If you have a stained porcelain sink, then you’ve probably experienced how hard it can be to clean, especially if the sink is scratched and has lost some of the glaze finish.
Porcelain is a nonporous material and the glaze over the top prevents it from getting deep stains. That’s why it’s so ideal for sinks. But once that glaze gets old and starts to wear off, the sink can become deeply stained and really hard to clean.
Unfortunately, I know this all too well because I had one of these sinks in my home. It was really scratched and missing some glaze, but it has taught me a lot about caring for porcelain sinks, even the newer ones in my home.
Here are a few of the methods I’ve used to get my porcelain sinks clean and sparkling!
How to clean a porcelain sink
The best way to clean grease and stuck-on food debris from a porcelain sink is to use a wet sponge or cloth with liquid dish soap. Add additional water to the sink to work up a lather and clean all areas. If food is stuck on the surface, do not scrape or use a scouring pad. Instead, let the soapy sink sit for a few minutes, then rinse.
Natural ways to clean a porcelain sink
If you prefer natural cleaning, baking soda is a good natural substance for cleaning a porcelain sink because it’s a very gentle abrasive that won’t damage your sink. I love using baking soda on my newer porcelain sinks because it’s gentle.
If you need a bit more cleaning power, use just a teaspoon of baking soda with a bit of castile soap and water on a soft cloth. Never use a scouring pad on porcelain. And remember, baking soda and castile soap are not true disinfectants, so you can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to the sink to kill bacteria.
Another natural way to clean a porcelain sink with stains is with white vinegar. First, wipe the sink dry with a paper towel. Then use a spray bottle to apply the vinegar to stained areas. Let it sit for 5 minutes, rinse, then wash using baking soda, and castile soap.
Can you clean a porcelain sink with bleach?
Bleach is only safe to use only on white porcelain sinks, but it’s not safe for porcelain sinks that are any other color, as it can fade the sink. If you have a colored porcelain sink, Bob Vila recommends using hydrogen peroxide.
Since my sink is white, I have found that bleach is the only thing that removes deep stains from the porcelain, since the glaze is damaged.
Using a spray bottle for bleach, I spray my sink with bleach and let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then I wash the sink with soap and a cloth and it comes out super clean and stain-free.
How to Take Care of a Porcelain Sink
One of the things you want to keep in mind with a porcelain sink is that you want to avoid scratching it, especially if it’s a newer sink. That’s why you don’t want to scour it with steel wool and risk damaging the glaze finish.
If you have a porcelain kitchen sink try not to let dishes pile up with food on them, as you want to avoid as many stains and stuck-on food messes as possible.
In the kitchen or laundry room, you can protect your porcelain sink by using a plastic washing basin in the sink when cleaning.
A good way to take care of your porcelain sink is to invest in a silicone sink protector mat. Don’t use a metal one as they made are for stainless steel sinks and may scratch the surface.
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