Written by Tenley Haraldson.

From washing hands to straining pasta to rinsing out the pet bowl, your kitchen sink handles a lot. Considering information technology's i of the about vital areas of whatever household, it tin be a breeding ground for germs.

Our guide outlines the best way to make clean kitchen sinks with plant-based products – not potentially harmful ingredients establish in conventional sink cleaners. Who wants caustic chemicals well-nigh food-rubber surfaces, anyway?

Kitchen Sinks Are Ane of the Dirtiest Places in the Home

A National Sanitation Foundation study found some rather surprising results. It determined that kitchen sponges were the germiest places in whatsoever home, followed closely by kitchen sinks. A whopping 45% of study participants had coliform lurking in that location – and that'south not even including yeast or mold.

Since these are places where food is defrosted and prepared, it's important to preclude the spread of kitchen sink bacteria whenever possible.

1. Use Kitchen Sponges Correctly

Because they almost never dry out out between uses, sponges become germ convenance grounds. One written report determined that more than than 360 types of leaner thrive in household sponges. This is one of the densest environments for germs on the planet, rivaled only by the human being intestinal tract!

avoid sponge bacteria

We know they're useful, but sponges can quickly cross-contaminate surfaces with bacteria like coliform, campylobacter, salmonella, staph, E. coli, and mold. And – reverse to popular belief – microwaving them may non impale all of the germs living in them.

If you're going to continue using them, be sure to follow these guidelines:

  • Replace them every 1-ii weeks. If it starts to smell, throw information technology abroad.
  • Chuck it in the height rack of a dishwasher. Otherwise, become it wet and throw it in the microwave for one-two minutes (don't touch it until it'southward cooled off!).
  • Never utilize them on surfaces that have touched raw meat or poultry (use paper instead).
  • Keep sponges on an aerated surface to ensure that it dries out between uses.
  • Don't exit sponges at the bottom of a kitchen sink or in a pool of water. Get a caddy instead.

2. Pick the Right Tools for Dish Duty

We recommend using a dish brush considering they're easier to rinse, dry out out faster, and tend to have better scrubbing capabilities than sponges. When it's not in use, store the brush upright in a dish rack or caddy.

Go the best tips from the cleaning obsessed.

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iii. Exercise Dishes ASAP

how to keep kitchen sink clean

Washing dishes immediately is far easier than dealing with crusty bits after on. But there'south another bonus: It gets rid of the leaner-laden organic affair that tends to attract pests. At the very least, you should give dishes a quick scrape and rinse before turning the kitchen lights off.

Let Dishes Air Dry

Whenever possible, permit your dishes air dry out instead of placing them on a dish towel. Between drying your hands, wiping countertops, and cleaning up spills, tea towels are notorious for property onto bacteria.

4. Regular Sink Care Is Easy Care

Daily wipe-downs may sound excessive simply cleaning a kitchen sink regularly is the best way to prevent bacteria from making a home there.

kitchen sink cleaner

Scrub away residue with our Multi-Surface Cleaner and a microfiber cloth (a gentle scrub brush is great for tough stains). Be sure to get into the crevices around the faucet and rim. Next, rinse thoroughly with fresh, warm water and dry everything with another clean, microfiber towel.

If possible, permit your sink dry out between uses (leaner don't thrive every bit well on dry surfaces). You can speed up the process by opening a nearby window or setting upwards a sink-side fan.

Sanitize Your Kitchen Sink

Take things one step further with our Disinfecting Surface Spray. This biodegradable hydrogen peroxide disinfectant doesn't just impale 99.9+% of germs, bacteria, and viruses – it also clears away grime and grease while deodorizing odors.

kitchen sink germs

Thoroughly spray the kitchen sink until information technology'due south wet and let it represent 10 minutes. Wipe clean with a clean microfiber towel and you're good to go!

Pro Tip: Sanitizing is especially useful if the sink has come into straight contact with potentially pathogenic objects similar raw craven or pet bowls.

v. Don't Forget About Cleaning the Garbage Disposal

clean garbage disposal

You might think that whatever's put downward the garbage disposal no longer concerns you. However, bacteria from sometime food waste tin can build up and cause quite the stink. To clean your garbage disposal, follow these simple steps:

  • Pull out the splash guard (the blackness rubber panel at the summit of the drain) and scrub it in hot, soapy water. Otherwise, it tin be placed on the height rack of your dishwasher.
  • Ensure that the faucet and garbage disposal are turned off.
  • Identify vi-viii ice cubes, 1 TBSP of blistering soda, one-half a thinly-sliced lemon, and one TBSP of baking soda in the chamber. Top with 6-8 more ice cubes.
  • Run the disposal without water until the grinding dissonance stops.
  • Let cold h2o run for 30-threescore seconds.
  • Plough off the faucet.

Minimal Products & Effort, Maximum Results

Your kitchen sink should be a prophylactic place to grab a glass of water, wash your hands, and fifty-fifty brush your teeth (hey, life happens!). With just a petty TLC – and a handful of Puracy products – this vital part of your house volition exist happier and healthier for your entire family.