How to Clean a Kitchen Sink

Image of a stainless steel 1.5 bowl sink with a right hand drainer. Inset into a white stone worktop with light wooden cabinetry. Alongside the sink there are two soap bottles and a scrubbing brush as well as a plant and some crockery stacked up.

Your sink is an integral part of the kitchen. You’ll use it every day, and whether you’re just rinsing off plates or washing up after a big Sunday dinner, our sinks often get built up with grease and grime. Different sink types require different cleaning methods. It is important to know the best way to clean your particular sink to keep it in great condition. Proper maintenance can help your sink last for longer.

Here we’ll discuss the best way to clean each different type of kitchen sink. Follow our tips for a sparkling finish every time.

Keeping Your Stainless Steel Sink Shiny

We’ll begin with the most common type of sink – stainless steel. A stainless steel sink is very easy to clean. Although its extremely easy to keep your stainless steel sink clean, there are some useful little hacks that are worth knowing.

If your stainless steel sink is overdue a clean, there are several ways you can clean it. Firstly, remove any pots or utensils from your sink. Remove any food debris that may have accumulated in the waste strainer.

    For a Simple, Every Day Clean:

    • Fill the sink with warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid
    • Use a soft microfibre cloth or dish sponge to scrub the sink
    • Drain away the soapy water and scrub the drain and plug to ensure this is completely clean

    For a little extra cleaning power you can finish off with an all purpose cleaning spray. Make sure your cleaning spray is safe to use on your sink by checking the label before you spray. Again, give everything a good rinse down with some warm water and a soft microfibre cloth.

    For Stubborn Stains or Bad Odours:

    • Pour a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the sink drain, followed by a cup of plain white vinegar. This will help to deodorise the sink from any lingering smells. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice for extra freshness. Leave for 10-20 minutes to work its magic!
    • Sprinkle another cup of bicarbonate of soda into the bowl. Leave this in the sink whilst you work on the nooks and crannies!
    • Use an old soft toothbrush dipped in washing up liquid to clean all the crevices. Including; the drain and anywhere that the sink joins your worktop, as well as the overflow. This should loosen any stubborn debris
    • Then adding some plain white vinegar to a double sided dish sponge. Using the rough textured side clean the sink, scrubbing the bicarbonate of soda away as you go
    • Rinse the residue away with warm water
    • For extra shine you can buff up your stainless steel sink with a dry microfibre cloth

    If your stainless steel sink has any light scratches, you can use stainless steel polishing cream to improve the look of these

    Easy Overnight Hack

    Looking for an even easier hack? Of course you are! Before you go to bed, fill your sink with warm water and add a dishwasher tablet to the bowl. That’s it! Leave the dishwasher tablet to dissolve overnight, this will make for super shiny results! In the morning, drain away the water and remove any remaining dishwasher tablet residue. Give your sink a thorough wipe down with a clean, damp microfibre cloth – you can also scrub it with a double sided dish sponge if you really want to! And voila, a shiny sink should stand before you. If you try this, let us know the results!

    • We advise avoiding using any chlorine bleach products on a stainless steel sink. This could damage the protective layer of stainless steel, leading to discolouration and irreparable damage to your sink.
    Image of green washing up liquid and double sided sponges to clean a kitchen sink.
    Image of cleaning products to clean a kitchen sink. These include yellow washing up gloves, a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, a bottle of white vinegar, some lemons and a bristle brush. All on a blue background.
    Close up of a dishwasher tablet

    How Do You Clean a Ceramic Sink?

    Ceramic sinks show signs of use in slightly different ways. Cleaning your ceramic sink with warm water and washing up liquid usually does the job. However, if your ceramic sink needs a deeper clean, you can do this with a few simple household items.

      To Deep Clean Your Ceramic Sink:

      To remove water marks, soapy residue and grease marks, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda into your (wet) sink. Add some white vinegar to a double sided dish sponge and use the exfoliating side to scrub your entire sink including the drain. Once you’ve scrubbed the sink with the sponge, quarter a lemon and use each piece to wipe around your sink. This will whiten the ceramic and give you an extra shiny finish. Rinse off the mixture with warm water and leave to dry. You can always buff the sink dry with a dry microfibre cloth for a professional looking finish.

      According to one of our leading sink brands, Caple, another option is to use biological washing powder. This is for ceramic sinks with deep discoloration. Leave warm water and biological washing powder in the sink overnight. In the morning drain the water away and rinse and wipe the sink with a clean, damp cloth.

      It’s very important that you use biological washing powder as this has ingredients that actively work to break down stubborn stains. 

      Top Tip

      Looking for a quick and easy way to remove stubborn stains in your ceramic sink? Add a small amount of barkeepers friend to a damp microfibre cloth and work into the stain or mark using light circular motions. This also works well on granite worktops!

      Lifestyle image of a ceramic Caple Belfast sink. Set into a white kitchen worktop with light wooden cabinets and sage green panelling behind.
      Close up of someone applying barkeepers friend solution to a dish sponge, over a white ceramic sink.

      How To Clean a Composite Sink?

      A composite sink is also very easy to clean. However, as with stainless steel and ceramic sinks there are slight differences that are useful to know. If you have a composite sink, the best thing to do is wipe it down daily with warm water and a sponge. You can also add mild washing up liquid for a more thorough daily clean.

      To deep clean your composite sink, we strongly advise using non-abrasive cleaning solutions. You can create a mixture using equal parts of water and vinegar to wipe around the sink. This will target limescale deposits in the sink and remove grease and soapy residue. Make sure to rinse your sink thoroughly after this and leave to dry. 

      Composite sinks don’t need cleaning with any strong or harsh chemicals. Regular maintenance using the methods mentioned above will keep your sink looking in great condition.

        Close up of a beige Caple composite sink with a right hand side drainer. Set into a white stone worktop.

        Conclusion

        Staying on top of cleaning the sink is important. It helps to keep your kitchen hygienic, keeping you and your family safe from harmful germs and bacteria. Proper cleaning can also prolong the lifespan of your sink. Poorly maintained sinks can lead to costly repair and maintenance jobs in the future. If your kitchen sink gets blocked, read our handy guide on how to unclog it without using a plunger.

        Now we’ve shown you the best cleaning tips and tricks for each sink type you should know how to clean a kitchen sink with confidence!

        If your sink really is beyond a deep clean and a repair job, it might be time to consider a new one. Browse our vast selection of sinks or read our Kitchen Sink Buying Guide to help you narrow down the search.