Conspicuous and sometimes colorful, farmhouse sinks blend in perfectly with your kitchen theme, keeping your farmhouse squeaky-clean and inviting. Cleaning and maintaining their luster should be easy to achieve. Everyone wants their farmhouse sink clean and dry at all times, and it need not be an arduous task as we’ll see today.
Read our complete guide about the best stainless steel farmhouse sink.
We have another complete guide about the best fireclay farmhouse sink.
Table of Contents
4 Steps To Clean A Farmhouse Sink:
Tools you will need:
- Fiber cloth.
- A soft brush (or a bristle brush depending on your sink).
- Soft scourer.
- Sponge.
- Paper towels.
Materials you will need:
1.Baking soda: A mixture of warm water and baking soda makes for a very effective cleaning solution
2.Bleach: Chlorine bleach solutions are especially ideal for white and off white ceramic farmhouse sinks. The solution will effectively clean and disinfect your sink.
3.Vinegar: Not only does vinegar act as a disinfectant but it also effectively removes limescale buildup. Use a spray bottle, apply white vinegar, and scrub lightly using a non-abrasive sponge until all the grime is gone.
4.Glass Cleaner: Almost every glass cleaners contain ammonia as the key cleaning ingredient. Glass cleaner is more friendly than using the pungent-smelling ammonia that may cause breathing problems.
5.Hydrogen peroxide: Readily available and safe for use, a solution of hydrogen peroxide is excellent at cleaning.
6.Rubbing alcohol: A solution of rubbing alcohol and water works great in killing germs and cleaning your farmhouse sink.
Step 1: Clearing Sink
Clean out your sink of any food debris, especially in the corners. Using your faucet, run warm water all around your farmhouse sink.
Step 2: The Cleaning
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all around your sink. Give it a gentle scrub, paying attention to the edges of the sink. Baking soda allows adequate cleaning while still being gentle to the sink.
Step 3: Rinsing Sink
Thoroughly rinse your sink with warm, running water. Be careful not to have your water on high to avoid water splashes.
Step 4: Wiping Dry
Using a soft, dry cloth or paper towels, thoroughly wipe off all the water from the sink’s surface. This is to avoid water staining and to enhance your sink’s luster.
What Can I Use To Clean My Farmhouse Sink?
- Dishwashing soap
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Sodium percarbonate
Using Sodium Percarbonate for Cleaning a Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
This makes it a very effective cleaning agent, and sodium percarbonate is present in most oxygenated bleaching agents.
You will need:
-Hydrogen peroxide
-Baking soda
-Water
Step 1: Preparing The Paste
Make your sodium percarbonate paste by mixing hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and water. The paste should be slightly heavy to cover the surface of your sink.
Step 2: Applying the Paste
Apply the paste onto your scourer, and gently clean all-around your sink until all grime is neutralized.
Step 3: Rinse and Dry Sink
Rinse off your sink with warm running water. Using your fiber cloth or paper towels, gently dry the surface of your sink.
How To Protect a Farmhouse Sink from Scratches and Black Marks
Porcelain sinks add so much value to your kitchen and thus should be very well taken care of. Apply the following measures to keep them in their optimum state:
1. Use non-abrasive cleaning materials and detergents. You don’t want to scour off your sink’s luster by using rough scourers like steel wool and hard bristle brushes.
2. Avoid using harsh products like hair dyes at your porcelain sink that can easily cause black stain marks. If stained by accident, ensure you clean the marks immediately.
3. Leaving sharp objects such as knives, pins, and needles in the sink should be avoided as they can scratch and chip the sink.
4. Place a rubber sink mat at the bottom of the sink to prevent stains and scratches.
5. Always dry your porcelain sink after cleaning to prevent any remaining water from oxidizing metal parts or faucets, which could lead to unpleasant marks.
6. Don’t store open product containers under your porcelain sink. These may include sodium chloride, lye, and acid containers. They may easily discolor your sink.
How To Remove Stains From White Porcelain Sink
White porcelain farmhouse sinks are a favorite of many people. While they could require more effort at keeping spotlessly clean than other types, they are more preferred due to the value they add to a kitchen. The glass-based ceramic offers a shiny luster and a general sense of clean.
White sinks are very susceptible to staining, and daily wear and tear. They are also more likely to dull over time due to soap scum or high mineral content in water. A coin or a screw forgotten overnight will easily stain the white porcelain. Placing silverware directly on the surface will easily scuff and scour the sink.
As a rule of thumb, don’t clean your white porcelain sink with anything that would scratch your glassware.
Tools you will need:
-Soft sponge
-Soft brush
-Fiber cloth
-Hand gloves
-Paper towels
Materials you will need:
-Chlorine bleach
-Sodium percarbonate
-Citric acid and salt
Step 1: Empty sink
Remove all dishes and any other items from your sink.
Step 2: Clean out sink
Wear your gloves and ensure you have cleaned any particles of food from your sink. This will help you identify where the stains are.
Rinse your sink all-around using a faucet.
Step 3: Make Your Solution
Prepare a chlorine solution. Mix one part of bleach to 4 parts of water in a spray bottle.
Step 4: Layer Sink
Layer paper towels all over the surface of your sink.
Step 5: Apply Bleach Solution
Spray the chlorine solution on the paper towels, emphasizing stained and grimy parts.
Step 6: Let Sit
Wait for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Remove Paper Towels
Carefully remove the bleached paper towels from your sink.
Step 8: Discard Paper Towels
Discard the towels carefully. Remember they are bleached and you don’t want to contaminate anything.
Step 9: Scrub sink
Using your soft brush or sponge, gently scrub your sink, ensuring all marks are gone.
Step 10: Rinse sink
With your faucet on medium, thoroughly rinse your sink with warm water. Remember to rinse the faucet too. Dry the sink using a soft cloth or paper towels.
Cleaning the More Stubborn Stains
Dealing with the more stubborn stains will require a bit more than your usual cleaning methods. White and off white farmhouse sink cleaning is especially more sensitive as the stains are more conspicuous.
More Useful Tips for Sink Cleaning
-Avoid harsh scrubbing and scouring. Use glass friendly scouring materials and cleaning agents. After gently removing dried foods, toothpaste and grime, scrub, rinse and dry your sink.
-Use mild abrasive cleaners readily available in the market, gently scouring with a soft sponge or brush.
-If your sink is stained, you can follow the stain-removal procedures mentioned above. When using a chlorine bleach solution, layer paper towels on the surface of your sink. Spray the bleach solution over the paper towels and leave for 30 minutes to an hour. Afterward, discard the bleached paper towels and give your tub a good rinse.
Conclusion
Farmhouse kitchen sinks are indeed classy and convenient, and fast gaining popularity among households. They add aesthetic value to your kitchen while marrying well with your theme.
From handling a sizable amount of dishes to clean or even washing your newborn, farmhouse sinks are your best friend. Contrary to popular belief that it is impossible to keep them clean and admirable, it is actually doable. One should choose the type of sink from an informed position. Consider your budget, the cleaning routine you’d keep up with well, and durability.
The secret to keeping your sinks in excellent condition is to routinely and rightly clean the as we’ve seen. Most of these cleaning routines require very readily available products. There is, therefore, no need to spectate and admire other beautiful kitchens. Go right ahead and get your preferred farmhouse sink installed.
