How to Clean a White Sink

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The beauty and style of a white kitchen sink often enhances kitchen decor. White kitchen sinks are made of many different kinds of materials such as crushed granite, enamel or Corian. A few simple cleaning steps can keep your sink looking like new.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Kitchen/bath cleanser with bleach
Soft brush or scrubber
Dishwashing liquid
Sponge or cleaning cloth

Step1

Follow the care instructions from the manufacturers. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning every day.

Step2

Think soft. Cleaning cloths, cleaning solutions and stain scrubbers should be soft. For Corian and similar surfaces, use a cleanser with bleach everyday. For crushed granite and enamel, use dishwashing liquid and a damp cloth, soft brush or sponge.

Step3

Clean every day. On a new white sink, starting out with the right care regimen will make it easy to keep stains and scratches away. Once you have done intensive care on an older sink, continue to clean it daily.

Step4

Attack stains. Make a paste of a cleanser with bleach and a little water, let sit and then use a sponge or cloth in a circular motion for Corian. For enamel, soak household cleaner on the stain. Use dishwashing liquid and a soft brush or scrubber such as Scotch-Brite on granite.

Step5

Watch out for scratches. Most scratches from metal pans can be easily removed using any of the techniques in the first 4 steps, but a change in kitchen habits will help even more. Placing sharp knives carefully in sinks keeps gouges away.

Step6

Keep the heat away. Unless you have stainless steel, heat is the enemy for any sink of any color. Soak a hot pan by filling it with water and soap and just placing it back on the stove or on a heat-resistant surface until it cools. Let the coffee pot cool before you clean it.

Tips & Warnings

On a new white sink, starting out with the right care regimen will make it easy to keep stains and scratches away.
Read labels on cleaning products. The label will say if the product is not recommended for certain surfaces.
Manufacturers' websites have care instructions and other related information.
Metal scouring pads will damage most white sinks.
Some websites suggest concentrated or diluted bleach. Do not use this technique unless the manufacturer approves.
Do not mix cleaning solutions. You may end up creating a harmful chemical reaction.