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There are all types of sinks installed in households and cleaning each individual type requires a specific cleaning process. Some special sink types require specialized treatment that only a professional can undertake but with every sink there’s one important rule to remember: you need to wipe and clean them regularly. Sometimes you might even have to clean the sink after every single use. It all depends on the type of sink you have. We’ve got the complete list of cleaning tips for every kind of sink type that you may have installed in your home. Read on to know how to properly maintain them.

Porcelain Sinks

Porcelain sinks are a popular option in the market. They look good and they’re easy on the wallet. Cleaning these porcelain sinks, however, needs some prior research. You can’t use just any cleaning solution for them. It’s absolutely important that you don’t use any abrasive or harsh chemicals to clean porcelain sinks. Bleach makes it into this list as well. These harsh chemicals can cause the porcelain surface to erode that’s why when cleaning porcelain, it’s important to be gentle.

To get rid of stains on porcelain sinks use simple dishwashing soap to gently wipe the surface. If the stains fail to get removed then you can turn to a paste of baking soda and water. If you want to get more specialized in the cleaning, you can also use special porcelain cleaning solutions that are available in the market.

Similarly, vinegar is another natural cleaning agent that can be used safely to clean porcelain sinks. Vinegar works best to get rid of calcium stains and deposits. White vinegar works best.

Be wary of using boiling hot water to clean the porcelain sink. High temperatures can erode and chip off the porcelain. When washing these sinks, make sure the water is lukewarm or even cold but never too hot!

Enamel Cast Iron Sinks

Cast iron sinks are another popular option in the sinks marker. The enamel imparts a glossy and shiny surface to the sink. This gives a pretty clean and expensive look to these type of sinks. But the gloss can easily be lost if not properly maintained. Make sure to wash and rinse the cast iron sink thoroughly. As with porcelain, refrain from using water that’s too hot. You should also take measures to dry the wet sink as frequently as you can because hard water stains can take a toll on the smooth and shiny surface of these types of sinks.

If you have enamel sinks installed in your kitchen, make sure you don’t place heavy pots or pans in the sink because the surface can be chipped off with excess weight.

Fireclay Sinks

Fireclay is a unique blend of porcelain and ceramic, combing the best properties of both these materials. Fireclay sinks are pretty powerful and sturdy. They can hold their ground against stains and are resistant towards harsh chemicals as well. However you should still begin cleaning fireclay sinks with mild dishwashing solutions and then working your way up to bleach and more abrasive chemicals.

As with porcelain and cast iron, it’s probably not a good idea to run boiling hot water into these sinks or place heavy pots and dishes into it.

Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks are commonly used in homes because they are affordable and relatively easier to manage and maintain. However, these sinks are vulnerable to getting scratches and they can become dull and lusterless pretty quickly if you don’t take care of them properly.

To clean stainless steel sinks, you can use mild abrasive cleaning solutions as well as a disinfectant. You can also use boiling hot water to clean the sink surface. Hot water doesn’t damage the stainless steel as it does other sink materials. If you intend to use bleach, make sure it is diluted.

Aluminum Sinks

Another common sink type is aluminum. Aluminum is a lightweight metal with great durability properties. However you should always begin cleaning this type of sink material with mild detergents or simple dishwashing liquid. One major drawback of aluminum is that it can rust and blacken with time. To remove these blackened areas, you will need to use an alkaline salt of boric acid.

Granite

Granite is a gorgeous option in the sink market but one that requires special attention. You can’t use strong chemicals or abrasive liquids to clean granite. Gentle is the way to go with granite to maintain its elegance for a long a time.

Think Maids is your Washington DC house cleaning company. Contact us today!