Bubbles and Brushes: Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Bathroom Sink Looking Like New

You can keep your bathroom sink looking shiny and new for the longest time possible–minus the use of harsh cleaning chemicals whose health hazards are detailed at MedlinePlus. Bathroom sinks are made up of materials that are easy to maintain. So, cleaning is mostly all about rote rinsing and wiping. To speed up cleaning, you can use equally effective and safe alternatives such as the household cleaners listed by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia. Here are tips for proper maintenance of your bathroom sink.

Clog-free Drain

To keep the drain clog free, flush with water and then pour half a cup of regular bleach into it. It also helps to make it a habit to never flush hair and soap flakes down the drain, so you won’t ever have to deal with a clogged drain or sluggish water flow.

Stain-free Sink

Safe and environmentally friendly stain removers include vinegar and lemon juice mixed with half a cup of borax powder. To eliminate soap scum and stains, rub the latter mixture with a sponge against the sink. Then rinse with water. The formation of soap scum, in particular, is easy to prevent–just don’t let soapy mixtures sit on your sink for too long.

In most cases, cleaning with a regular dish detergent and sponge is already sufficient. Steer clear of highly abrasive brushes, scrubbing pads, metal sponges, and strong household cleaners. Vigorous scrubbing using them can easily damage the sink’s surface. Powerful scouring powders can damage the sink, too. Remember that bathroom hardware can be especially expensive to replace, even types such as this wall-hung vanity with 2 doors.

Colored porcelain is best cleaned with either baking soda or vinegar. White porcelain, on the other hand, can be kept sparkling white for a long time by occasionally doing this: moisten wads of paper towels with bleach and then place them flat on the sink for half an hour. Remove the paper towels and then rinse the sink’s surface with water.

Expert Sink Maintenance Advice

Plumbers advise homeowners to steer clear of harsh chemicals and abrasives–not only because of the possibility of inhaling toxic fumes but to prevent the tearing of the silicone seal in the caulk. The adhesive caulk is what holds the sink in place. When this seal is constantly weakened by repeated use of strong household cleaners, you might end up needing to reseal your bathroom sink once every two years. A dish detergent formula is ideal because it won’t affect the silicone caulk. It is also not as harsh as bleach-containing cleaners like Comet and Ajax, as well as ammonia-based cleaners, which should be used sparingly or not at all.

Wiping the bathroom sink after using it is crucial to keeping it looking brand new for a long time. When water is allowed to dry up on its own, the dissolved minerals in the water can crystallize and discolor your sink. Thus, wiping moisture right after using the bathroom sink goes a long way toward keeping the porcelain surface in tiptop shape for years to come.

Catherine Speak combines running a family home with performing the role of a domestic goddess. She loves being able to share her ideas and tips online and is a frequent contributor on a number of consumer and lifestyle websites.