Kitchen sinks can often suffer from a build-up of dirt over time. While there are many tough stain-removal products out there, not all are safe to use on your sink
It’s frustrating when you can’t get your kitchen to look sparkling clean because of a build up of dirt in your white sink. These stains are glaringly obvious on white composite material. And what is worse, they’re hard to avoid.
Pretty much everything ends up in the sink: food, drink, dirt and a mishmash of cleaning products. Over time, this can lead to a build-up of minerals and all kinds of discolouration. Unfortunately, while there are many tough stain-removal products out there, not all are safe to use on your sink, as they can cause surface and structural damage.
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Sara Baker came to the ‘Cleaning tips and tricks’ Facebook group in search of advice. She wrote: “Help!!! Tips to clean white composite sink?! It’s driving me bananas.”
Commenters were quick to rush in with their own suggestions. One said: “Bar Keepers with a non abrasive scrubber and some rubbing. I have this sink and ruined it by filling it with bleach and water constantly.”
They added: “My sink gets a lot worse when cleaning certain pans I put BKF and go to town on it and it comes out shiny.” Other commenters also recommended using Bar Keepers Friend.
Bleach has traditionally been a popular cleaning agent, due to its powerful disinfecting and stain-removing properties and for it’s low price point. For example, Ocado sells a bottle for just 59p.
However, consistently using too much bleach can damage white composite sinks over time. This is because it contains oxidising properties, which can cause discoloration and sometimes even cracks to appear on the sink’s surface.
Meanwhile, Bar Keepers Friend is a much safer cleaning product which contains oxalic acid. This makes it effective at removing rust, mineral build up and stubborn stains.
One of its main draws is that it is suitable for use on a wide variety of surfaces. These include stainless steel, copper, brass, ceramic, glass and porcelain.
The product is also incredibly easy to work with. Simply wet the surface you want to clean, sprinkle the powder and then use a damp cloth to scrub away at the stain.
Although, make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly after cleaning and dry with a clean cloth. Otherwise, the product can leave a fine residue that will cause damage over time.
Don’t worry if you don’t have Bar Keepers Friend lying around at home – it’s pocket-friendly, too. You can pick up a bottle from B&Q for just £3.50.