Best Way to Clean Your Kitchen Sink After the Holidays

Between Thanksgiving’s turkey dinner, and a traditional Christmas feast, your kitchen takes a beating during the holidays. It’s easy to think that constant dishwashing and countertop wiping will keep your kitchen clean as can be, but unfortunately it takes a little more than that to clean your kitchen sink after the holidays.

How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink: Start with the Bowl

Kitchen sinks come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. The material your sink is made of will determine the best way to clean it. This is a case of what works for one material oftentimes won’t work for another. Because of this, here are the best ways to clean your kitchen sink based on its material:

• White Porcelain – After a season of lavish cooking, a white porcelain sink can look a little tired. One of the most effective ways to make it sparkle again is with a quick sanitizing. Simply fill your sink with warm water, add a small amount of bleach, and let everything sit for five minutes. After draining the sink, scrub it with a mixture of three tablespoons baking soda, a quarter cup of warm water, and one tablespoon dish soap.
  
• Stainless Steel – Stainless steel sinks are what we see the most; and for good reason, they’re incredibly durable. When it comes to scrubbing a stainless steel sink, the only thing you need to worry about is scratching the surface. For these sinks, all you need is a Magic Eraser and microfiber cloth. Just be sure to wipe with the grain instead of against it. That should do the trick to getting everything as clean as can be.
  
• Copper – Copper sinks can be a little tricky. You don’t want to use any abrasive cleaners. So, say goodbye to Magic Erasers or any acid-based products. All you need is warm water, a sponge, and mild soap.
  
• Granite Composite – A newer sink material we’re seeing more and more of is granite composite. While the natural stone is beautiful and a great piece of modern design, it’s a little tricky to clean. It’s recommended that you don’t use harsh chemicals or hard objects to clean this material. Instead, mix water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and use this solution with a soft cloth to wipe away grime.
  

It’s easy to get caught up with the sink itself, but don’t forget about the faucet, handles, and other hard to reach areas. We recommend keeping an old toothbrush on hand for giving these areas a good scrub.

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

One of the most frustrating things about cleaning your kitchen sink after the holidays is the lingering smell. When you’re doing a lot of cooking and dish washing, some food scraps are bound to find their way into your drain. Over time, food scraps and other biological material can get caught in your sink and cause a rather nasty scent.

While it may be tempting to buy a chemical drain cleaner from the store, we’re asking you not to do this. There’s a much more effective cleaning method at home.

All you need is boiling water, baking soda, and white vinegar. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down your drain, this will help loosen anything lurking in there. Next, 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.

Need to Take it the Extra Step?

Sometimes a sink is too much for the average homeowner to handle. If that’s the case, our plumbers are ready to help. Service Champions is the only Diamond Certified HVAC and plumbing company to serve Southern California. If you’re in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, or Riverside county, call us for a drain cleaning. Either call the number at the top of the screen or click here to schedule an appointment online.