasive soapy sponge. Be sure to move your sponge from the sides of the basin towards its bottom so that all dirt and grime go directly into the drain.

For avoiding any water spots, use a microfiber cloth to dry your basin.

Recommended Reading: Top Brand Comparison of Kraus Kitchen Sink and Ruvati Kitchen Sink

How to Clean a White Porcelain Kitchen Sink

A porcelain sink is quite susceptible to rust and stains. Therefore, you will have to use a different alternative that removes rust from the glossy finish of your porcelain sink.

First, sprinkle baking soda onto the wet sink and scrub it with a soapy sponge. Next, grab a lemon from your garden and dust some salt on it. Next, rub this lemon on the areas that have been rusted or stained. Please wait for a few minutes, wash it off after scrubbing with a sponge, and see the magic of lemon.

How to Clean a Copper Sink

Copper sinks need extra care as prolonged exposure to moisture causes these sinks to develop green spots. Therefore copper sinks must be kept dry after use. In addition, if you have a copper sink, you must avoid harsh chemicals, acidic foods, and abrasive sponges that may damage your beautiful sink.

Rinse the sink, apply some bleach-free dish soap on your sponge, and thoroughly rub your sink for routine cleaning. For removing hard stains, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the stained areas. The baking soda may also help you to get rid of all the green spots on your copper sink. Finally, rinse the sink with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.

For maintaining the finish of a copper sink, you can use Carnauba Wax or Special Copper Protectant Wax. This should be applied once a month to enhance your copper sink’s finish.

How to Clean a Granite Sink

Granite is considered a strong and durable material for kitchen sinks. Undoubtedly, it adds elegance to your kitchen look. However, regular cleaning of a granite sink is necessary so that the sink retains its natural finish.

Granite sinks, crafted from gorgeous natural stone, prove highly durable when they are not exposed to harsh cleaners, scrubbers, and potent bleaching agents.

For Cleaning a Granite Composite Sink

1. Apply baking soda over the whole sink.
2. Apply some vinegar to the applied baking soda and let it fizz up.
3. Target the stained areas. You can also use diluted vinegar (half cup vinegar and half cup water) for this purpose.
4. Take an old toothbrush or any sponge and scrub the whole sink.
5. Once the sink has been scrubbed enough, rinse it with plain water.

For removing hard stains on a pure granite sink, you can use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Whiting powder. First, prepare by mixing the two products in the form of a thick paste. Next, apply the prepared paste to the stained areas and cover them with plastic wrap. Let the paste rest on the stain for about 24 to 48 hours. After that, remove the plastic wrap and paste it with a sponge. Finally, rinse the area with water and dry with a paper towel or a microfiber cloth.

The second step involves the cleaning of handles and faucets with the help of soap and water. All types of faucets can be effectively cleaned with a mild dishwashing liquid. First, mix a few drops of the liquid into the water. Next, clean all the areas of handles and faucets using a toothbrush or sponge dipped in the soapy solution.

To remove the lime buildup in the form of white spots, add some vinegar to the soapy solution and scrub those spots. The vinegar can work magic for lime spots.

Thanks to the natural unclogging power of vinegar and baking soda. These two powers can also help you clear your Kitchen sink drain. You have to place one part of baking soda in the drain and then slowly pour two parts of white vinegar into the drain. Let them do the magic for 15 minutes. Then, wash them away with boiling water to remove any left residues from the drain.

For cleaning the garbage disposal, place some lemon wedges, ice, and salt in the disposal. Turn it on until the ice is gone. The ice helps get rid of the stuck grime and dirt while the salt scrubs the blades. In addition, the wonderful lemon scent helps to deodorize. To make the method more effective, use coarse salt like rock salt or sea salt.

You may check out these drain opener (clog remover) readymade products for your ease.

Tips to Unclog Kitchen Sink Drain

If your kitchen sink drain is clogged, it’s the worst thing that could happen on a daily basis. You try and find everything you can at home, and it all comes to nothing. You start to panic because you cannot call anyone for help since everyone else in the house has already left. You look into calling a plumber, but they charge you almost $100 to visit your house, and then they would charge you per hour for their work. To help you with this problem, here are some tips that will surely help you clear your kitchen sink drain without breaking a bank paying the plumber the next time you need them.

Tip 1 – Use Drano

Although using Drano is one of the worst things you could ever do, they sometimes work! If you are using Drano to unclog your kitchen sink drain, make sure that you buy the original liquid Drano. Always add a bit of baking soda or vinegar before pouring the solution into your clogged kitchen sink drain. This will help it go down smoothly without getting stuck even after you pour the solution into it.

Tip 2 – Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

You can also use this mixture to help the Drano go down your kitchen sink drain smoothly. After you have poured in a bit of baking soda, make sure that you add vinegar so that everything could combine nicely inside your clogged kitchen sink. The vinegar will also help you eliminate the bad smell left by Drano after you pour it into your drain.

Tip 3 – Use Plunger

A plunger is one of the most common household items that many people already have around their home, so go ahead and use it to clear your kitchen sink drain. If you don’t have a plunger, there is always the alternative of using a towel or any cloth that would make it “fluffier.” Just insert one end of your cloth on the drain and then press down to suck whatever obstruction is in your kitchen sink drain.

Tip 4 – Use an Auger

You can use this method if nothing else would still work. This method is basically for those homeowners who have a sink with garbage disposal or an inner drain liner. You should insert the auger down your kitchen sink drain and then turn it over to pull out whatever is in there.

Tip 5 – Clean Your Garbage Disposal

If you could use the auger method and everything was still jammed inside your kitchen sink drain, then the culprit is probably the garbage disposal. Clean it and see if that’s where things are clogged. If soap residue is what blocked your kitchen sink drain, then make sure to clean it with vinegar so that you won’t have the same problem next time around.

Tip 6 – Contact Your Local Plumber

If everything else has failed you, then call the plumber to visit your home. This way, you will be able to have your kitchen sink drain cleared using professional methods that wouldn’t involve too much damage on your part. You don’t want to force anything and cause yourself more problems along the way.

Tip 7 – Use Drano and a Plunger Simultaneously

If you use the first method, do not forget to use a plunger simultaneously while pouring the Drano into your kitchen sink drain. Combining both would surely help eliminate all clogs inside your kitchen sink drain because one problem is eliminated by the other.

Tip 8 – Use Commercial Cleaner

If you are using Drano and it failed to clear your kitchen sink drain, then try buying some commercial cleaner such as “CLR.” The best thing about this product is that it is safe for your pipes, so you don’t have to worry about damaging anything inside your drainage system.

Tip 9 – Try a Commercial Drain Cleaner

Try a commercial drain cleaner if you can’t find anything to help with your clogged kitchen sink drain. The only thing that you should remember when using this is always to read the label first. Always follow the label’s instructions carefully to make sure that it won’t cause any damage to your pipes.

Tip 10 – Try a Household Cleaner

If you are out of commercial drain cleaners, try using a household cleaner such as “Simple Green.” This would help eliminate the bad smell inside your kitchen sink drain and make sure that it is completely cleared off before you can use it again. Just remember always to read the label for proper instruction.