One of the most important stations in your home is the kitchen sink. Not only do you prepare meals and wash fruits and vegetables in there, but you also do the dishes and clean your trusty kitchenware. That’s a lot of work for that basin.
It doesn’t matter if it’s porcelain or a stainless steel sink; it’ll need proper cleaning and disinfecting. Bacteria can be dangerous regarding food, dirty dishes, and raw meat, causing diseases like Salmonella and E. coli.
If you want to have a safe kitchen, here’s how to disinfect a sink and cleaning tips to maintain it spotless.
Method #1: Disinfect using white vinegar
Water and vinegar form a helpful cleaning agent for your sink and many surfaces. It’s quick, cheap, and convenient; mix half white vinegar and warm water inside a spray bottle.
To use vinegar solution on the sink, shake well, spray it over the whole surface, settle for a couple of minutes, and rinse with water. Effortless.
How vinegar works
Vinegar is very effective, breaking down the layers of water spots and killing most bacteria, thanks to its acidic properties. It also takes care of strong odors from the drain.
Method #2: Add baking soda to sink cleaning
If you need to scrub your kitchen sink, use baking soda to loosen up dirt and bacteria. Sprinkle the powder over the sink basin, and with a damp sponge, start scrubbing.
Remember: Go in the direction of the grain for better results.
Once you scrubbed and rinsed the baking soda, finish up by disinfecting the drain. Pour a kettle of hot water down the drain, add ½ cup baking soda, and carefully pour white vinegar until foam comes up. Let it drain and rinse.
Extra: You can also use hydrogen peroxide. Just scrub with baking soda but instead of using water, add 3% peroxide to your sponge and rinse once done. This method is especially great for porcelain sinks.
Method #3: Use bleach to kill germs
This form of disinfection is the strongest and most effective, but it needs proper care since bleach can cause irritation. Just make sure to dilute bleach down to safe levels while maintaining its properties–and don’t forget to wear rubber gloves!
Before disinfection, clean the sink with soapy water and rinse. Plug the drain, fill the basin, add just a dash of bleach and let it sit for a couple of minutes. After draining the sink, make a bleach solution with water (use a ratio of 1 cup bleach per 5 gallons of water) for scrubbing.
Damp a sponge in the solution and wipe the surfaces (in the direction of the grain if it’s stainless steel). Once you let it dry, your sink is disinfected.
Why you should consider bleach over any other method
You could disinfect with the vinegar method, but there are cases when being extra careful is better.
When handling raw meat or chicken, you leave tons of disease-causing bacteria on your sink. You might think rinsing chicken before cooking is a good idea, but you’re just spreading germs through the water. Besides, it’s not necessary. If it’s well cooked, it’s perfectly safe.
Once you’re done with your proteins, apply method #3 to kill all germs.
Sink maintenance tips between cleanings
- Spray vinegar solution and wipe the sink clean after daily use.
- When doing the dishes, don’t leave them on the rack all day, or you’ll invite germs.
- Wash the dish drying mat, too, in that regard. It’ll also prevent odors.
These are just some of the many things you can do to keep your kitchen clean and safe. If you need help with your kitchen and the rest of your home, don’t hesitate to call for help. Think Maids are here to serve in the Washington, DC area. Leave the cleaning to certified professionals and win time. Book now and start relaxing.