How to Clean a Kitchen Sink

After putting in all that work to cook a meal, facing a sink piled with dishes is enough to make anyone groan. And once those dishes are finally washed, the thought of having to clean the sink itself might escalate that groan into serious grumbling. Trust me, I understand completely.

Sadly, sink cleaning isn't optional; dangerous pathogens like salmonella and E. coli from your raw meat and vegetables are serious business that you don't want to ignore. Not to mention that leftover food particles, grease, and other debris hanging out in your sink will start giving off some truly awful smells surprisingly quickly if left unattended. Fortunately, getting your sink properly clean is a straightforward two-step process that effectively removes all the gunk and grime while eliminating potential foodborne illness risks.

Essentials for Sink Cleaning

After a satisfying meal, the last thing you want to face is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Even worse, once you've tackled the dishes, you're left with a grimy sink that demands attention. We understand your frustration.

However, cleaning your sink is a crucial task that shouldn't be neglected. Harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. coli from fruits, vegetables, and uncooked meat can pose serious health risks. Moreover, leftover food particles and grease can quickly lead to unpleasant odors if not dealt with promptly. Fortunately, cleaning your sink can be a simple two-step process to eliminate dirt, grime, and potential foodborne illnesses.

Sink strainer: If your sink lacks a garbage disposal, avoid letting food solids go down the drain. A strainer helps catch food scraps, allowing you to dispose of them in the trash.
Dish soap: This effectively breaks down any lingering fats and oils in the sink.
Scrub brush or sponge: Any stubborn residue stuck to the sink needs to be scrubbed away. Feel free to use whatever dish-washing tool you have handy.
Bleach or bleach-based cleaner: Bleach is a powerful disinfectant that eliminates bacteria like salmonella, which can cause foodborne illnesses. If you opt to make your own bleach solution, you'll also need a spray bottle.

Optional

Bar Keepers Friend: This cleanser excels at removing stains and discoloration from stainless steel sinks with a bit of elbow grease.
Denture tablets: These can help lift stains from porcelain sinks with a little soaking time.

Sink Cleaning Duration: What to Expect

In most cases, actively scrubbing your sink should take no more than about five minutes, unless you're tackling particularly stubborn stains. However, it's important to factor in an additional 10 to 20 minutes to allow your sanitizing solution sufficient time to work its magic on the sink's surface.

For tougher stains, be prepared to invest a bit more time and elbow grease. When cleaning stains from a stainless steel sink, plan on around 10 minutes of vigorous scrubbing. If you're dealing with stains on a porcelain sink, you'll need to let the cleaning solution soak for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes before scrubbing.

First, Prepare the Sink Area

Clear the sink of any dishes, utensils, or other items that may be present. (Ideally, the sink should be emptied after each use to maintain a clean and organized kitchen.)

Remove any objects from around the sink that could hinder the cleaning process, such as dish soap, sponges, or hand towels. These areas are prone to bacterial growth and can easily spread contamination; for instance, if you touch the faucet with hands that have handled raw meat, anyone who subsequently touches the faucet will also be exposed to potentially harmful bacteria.

If you have a strainer or filter to catch food particles during dishwashing, ensure it is properly in place. Use the sink sprayer or a cup of water to guide any remaining food debris into the strainer. Turn off the water and dispose of the collected waste in the garbage.

For sinks equipped with a garbage disposal, push any remaining food particles down the disposal and activate it while running water for 20 to 30 seconds. Once finished, turn off the disposal and allow the water to continue running briefly to flush away any residual waste.

Remove Dirt and Debris

Even if your sink appears clean, it's essential to eliminate any hidden grease or grime to ensure the sanitizer can effectively do its job. Apply a small amount of dish soap to a brush and scrub the sink as needed to remove any stubborn residue. Then, turn on the faucet and let the water wash the soap down the drain.

If there are no tough stains, you can forgo the scrubbing and simply spray the interior of the sink with your preferred cleaner (we recommend Clorox Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner) to break down any grease. Wipe the surface with a clean sponge or cloth.

Before sanitizing, be sure to thoroughly rinse the sink, particularly if you plan to use bleach. Combining bleach with certain cleaners, especially those containing ammonia, can cause a dangerous chemical reaction. (Note that the Clorox Free & Clear cleaner we suggest is ammonia-free.)

Disinfect After Washing

Washing eliminates food particles, oils, and other visible debris from the surface of your sink. Disinfecting focuses on eradicating any remaining germs and thus shielding your family from food-related illnesses. If, for example, you used tongs to turn over uncooked meat and then placed the utensil into the sink, well done: You now have a meat-contaminated sink (or at the very least, you should treat it as such).

You should always perform a separate disinfecting step after washing, even if the washing agent you used also has disinfecting abilities. Any debris in the way reduces the effectiveness of the disinfectant, so the bare surface needs a proper opportunity to be disinfected.

Also be aware that many cleaning products don't disinfect (including the Clorox Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner we suggest). Look for the term "disinfectant" or "disinfecting" on the packaging, or a phrase like "eliminates 99.9% of germs." If you can't locate such wording, sometimes the back of the bottle has a note specifying whether a product can be used as a disinfectant.

When uncertain, opt for bleach. The USDA suggests disinfecting with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water to eliminate food-related pathogens. Keep in mind, however, that this mixture disinfects, but it doesn't sterilize, which means it'll eradicate bacteria but not viruses. If someone in your home is ill and you'd like to eliminate viruses as well, the CDC recommends increasing the concentration of bleach to 5 tablespoons per gallon of water.

You can also take the simpler path and use a commercial spray containing bleach that both disinfects and sterilizes (we suggest Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach). Whatever you select, spray your disinfectant all over the sink, including the faucet and handles.

To eradicate most bacteria, you need to let the mixture sit for a while before rinsing it off. If you choose the bleach mixture, let it sit for five to 10 minutes, or whatever your bleach bottle's label suggests. Then rinse it with water or wipe it with a damp cloth or paper towel. The USDA says to ensure the surface or sink is dry before using it again.

If you're using a spray cleaner, follow the instructions on the label. Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach needs to sit on the surface for 30 seconds to be effective, but others may need longer.

Strategies for Tackling Tough Stains

Employ Bar Keepers Friend on stainless steel surfaces. Numerous individuals from Wirecutter's culinary team swear by Bar Keepers Friend for removing stains or discoloration from stainless steel items. Although you can adhere to the instructions on the container, we've discovered that achieving a truly brilliant shine may require deviating from the script slightly. The directions state that Bar Keepers Friend should not be left on a surface for longer than a minute, but in reality, we've found that it often takes several minutes of vigorous scrubbing to effectively remove stains. Prolonged exposure to BKF is said to cause discoloration, but we have yet to experience any damage—likely because we use it on high-quality stainless steel cookware.

Utilize denture-cleaning tablets on porcelain surfaces. Kathleen Squires, a staff writer on the kitchen team, suggests filling the sink with water and adding a few denture-cleaning tablets, which can eliminate stains from the porcelain without any scrubbing effort on your part. Begin by allowing the sink to soak for 20 to 30 minutes, then check if the stain has loosened. If not, continue soaking until the stain can be easily removed. Finally, simply drain and rinse the sink.

Safety Precautions

Always use caution when working with bleach. Never combine bleach with other household cleaners, especially those containing ammonia. Mixing bleach with ammonia or ammonia-based products can create toxic chloramine gas, which may lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, throat irritation, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. To safely disinfect your sink, the USDA suggests first cleaning the surface with warm, soapy water or a general-purpose cleaner, followed by thoroughly rinsing and drying the area before applying a bleach solution.