Is your porcelain sink looking a little lackluster? Like any surface, sinks can stain over time, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with the discoloration. There are a number of stain-removing products out there to keep kitchens and bathrooms looking their best, including the tried-and-true classic Bar Keepers Friend. But if you don’t…
How To Make a Sink Sparkle
If you’d like to brighten your sink’s surface in mere minutes, look no further than your kitchen pantry. Two everyday household ingredients pack a major punch when it comes to getting your sink in shape, and you can use them together or separately, depending on how stubborn your stains are.
The first product is baking soda, which you likely have in the back of your fridge. You’ll only need enough to create a paste — a couple of tablespoons should be plenty. (The consistency should be thick and spreadable, similar to toothpaste or canned frosting.) To use it, simply mix the baking soda with a little water, dip a damp cloth or sponge into the paste, and buff it into your stains. This creates a natural exfoliant that’s gentle on porcelain surfaces, so you can repeat the process as needed.
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If you have super stuck-on stains, you can also try using a bit of 3% hydrogen peroxide to lift them out. A 3-1 ratio of baking soda to hydrogen peroxide is best; you can omit water from the mixture if you thoroughly wet the sink before applying the paste. (Warning: Avoid applying hydrogen peroxide to any rust stains, as this will only make the problem worse.)
Why Does It Work?
So, how do these two humble household staples manage to clean porcelain sinks so well? It’s their natural bond-breaking abilities. Both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide fight stains by breaking down chemical bonds and compounds. Baking soda does this through its alkaline properties, while peroxide works by releasing oxygen.
