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DIY Cleaning Methods for Kitchen sink

Reviewed by Zac Kieffer

Updated: September 15, 2025

Discover easy DIY cleaning methods for your kitchen sink. Keep it sparkling clean and fresh with simple, effective tips using household ingredients.

DIY Cleaning Methods for Kitchen sink

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda over the kitchen sink, then pour white vinegar on top. Let the mixture fizz and sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a sponge and rinse with warm water. This natural method helps remove stains, deodorize, and leave your sink sparkling clean.

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How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Clear out the sink. Remove any dishes, food scraps, or utensils. You want a blank canvas for this cleaning method to work its magic.

Rinse the sink with warm water. This helps loosen up any loose debris and preps the surface for a deeper clean.

Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the entire sink. Pay extra attention to grimy spots and around the drain. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive, which means it can help scrub away stuck-on gunk without scratching most sink surfaces.

Use a damp sponge or cloth to scrub the baking soda into the sink. Work in circles, focusing on stains and buildup. If you have a stainless steel sink, always scrub with the grain to avoid dulling the finish.

Pour white vinegar over the baking soda. You’ll see some fizzing—this is normal. The reaction helps lift grime and can help with mineral deposits. Let it bubble for a few minutes, but don’t expect it to tackle everything on its own.

Scrub again with your sponge or cloth. The fizzing will have loosened some debris, making it easier to wipe away. Don’t forget the faucet and handles—these spots collect grime, too.

Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Make sure to wash away all the baking soda and vinegar residue. Leftover powder can leave a film, especially on stainless steel.

Dry with a clean towel or microfiber cloth. This helps prevent water spots and keeps your sink looking fresh.

Pro tip: If your drain has a lingering odor, pour a little extra baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then flush with hot water. This can help with mild smells, but it won’t fix deeper plumbing issues.

Limited Cleaning Power

Baking soda and vinegar may not effectively remove tough grease, grime, or clogs in kitchen sinks because their reaction is mild and lacks the strength needed for deep cleaning or dissolving stubborn buildup.

Lemon Juice and Salt

Sprinkle salt over the kitchen sink, then squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the salted areas. Scrub with a sponge or cloth, focusing on stains and buildup. Rinse thoroughly with water. This natural method deodorizes and removes grime, leaving your sink clean and fresh.

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How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink with Lemon Juice and Salt

What You’ll Need:

1 fresh lemon (or more, depending on sink size)
Table salt (coarse or fine, but coarse gives more scrubbing power)
A soft sponge or cloth
Warm water
Optional: Old toothbrush for crevices

Step-by-Step Guide:

Clear the sink. Remove dishes, food scraps, and anything else that’s hanging out in there. You want a blank canvas.

Rinse with warm water. Give the sink a quick rinse to loosen up any loose debris. This helps the lemon and salt do their thing.

Sprinkle salt generously. Cover the sink’s surface with a layer of salt. Pay extra attention to grimy spots and around the drain.

Cut the lemon in half. Use one half as your scrubber. Squeeze it gently as you go to release the juice, and start scrubbing the salted areas. The salt acts as a mild abrasive, while the lemon juice helps with stains and odors.

Work in circles. Use circular motions to scrub the entire sink, including the sides and around the faucet base. For tight spots or around the drain, use an old toothbrush dipped in lemon juice and salt.

Let it sit (optional). For stubborn spots or stains, let the lemon juice and salt mixture sit for 5–10 minutes before scrubbing again.

Rinse thoroughly. Use warm water to rinse away all the salt and lemon residue. Make sure nothing is left behind, especially in the drain area.

Dry with a clean cloth. Wipe the sink dry to prevent water spots and keep it looking fresh.

Why This Works:

Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can help break down some stains and leave a fresh scent behind.

Salt provides gentle scrubbing action to help lift grime and residue without scratching most sink surfaces.

Extra Tips:

If your sink is stainless steel, always scrub in the direction of the grain to avoid dulling the finish.

Don’t forget the faucet and handles—lemon and salt can help remove buildup there, too.

For a quick shine, buff the sink with a dry microfiber cloth after cleaning.

Bacterial Residue Remains

Lemon juice and salt may not fully eliminate bacterial residue in the kitchen sink, leaving behind harmful microbes. This DIY method lacks the disinfecting power needed for thorough sanitation, risking potential health hazards.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Cream of Tartar

Mix hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar to form a paste. Apply the paste to stains or grime in your kitchen sink, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a sponge and rinse thoroughly. This combination helps lift tough stains and leaves your sink sparkling clean.

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How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink with Hydrogen Peroxide and Cream of Tartar

Gather your supplies: You’ll need hydrogen peroxide (the standard 3% solution you find at the drugstore), cream of tartar (yes, the same stuff you use for baking), a small bowl, a soft sponge or cloth, and a pair of gloves if you want to keep your hands dry.

Mix your paste: In your bowl, combine about two tablespoons of cream of tartar with just enough hydrogen peroxide to make a thick, spreadable paste. Add the peroxide slowly—a little goes a long way. The mixture should look like toothpaste, not soup.

Apply the paste: Spread the paste over any stained or discolored areas of your sink. This combo works especially well on light stains and can help brighten up stainless steel or porcelain surfaces. For best results, focus on spots that look dingy or have mineral buildup.

Let it sit: Give the paste about 10–15 minutes to do its thing. This gives the mild abrasive action of the cream of tartar and the bubbling effect of hydrogen peroxide time to work on surface stains.

Scrub gently: Using your sponge or cloth, scrub the sink in small circles. Cream of tartar is a gentle abrasive, so it can help lift stains without scratching most sink surfaces. If you’re working with a delicate finish, test a small area first.

Rinse thoroughly: Once you’ve scrubbed, rinse the sink well with warm water. Make sure to remove all residue, as leftover paste can leave a chalky film.

Dry and buff: Wipe the sink dry with a clean towel. If you want a little extra shine, buff the surface with a dry microfiber cloth.

What’s happening here? Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is a mild acid and a gentle abrasive, so it helps lift stains without being too harsh. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer, which means it can help break down some types of discoloration and brighten surfaces. Together, they make a paste that’s handy for routine cleaning jobs.

Extra tip: This method is best for regular maintenance and light stains. For heavy-duty grime or deep mineral deposits, you might need a different approach or a little more elbow grease.

Pipe Corrosion Risk

Using hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar can accelerate pipe corrosion, especially in metal plumbing, as the mixture may react with the metal, weakening pipes and increasing the risk of leaks or failure over time.

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of borax in 1 quart of hot water. Pour the solution over the kitchen sink and scrub with a sponge or brush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. This method helps remove stains, deodorize, and leave your sink sparkling clean.

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How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink with Borax and Hot Water

Gather your supplies: You’ll need borax (a powdery mineral cleaner found in the laundry aisle), hot water, a non-scratch sponge or cloth, and gloves if you have sensitive skin.

Clear the sink: Remove dishes, food scraps, and anything else hanging out in the basin. Give it a quick rinse to get rid of loose debris.

Sprinkle borax: Dust a light, even layer of borax over the wet surface of your sink. Focus on areas with visible stains or buildup, but don’t go overboard—a little goes a long way.

Add hot water: Carefully pour hot (not boiling) water over the borax. This helps activate the cleaning power and makes it easier to scrub. If you’re worried about damaging your sink’s finish, let the tap run hot for a minute and use that instead of boiling water from a kettle.

Scrub gently: Using your non-scratch sponge or cloth, work the borax and hot water into the sink’s surface. Pay extra attention to corners, around the drain, and any spots with stubborn marks. Borax is mildly abrasive, so it can help lift grime without scratching most sinks.

Let it sit (optional): For tough stains, let the borax paste sit for 10–15 minutes before scrubbing again. This gives it more time to work on mineral deposits or greasy spots.

Rinse thoroughly: When you’re done scrubbing, rinse the sink well with hot water. Make sure all the borax is washed away—no one wants powdery residue left behind.

Dry and buff: Wipe the sink dry with a clean towel or microfiber cloth. This helps prevent water spots and leaves your sink looking refreshed.

Pro tip: If you have a stainless steel sink, always scrub in the direction of the grain to avoid dulling the finish. For porcelain or enamel sinks, test a small area first to make sure the borax doesn’t affect the surface.

Grease Build-Up Persists

Borax and hot water may not fully dissolve or break down heavy grease build-up, leaving residue behind. This method lacks the degreasing power needed for stubborn, thick grease, so the sink remains dirty despite repeated cleaning attempts.

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