Deep clean a home usually excludes the sink. After all, it gets rinsed and wiped down after each use and once dishes are cleared, so isn’t that enough?
Not really – not when you consider that your sink has more germs than anywhere else in your home. Only a sponge has more – not much of a combination when it’s a kitchen sponge.
To help prevent microorganisms from setting up camp in your sink, wash and disinfect its sides and bottom once a week. There’s one exception to that rule: clean your sink immediately if raw meat or the dirt from potatoes were part of your meal and rinsed in the sink.
The best way to clean a sink is with hot water and soap but, for even better results, use vinegar or bleach. Hot soap and water provide a sparkling shine while vinegar and bleach dispose of germs. Vinegar mixed with baking soda is doubly effective.
Once you’re done cleaning, use a disinfectant wipe to remove cleaning product residue. Also, before applying bleach, pour a capful into a large bottle of water.
As for that nasty kitchen sponge of yours, it’s wise to replace it at least once a month. In the meantime, dampen and microwave sponges daily to remove bacteria, yeast, and mold. You also can clean sponges in your dishwasher.
According to the Huffington Post, “Kitchen sponges not only act as reservoir of microorganisms, but also as disseminators over domestic surfaces, which can lead to cross–contamination of hands and food, which is considered a main cause of food–borne disease.”
If, after all that, your sink still looks worn and dingy, it’s time to contact Messmer Mechanical for a replacement sink and faucet. It’s a simple and budget-friendly way to spice up the look of your kitchen.