Untapped Methods for Cleaning Your Sinks

Cleaning your sinks doesn’t need to be tough, draining work. Depending on what type of sink you have, our methods can make cleaning them easy peasy, and get them looking brand new again.

Light Silgranit (Blanco)

These sinks are extremely durable and have the look, feel and touch of natural stone. Light silgranit sinks tend to get superficial stains but they are easy to remove. Here’s how:

What you need:

• 50/50 mixture of bleach and water
• Paper towel / cloth 
• Scrub brush
• Magic eraser

Grab your bleach and water and make a 50/50 mixture. Pour it directly into your sink, trying not to let it run down the drain. Give it a scrub with your scrub brush, then let it sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse it all away, and if any stains remain, place a paper towel over and pour your bleach mixture over it. This will help the bleach sit directly on the stain without going down the drain. After another 10 minutes, scrub and rinse again.

If you have any scuffs, use a Magic Eraser to gently buff them out. That’s all there it to it! If your sink needs conditioning, follow the oiling instructions we use on dark sinks below:

Dark Silgranit (Blanco)

If you own a darker color you may see the dirt and water spots more. Here’s how to clean them:

What you need:

• 2 tbsp Blue Dawn® dish soap
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 1-2 tbsp Olive Oil / Avocado oil
• Paper towel / cloth 
• Scrub brush

Mix blue Dawn® dish soap and vinegar together in a spray bottle. (Fun fact: this is our shower door recipe too!) Let sit for at least one hour then scrub with a scrub brush. Rinse and dry REALLY well with paper towel / cloth – make sure it’s bone dry. Then take some paper towel and buff in olive oil – you only need enough oil to soak into the sink, it shouldn’t be running down your drain. It’s best to do this at night so it can condition overnight without getting wet from use during the day.

Stainless Steel

These are definitely the most common type of kitchen sinks out there as they’ve been around for years.

What you need: 

• Bar Keepers Friend®
• Scrub brush
• Cloth
• Weiman® Stainless Steel Spray

Squirt a liberal amount of Bar Keepers Friend® in your sink and scrub it down. Let this sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. Then wipe the sink to dry. We’re not quite done yet. Do the same thing with the Bar Keepers Friend® a second time, but this time use a little less, and buff it in until shiny. No need to rinse. Next, grab Weiman® stainless steel spray (we prefer the spray over the aerosol). Spray the sink liberally and buff it in with a clean cloth.

Farmhouse/Porcelain/Fireclay

These sinks are designed to last for years, but over time they can show scratches, have water stains, and are prone to cracking. A day-to-day cleaning routine is pretty easy to help prevent that from happening.

What you need:

• Blue Dawn® dish soap
• Bar Keepers Friend®
• Scrub brush
• Cloth
• Windex® (optional)

For quick daily maintenance, use blue Dawn® dish soap and a wet cloth to wipe down the sink. For any stains or stuck-on gunk, use Bar Keepers Friend® by scrubbing it in with a brush, let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse away. After either treatment, make sure the sink is dried completely using a dry cloth. If you want that extra shine, use Windex® to polish.

Cast Iron

Enameled cast iron sinks are durable but also require a delicate touch. If the enamel wears off they become susceptible to rust. Do not use abrasive cleaners or scrub with steel wool, wire brushes or heavy-duty sponges as they can scratch and chip which leads to rust issues.

What you need: 

• Blue Dawn® dish soap
• Baking soda (optional)
• Bar Keepers Friend®
• Scrub brush
• Cloth

For daily, quick clean up, use a mild soap, like blue Dawn® dish soap and a gentle scrub brush, then rinse and wipe clean with a cloth. A safe, deep cleaner to use is Bar Keepers Friend®. Same process to scrub with a gentle brush, rinse away and dry.

Copper

Copper sinks make for a stunning piece in your home. The thing to remember most with copper is that it develops a patina. This is a natural aging process that copper goes through where the finish darkens over time (think of an old penny vs a new one). Some people love the patina, while others prefer a shiny sink. Water really isn’t a friend, and over time with frequent use the lacquer will wear off. Cleaning and drying your sink after each use will help the natural copper colors stay vibrant. 

If you love the patina, do not use abrasive cleaners or bleach in a copper sink, ever. And try to clean up any acidic messes quickly (this includes citrus fruits, tomatoes, ketchup, etc) so you don’t get discoloration. To clean your sink to keep the patina, use only mild soap (like blue Dawn®) and water.

Personally, we love shiny copper. Here’s how to bring back that glorious shine.

What you need: 

• Bar Keepers Friend®
• Cloth

Squirt the Bar Keepers Friend® in the sink and buff the product into the copper using a cloth. This may take some elbow grease, but you can bring the shine back to your sink.  Rinse well and dry completely with a cloth.

Also, check out this How to Clean Copper article Sarah did with Southern Living for more tips on how to deal with large and small copper items. 

Regardless of which sink you have, also be sure to clean the faucets, levers, soap dispenser, spray hose, plus any grates and stoppers should you have them. And don’t forget to clean under the sink too. We have a great article for that here. Should you have hard water stains, check out this article.

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