HOW TO CLEAN A KITCHEN SINK: STEPS & TIPS

Your kitchen sink helps keep mealtime moving and is crucial to maintaining the cleanliness of your entire kitchen. Help keep odors and buildup at bay with a quick cleaning once a week or so. Read on to learn how to clean your kitchen sink depending on the material it's made from, and how to help unclog a drain so that you’re ready to take on your next mealtime mess.

WHY SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN SINK?

Your kitchen sink is a hub of activity, so it’s important to keep it clean. Without regular cleaning, residue, food particles and juices can collect around the basin, sink drain and garbage disposal, creating buildup that’s both smelly and unsightly. Some reasons you should clean your kitchen sink include:

Prevents dirt and grime buildup

Eliminates odors that can spread throughout your home

Helps maintain the overall cleanliness of your kitchen

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN A KITCHEN SINK?

Your sink should be deep cleaned about once a week. It might also be beneficial to do some light cleaning with a disinfectant spray or wipe once a day or after heavy use. You may need to clean your sink more often than once a week depending on the types of ingredients you work with. If you’ve been preparing raw meat, fish or dairy, or if you notice lingering odors or visible buildup around the drain, clean your sink as soon as possible rather than waiting for your regular weekly session.

HOW TO CLEAN A KITCHEN SINK

Most days, you can get away with a quick rinse or wipe down using a disinfectant spray. But for bigger messes, or to keep buildup to a minimum, deep clean your sink about once a week. It’s important to note that how you clean your kitchen sink and what you use to clean it will depend on what your sink is made of.

The method below will likely work well for many stainless steel or white kitchen sinks. Check out the steps below to learn the basics of cleaning a kitchen sink.

SUPPLIES

Baking soda
Dish soap

TOOLS

Sponge
Microfiber cloth
Toothbrush

STEP 1: ADD CLEANERS & START SCRUBBING

Apply baking soda to the sides and bottom of your sink by sprinkling it generously. Add hot water and dish soap to your sponge. Starting with the sides, scrub the sink, working down toward the drain. Use a toothbrush to help get faucet and water sprayer nozzles clean or to get at hard-to-reach spaces such as down by the drain or the back of the sink, behind the handles. If your sink is stainless steel, be sure to wipe in the direction of the grain. You can also use a stainless steel cleaner when cleaning a stainless steel sink to help keep it looking its best.

STEP 2: RINSE

Next, thoroughly rinse your sink, making sure to wash away any leftover baking soda or dish soap. Rinsing with water helps wash away soap residue. Use the faucet to rinse the sink with warm water until all suds and residue are gone.

Towel placed on the edge of a kitchen sink

STEP 3: DRY

Drying your sink with a clean, dry microfiber towel after rinsing can help prevent water spots from forming on the surface. This is especially important for stainless steel sinks, where water spots can be particularly visible.

KITCHEN SINK CLEANING TIPS

Become familiar with what your kitchen sink is made of, such as ceramic, porcelain or stainless steel, so you can tailor your cleaning process to the material. Different sink materials require different cleaning methods and products, so knowing what you have before you start can help you avoid damage to the finish.

If you have a concrete, porcelain or cast iron sink, avoid acidic cleaners such as vinegar, as they can damage certain sink finishes. For porcelain sinks, soap and warm water applied with a clean cloth is recommended. For stainless steel sinks, soap and water or a stainless steel cleaner are also good options.

Use a toothbrush or other small cleaning brush to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your sink, including around the faucet and handles where residue can collect.

Always use a clean sponge or cloth. If your sponge starts to smell, replace it right away.

KITCHEN SINK CLEANING FAQs

Read answers to common questions about kitchen sinks—from clearing a clog to helping to neutralize lingering odors—below.

If your kitchen sink is draining slowly or not at all, there are a few methods you can try to help clear the blockage. First, you can try plunging the sink’s drain or carefully pouring boiling water down it. Following your manufacturer’s instructions, you can also inspect the garbage disposal to make sure it is not clogged or does not need to be reset.

If these methods don’t work, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain and then a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a sink stopper or other covering. Allow the baking soda and vinegar to sit for about 15 minutes. Remove the drain cover and run hot water down the drain.

For ongoing disposal maintenance, use affresh^® disposal cleaner tablets¹ monthly or as needed to clean and remove odor-causing residues with a powerful foaming action. The tablet is designed to create a scrubbing action that cleans the disposal with a fresh, citrus scent.

To try to remove rust stains from a porcelain kitchen sink, sprinkle salt on half a lemon and gently scrub the rust away. For stainless steel sinks, baking soda can help cut through tough stains like hard water deposits and grease. Scrub with the grain using a non-abrasive cloth or sponge, then spray with vinegar and let it sit on the baking soda for a few minutes. Rinse out the sink and wipe it dry. You can also polish with a few drops of olive oil after cleaning.

When cleaning a kitchen sink, know your sink’s material so you use the right cleaner, and avoid steel wool or other abrasive materials. For stainless steel, always scrub in the direction of the grain to help prevent streaks, scratches or other marks. Dry your sink with a microfiber cloth to reduce water spots, and replace your sponge if it starts to smell.

To help restore a kitchen sink’s appearance, sprinkle baking soda on the surface to help cut through tough stains, then rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth to reduce water spots. Consider using affresh^® disposal cleaner tablets¹ monthly or as needed to clean and remove odor-causing residues. You can also polish your stainless steel sink with a few drops of olive oil after cleaning.

Lingering odors may be coming from the drain or garbage disposal. An odor from the disposal is usually a sign of grease and food buildup. To help remove odors, put the drain stopper in your kitchen sink, fill the sink half full with warm water, and mix ¼ cup of baking soda with the water. Turn the disposer on and remove the stopper to let the water and baking soda run through the drain. You can also grind citrus peels in the disposal for a fresh scent. Be sure to run cold water with your disposer and allow water to run for at least 15 seconds after grinding.

Yes. Clean your kitchen sink faucet and handles with soapy water and a sponge. For hard-to-clean areas, use a toothbrush. Wipe down with a microfiber towel when finished.

Cleaning uses warm, soapy water to help remove dirt and debris from your sink, while sanitizing helps to further reduce bacteria and should always follow cleaning. To sanitize, the USDA recommends a solution of one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or a commercial sanitizer or sanitizing wipe. Be sure to rinse thoroughly when done. However, this method can’t be used on all sink types and materials, so be sure to check that it is compatible with yours before you try it.

Boiling water alone is not a recommended method for cleaning a sink. However, for a thorough clean of your sink drain, you can pour one part baking soda and two parts white vinegar into your sink drain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to help avoid left-behind residue.

Yes. If you’ve been working with raw meat or ingredients with a strong odor, cleaning your sink after each use may be necessary. The USDA also recommends following up with a sanitizing step—a solution of one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water—to help reduce bacteria. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Bleach is not compatible with every sink material and garbage disposal, so check your owner's manual before using this method to clean.

Affresh^® appliance care goes far beyond the common clean, even where you can’t see, for carefree appliance care. Affresh^® products have been designed to deliver easy and effective solutions to cleaning appliances, especially deep inside where odor-causing residue and buildup can affect machine performance.