How to Have Clean Sinks ALL the Time
What do your sinks look like?
This?
Ok, I know this is bad. I couldn’t find a good picture of a “normal” dirty sink. Mine is always clean, so no help there in getting a picture.
Or this?
Which Do You Prefer?
If you’re like me, you want a nice clean, sparkling sink. Most of us know how to clean it, but how do you keep it that way? Our busy schedules don’t allow for hours of cleaning every day anymore.
The Secret is…
Well, it’s really not a secret. You’ve heard it said a million times, “It’s easier to keep something clean than to scrub it when it’s dirty.” But how do you keep it sparkling clean? Wipe it dry with a good microfiber cloth – EVERY time. It takes 30 seconds to a minute and the sink is sparkling. After my morning routine of teeth brushing and washing the face, I wipe out the sink, the faucet, and any splatters to the mirrors and wall. It truly takes under a minute. Bam! It’s done. If there’s something greasy or grimy to clean, I have a neutral cleaner in a spray bottle under the sink to spritz on it.
All day long as I wash my hands at whatever sink, I wipe the sink dry with a microfiber cloth. If I’m out and about and need to use a public restroom, when I’m done drying my hands, I wipe the counters with the paper towel. It drives me crazy that women leave the public restrooms such a pigstye. Just use your paper towel and wipe up the mess you made so the next person has a nice dry counter at least. Ok, pet peeve rant over.
But the kids…
I started training my daughter at two. If they grow up with “this is the way it’s done” then that’s the way it’s done in your house. Give them their own microfiber cloth and SHOW THEM HOW to wipe the sink and any mess they made when they are done. Make sure there’s a hook low enough for them to hang their special cleaning cloth so it doesn’t end up on the floor. The key is to wipe it dry while still fresh otherwise you’re going to be scrubbing again. Moms, I’m going to say it again. It’s your house, you decide how your kids are trained. Train them to wipe the sinks clean and dry from the get go. Be firm, not unkind, just firm. As for your husband, well, he’s not your child. I’d wipe up after him and call it a love investment.
Monthly Cleaning
About once a month I take a toothbrush to get any edges that I might have missed. I run some dental floss at the base of the faucet handles to get where nothing else reaches. Depending on your family, drains should be snaked every month or every few months. I did a post on it a while back: Cleaning Your Bathroom Drains Without Chemicals
Annual Cleaning
Once a year I take the handles apart (I have the clear plastic ones in the master bath) and clean the insides. You can see through that clear plastic and it gets gross looking. When done they look all pretty. Don’t remove the screw to take the knob off unless you turn off the water or you’ll have a water fountain. Believe me that will NOT make your day.
Killing Germs
Honestly, I haven’t had a problem. But I just read a post by a research scientist who came home to have her family. So she is researching all sorts of household products to have the safest and least expensive options. She said that she sprays down her sinks and toilets every night before bed with Hydrogen Peroxide. Yes, the stuff you buy in the bandage aisle. She proved it killed like 99% – 100% of the germs. Even in the kitchen after chicken. It will remove the color from some things – she mentioned floors and carpets. So be careful with overspray if you use it. Be careful with the peroxide getting on your skin, it can be hard on your skin (she suggests wearing gloves). She also mentioned Shaklee Basic G (Germicidal) as a very good option, although not as good as the peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is cheap and readily available. I guess I’ll go with that option.
Enjoy your clean sinks.