Cleaning Your Kitchen Sink After the Holidays. Our Favorite Tips and Tricks

During the holiday cooking season, your kitchen takes a beating. Between a big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving and a homestyle feast on Christmas, the kitchen becomes ground zero for holiday messes. Though many may think that the constant cycle of dishes will keep your sink clean, we’re here to tell you that’s not the case. We’re sharing our favorite ways to clean the kitchen sink after the holidays.

How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink: Start with the Bowl

Not all kitchen sinks are created equal. The material your sink is made of will determine the best way to clean it. In most cases, what will work for one sink will not work for another. Here are the most common kitchen sink materials and how to clean them:
  1. White Porcelain – We love the look of white porcelain, but dislike how messy it can get after a long day of cooking. Our favorite way to bring back the shine is with a quick sanitizing. All you need to do is fill your sink with warm water, add a small amount of bleach, and let everything sit for five minutes. Drain the water, then scrub it with a mixture of three tablespoons baking soda, a quarter cup of warm water, and one tablespoon dish soap.
  2. Stainless Steel – There’s a reason so many homeowners choose stainless steel sinks – With the proper care they can last forever. If you’re deep cleaning a stainless steel sink, the only thing you need to worry about is scratching the surface. With these sinks, all you need is a magic eraser and microfiber cloth. Just be sure to wipe with the grain instead of against it.
  3. Copper – While copper sinks can look great, they’re hard to clean. You don’t want to use anything abrasive that will scratch or erode the surface. It’s time to say goodbye to heavy duty cleaners and hello to warm water, a sponge, and mild soap. A little light scrubbing will do the trick.
  4. Granite Composite – A material we’re seeing more and more in people’s homes is granite. We understand why, this natural stone is beautiful and a perfect compliment to modern design. Perhaps the most important thing to remember with granite sinks is so stay away from harsh chemicals like bleach. The best way to deep clean a granite composite sink is with by mixing water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and use this solution to wipe away grime.
If you only focus on the sink bowl itself, your job isn’t done. The handles, and other hard to reach areas need to be cleaned as well. For this, we recommend using an old toothbrush to give hard to reach places a good cleaning.

How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink: De-Stink the Drain

It’s one thing to keep your kitchen sparkling, it’s another thing to keep it stink-free. Unfortunately, lingering kitchen smells can get caught inside your drain. It’s times like these when a simple sink scrubbing isn’t going to clean everything. When there’s been an increased amount of cooking and dish washing, some food scraps can easily find their way into your drain. As these food scraps build up, they can cause a nasty scent. Though it’s tempting to buy a chemical drain cleaner, there’s a better solution you probably have at home. One of our favorite ways to deep clean a drain is with boiling water, baking soda, and white vinegar. To start, pour a boiling pot of water down your drain. The hot water will loosen anything lurking in there. After that, pour ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar down the drain. Once the bubbling stops, give the drain another pot of boiling water. That’s all you need to naturally clean your drain.

Want to Schedule a Drain Cleaning?

If your answer is yes, it’s time to call the plumbing experts at Moore Home Services. Our skilled plumbers have never met a clog they couldn’t conquer. When you schedule an appointment with Moore Home Services, you’re booking Diamond Certified, stellar service. If you’re in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, or the North Bay, schedule an appointment today! Simply call the number at the top of the screen or click here to book online.