by Without proper or frequent cleaning, the natural buildup of stale food and grime can remain in kitchen sinks and gutters and run off to other parts of the home. So, give your kitchen sinks and drains some love and clean them regularly with our how-to. Then add your kitchen gutters and sinks to your weekly cleaning routine to make it a habit. Here’s what you might not know about how to clean your kitchen sink.
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How to Clean Kitchen Sink Drains
Just because your kitchen sink is clean and fresh, doesn’t mean you’ve removed all germs and buildup. Kitchen gutters have all sorts of unpleasant things, including bacteria and odors. This is because all the grease, food, and other things you wash off your dishes and cookware have to be put somewhere.
When you know how to clean your kitchen sink drain the right way, you can reduce the amount of buildup that causes odors and bacteria. All you need is some baking soda, distilled white vinegar, lemon, and some hot water. Here’s how you do it:
- Boil two quarts of water.
- Using oven mitts, slowly pour boiling water down the drain.
- Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain.
- Rinse the sink and drain thoroughly with the hot water in the sink.
- To eliminate odors, pour lemon juice or distilled white vinegar down the drain.
- After 30 minutes, rinse the sink and drain.
For kitchen drains that haven’t been cleaned in a while, you may need a little more firepower. Consider using a bio-friendly drain cleaner to break down the buildup in your drains. The natural enzymes in bio-friendly cleaners help remove residue from grease, soap, and food scraps without the use of toxic chemicals. Many cleaners can take up to 24 hours to do the job, but the payoff is fresh unobstructed gutters, and fewer odors and bacteria.
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Sink
All you need to clean a stainless steel sink is baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and a little scrubbing. Baking soda is a natural cleaner you can use all over your home, and it’s safe for stainless steel. Distilled white vinegar is also a natural cleaner as well as a disinfectant that is safe to use on stainless steel sinks, many surfaces, and fabrics.
So grab your natural cleaner, a soft nylon brush, and an old toothbrush, and let’s get to work on making stainless steel shine.
- Rinse the sink with hot water and some dish soap.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the sink.
- Use a soft brush to rub the baking soda in the direction of the grain.
- Use a toothbrush to bypass drain holes and other tight spots.
- Spray distilled white vinegar over the sink.
- Once it stops bubbling and bubbling, rinse the sink with hot water.
- Dry the entire sink with a microfiber cloth.
- Sand the stainless steel with a dry microfiber cloth.
The mild abrasive properties of baking soda and the acidity of vinegar combine to remove greasy residue and disinfect and dissolve calcium deposits that cause water spots. If you have a porcelain, copper, granite, or cast iron sink, no scrubbing, just a cloth dampened in soap and water.
How To Clean a Garbage Disposal
f you have a garbage disposal facility, you need to clean it regularly, just like kitchen sinks and gutters. Even with a clean drain, grease, dirt, and food debris can cause residual odors and bacteria to build up on the blades, baffles, and other parts of your waste disposal unit. To keep your kitchen sink really clean, it’s time to learn how to clean your garbage disposal and keep it that way.
Clean trash disposal also means cleaner drains, so regular trash removal can reduce the likelihood of trash buildup. Cleaning the disposal station about once a week should do the job, but if you get a lingering smell, you know it’s time for a cleanup. Follow these steps to keep garbage disposal and drains clean:
Weekly cleaning keeps your trash disposal clean and odorless.
- Turn off the power to prevent turning on the waste disposal unit while cleaning the waste.
- As an extra precaution, unplug the trash can if possible.
- Scrub the underside and folds of the baffle with soap and an abrasive sponge.
- Flush the sink and spray any debris down the drain.
- Scrub around the top of the grinding chamber with a scrubbing sponge and dish soap, rinsing often.
- Dump the baking soda into the trash and let it sit for five minutes to absorb any residual smell.
- Thoroughly flush sinks, gutters, and garbage disposals.
For regular cleaning and maintenance, lemon, kosher salt, and ice do a great job of preventing build-up, odor, and bacteria. Cut a lemon and put it in the trash with two cups of ice and two tablespoons of kosher salt. Turn on the cold water and garbage disposals and listen to the wonderful sound of removing build-up and odors.
How To Keep a kitchen Sink Drains Clean
The best way to keep your kitchen sink clean and smelling fresh is regular maintenance, so put it on your kitchen cleaning list. Rinse with hot water at least once a week.
Avoid putting fat, oil, grease, and any food scraps down the drain to prevent clogging. If your dishes and cookware are greasy, wipe them down with a paper towel before washing them in the sink.
Try not to use traditional soap in your kitchen sink to avoid soap scum buildup. The best way to keep your kitchen sink clean and smelling fresh is regular maintenance, so put it on your kitchen cleaning list. Rinse with hot water at least once a week.
Avoid putting fat, oil, grease, and any food scraps down the drain to prevent clogging. If your dishes and cookware are greasy, wipe them down with a paper towel before washing them in the sink.
Try not to use traditional soap in your kitchen sink to avoid soap scum buildup.
Final Words
Now that you know how to clean kitchen sinks, gutters, and garbage disposals, don’t stop there. We have tons of housekeeping and cleaning resources to help you keep your home cleaner and healthier. Whether you use our professional cleaning guides or our popular home cleaning services, we want to make every home a cleaner, healthier place to live.
