Cleaning the Kitchen Sink Tips and Tricks
For a faster, more profitable home sale
Cleaning the kitchen sink may not seem very important in the grand scheme of selling your house, but home buyers will be greatly impressed with an impeccably clean kitchen.
The state of your kitchen sink will make a huge difference in the real estate market.
A beautifully clean and shiny kitchen sink will give buyers the impression that the sink is either brand new, or well cared for, which translates to an overall good impression of the condition of your home.
A kitchen sink that show bad will find its way onto the fix-it list that buyers will use to negotiate the price of your home down.
Read on for do-it-yourself home staging tips on how to to make your kitchen sink look in tip-top condition.
Cleaning the kitchen sink tips and tricks
How to clean a stainless steel kitchen sink
Cleaning your stainless steel kitchen sink may require a bit of elbow grease, but the end result is worth the effort. Stainless steel can take a lot of abrasive scrubbing.
When scrubbing a stainless steel sink, be sure to scrub in the direction of the polish lines in the sink. Sort of like going with the grain.
Tried and true commercial cleaners for stainless steel sinks:
Comet, Bon-Ami, and Cameo Stainless Steel cleaners are just a few of the really good products for cleaning stainless steel kitchen sinks.
Unorthodox cleaning methods for use on stainless steel:
- For a sparkling finish, try rubbing some dry flour into the stainless steel with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry with a cloth.
- For a glossy shine, (right before buyers come over!) pour a few drops of baby oil into the sink and wipe all around the sink with paper towels.
- To remove rust stains with natural and cheap products, watch the instructional video below by essortment.
How to clean a porcelain or enameled cast iron kitchen sink
Of all the varieties of sinks, porcelain surfaces are the most beautiful but most difficult to keep clean.
Enameled cast iron sinks also scuff, stain and chip easily.
If you are trying to sell your home, you will want to keep on top of the kitchen sink cleaning, at least every other day. The longer you let the stains set, the more scrubbing you will have to do later.
Don't let prospective buyers walk into your home to find you desperately scrubbing your sink!
Years ago, my husband and I updated a 100 year-old house that had
a beautiful old farmer's style porcelain sink in
the kitchen. I simply had to keep it!
What began as a love affair quickly became too many
hours spent scrubbing! Sadly, I eventually replaced it with
a stainless steel sink.
NOTE: The longer you let a stain set in a porcelain sink, the more you'll have to scrub.
Keep in mind that a porcelain finish if made of glass fused to the sink. Avoid using Comet, as it will scratch the surface.
Use a non-abrasive cleanser, like Soft Scrub, 409, or a vinegar and water mixture. Wet down the sink with water first. Apply your cleanser according to the instructions on the label. Using a soft sponge, scrub the sink. Rinse well.
For tea and coffee stains, wet down the sink and sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of baking soda inside. Scrub with a damp soft sponge. Repeat if necessary.
For stubborn stains, apply a paste of 1 part dishwashing liquid to 3 parts baking soda. Scrub, rinse, and dry.
Or, use white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the sink, then use a non-abrasive sponge and scrub in circular motions. Rinse with water.
How to clean a solid surface (corian) sink
Corian can take a lot of abrasive scrubbing, even sanding and look almost like new.
Corian is a synthetic material that provides the look and feel of a natural solid surface, with a smooth, seamless look. Best of all, it's stain-resistant and non porous. You can even make damaged Corian look like new again.
Although Corian is non-porous, it's still important to clean up spills right away before they stain. Luckily, you can use practically any household cleaning product on it. For general cleaning, use warm, soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaning product.
The color of your corian sink matters. Darker colors will require more care than lighter colors. Darker colors will reveal more scratches and flaws over time than lighter colors. To keep ahead of the damage, wipe your sink dry daily, especially after spilling staining products.
How to renew a corian sink
If your Corian sink or countertop needs some loving care, you CAN make your Corian look like new! The best prevention measure is to clean up spills immediately after they occur.
Polish glossy Corian countertops using a countertop polish. Corian is available in matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes. Keep your Corain looking its best by polishing, then buffing with a soft, dry cloth.
Remove scratches with a mild abrasive cleaner: Use a damp sponge with a mild liquid abrasive cleanser, and scrub in small circular motion. Rinse with warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. Repeat if needed.
Or remove scratches with an old standby-- vinegar and baking soda: Scrub with a paste made of baking soda and vinegar. Be sure it has more of a paste consistency.
Always dry your Corian surfaces thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.
How to clean a stone sink
Clean your stone sink with Weiman granite cleaner and polish. I have always had good luck with this product. Photo by Ombakfurniture.com
Use a commercial product like Weiman granite cleaner and polish, Gel-Gloss, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or a mild solution of dish liquid and water.
Granite can also be professionally buffed out to remove hardened stains. You will have to re-seal your sink after this procedure.
For a nice shine, try Orange Glo, Baby Oil, or mineral oil polishing with a soft cloth.
How to repairs scratches and chips on porcelain and enameled sinks
Note: you WON'T be able to use your sink for 3 days, so plan accordingly.
You will need: Cosmetic sponge/wedge
- Epoxy
- Small paintbrush
- Porcelain paint (color to match your sink)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Small craft paintbrush
- Clean off the surface of your sink with rubbing alcohol, or soap and water. Dry. Your sink must be perfectly clean.
- Fill in scratches or chips with epoxy. Put epoxy on your cosmetic wedge and dab it into scratches and chips.
- Smooth the surface leaving epoxy only in the damaged areas.
- Let the epoxy set for 24 hours.
- With the enamel paint and using the small paintbrush, paint over the epoxy. Let the sink dry for at least 2 days before using. Avoid scrubbing over the repaired areas for about 10 days.
Another method for repairing porcelain surfaces is featured below in the video by nnrepair.
The affordable repair kit and supplies can be purchased at nnrepair.com. This company also sells repair kits for a variety of kitchen sinks made of marble, granite and other natural stones, along with engineered surfaces like acrylic, ceramic and fiberglass.
Return from cleaning your kitchen sink to declutter your kitchen
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