Baking soda and vinegar is a powerful duo. No matter if you are looking for an effective odor neutralizer or stain remover. The same combination can help with the cleaning of your kitchen sink.
The chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda is responsible for their cleaning action. Indeed, the acidic properties of baking soda and vinegar are more than enough to deal with a blocked sink drain.
This remedy works pretty well if your sink drain is clogged or blocked. You can simply fix this issue by cleaning your sink drain with natural ingredients. The good part about these ingredients is that they are easily available in your kitchen pantry and are quite inexpensive. That’s why it is recommended to use these natural ingredients to prevent the unnecessary use of chemical-based cleaners and products for your kitchen sink.
If you want to learn how to unclog a kitchen sink with baking soda and vinegar, read this article for the best unclogging tips and methods with these ingredients.
Before moving on to the steps, let’s have a look at the tools/materials you will need and the time and cost of this project.
Table of Contents
Tools You Will Need for Unclogging Kitchen Sink
You will need different tools and materials to clean different kinds of kitchen sinks. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to gather:
Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
- Sponge
- Plush microfiber cloth
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Vinegar
White Kitchen Sink
- Sponge
- Scrub brush (optional)
- Soft cloth
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
Porcelain Kitchen Sink
- Microfiber cloth
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Lemon
- Salt
- Dish soap
Time and Cost of Kitchen Sink Cleaning Project
You can do this quick and easy project of cleaning your kitchen sink in about 20 minutes for an expense of almost 5 USD.
This easy chore not only makes your kitchen more hygienic, but also makes your cooking area feel new and welcoming.
5 Best Ways to Unclog Kitchen Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Cleaning your sink with vinegar and baking soda is a DIY project you can do on your own without hiring a professional cleaner or contractor. All you need to do is gather the right ingredients and follow the right steps. Here are the steps you will need to unclog the sink with baking soda and vinegar:
1. Clean Your Sink
Even if there is no mess around your kitchen sink, you still need to clean your sink area and wash it off with water. You can also use a soft sponge with a mild detergent to clean the surface of your kitchen sink.
This cleaning will make it easier for you to clean the sink with baking soda and vinegar in a clean and mess-free environment. After rinsing off your kitchen sink, dry it off appropriately with a paper towel. Be mindful that it is necessary to dry your kitchen before sprinkling baking soda over there.
2. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Once the sink has dried, sprinkle the baking soda on the surface of your kitchen sink drain strainer basket and all around the sink. Ensure to let the baking soda drop down the drain pipe to unclog it appropriately.
Baking soda will not damage your kitchen sink drain pipe. So, you can let the baking soda drop down the pipe without any risk of damage. You can also use a sponge to clean the sink surface with baking soda. This gentle scrubbing will help remove stains or debris from your kitchen sink.
3. Pour Vinegar in Sink
Once you have scrubbed your kitchen sink with baking soda, let the baking soda sit on the surface. Next, pour white vinegar on the sink. The vinegar will react with baking soda immediately and erupt bubbles.
Don’t worry, this reaction doesn’t affect the surface of your kitchen sink. This reaction will also disinfect your kitchen sink. Ensure to pour enough white vinegar so it can react with baking soda easily in the sink.
4. Add Warm Water
Once you have cleaned the sink with baking soda and vinegar, you are all set to pour warm water into the sink. You don’t need to use boiling water to clean your sink. Lukewarm water is more than enough to let go of the baking soda and vinegar mixture down in your kitchen sink drain.
At that point, baking soda, vinegar, and warm water mixture will remove any remaining debris or clogging material from your kitchen sink drain.
5. Dry the Kitchen Sink
Once you have cleaned the sink with baking soda and vinegar, you still need to wipe out the remaining with a paper towel or a dry cloth. Ensure there are no stains or other left-outs on your kitchen sink. If there are any, simply rub them off with a dry cloth.
2 Steps to Clean Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
Stainless steel is more durable than other washbasin materials. Stainless steel kitchen sinks are less likely to stain or rust permanently than white kitchen sinks.
However, its true adversaries – acidic foods, bleach, and abrasive scrubbers – can damage the finish of a stainless-steel sink. Here’s how to clean your stainless steel kitchen sink:
Step 1: Apply Cleanser and Scrub
Start by coating the wet sink in baking soda and dampening your sponge with dish soap and hot water. Scrub the sides of the basin first, then work your way down, pushing any grime directly into the drain. Continue to add soap and water as needed until the surface is scum-free.
Step 2: Rinse and Dry
Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Stainless steel is known for showing water spots, so dry and buff your clean sink with a plush microfiber cloth.
2 Steps to Clean a White Kitchen Sink
Not only will food splashes and rust appear on a white kitchen sink, but wine and coffee stains will also be visible. To help clean stains and restore your washbasin to its original state, use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
Step 1: Apply Cleaner and Scrub
After giving the sink a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to make it slightly damp, cover the entire basin with baking soda. After that, sprinkle a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on top of the baking soda and begin cleaning with a brush or sponge.
Step 2: Drain and Dry
After the mixture has been thoroughly cleaned, wipe it down the drain and pat dry with a soft cloth.
2 Steps to Clean a Porcelain Kitchen Sink
Similar to white sinks, glossy porcelain sinks can rust and get stained. Porcelain sinks can be cleaned using the same technique as white sinks, but to preserve the pearly finish, you should use a different method to remove rust.
Step 1: Remove Rust Stains
Just coat half of a lemon with salt and rub it straight on the rust until the elements do their magic.
Step 2: Rinse and Dry
Use a microfiber cloth to dry after giving it a thorough wash in warm, soapy water.
Keep your kitchen Sink Clean!
You can clean the sink with baking soda and vinegar to get rid of drain clogging or blockage. This method is an inexpensive way to remove the debris. Moreover, you can also save your kitchen sink from clogging or water leakage by considering the following tips:
- Don’t put off your kitchen sink drain basket while washing off dishes. It will help to collect the food remaining or other stuff on the surface of the strainer basket.
- Use a paper towel first to clean greasy or oily dishes before washing them off in your kitchen sink.
- Clean your sink with baking soda and vinegar at least twice a week to keep the sink drain well-maintained.
- Keep the attached garbage disposal system well-maintained by checking its pipes and overall functionality from time to time.
Vinegar and Baking Soda for a Clean Sink
Baking soda and vinegar are the commonly used household ingredients that you can use for cleaning your kitchen sink. You can use it frequently to prevent clogged sinks that can affect the functionality of your kitchen.
While cleaning your sink with vinegar, make sure to avoid contact with the agents and use an appropriate hand protection gauge. Also, be gentle while pouring hot water and vinegar into the kitchen sink.
Using vinegar and baking soda for sink cleaning is enough. However, if you still feel that your kitchen sink isn’t clean, then you can consult a professional cleaner to get the job done.
