Utility sinks are most commonly made of plastic, they are usually light colored, very often white. This doesn’t mean there aren’t other colors or materials. You can find Utility sinks made from many other materials such as cast iron or cement however they are less common.
While Utility sinks can indeed be problem solvers it’s important to take care of them and clean them when required. The white color can make them more prone to stains. Due to this, here are some of the most common, easy and effective ways to have a clean utility sink.
Having a utility sink can indeed be one of the most useful things in the house. Sometimes also known as laundry sinks, utility sinks usually tend to have 1 large bowl however you can also find some with 2.
These sinks can serve numerous purposes such as soaking clothing, cleaning dirty shoes, paintbrushes, bathing your pet, cleaning other large or messy objects can all easily be taken care of inside a utility sink.
Method 1: Using Vinegar Mixture
Items Required
- Water
- Distilled Vinegar
- Spraying Bottle
- Cloth
Our first method for your utility sink cleaning is a simple vinegar mixture.
Step 1: Put Vinegar Mixture into Spraying Bottle
You can start by wiping the sink with a clean cloth so it’s dry. Your mixture will be made of 1 cup water and 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar.
Step 2: Apply Mixture to the Sink
Add this mixture into a spray bottle and use it to pray all over the sink. Remember to apply some extra mixture on the stained areas.
Step 3: Let Mixture Rest
Let this mixture sit after being applied for anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 4: Clean Sink Using Warm Water
Once the mixture has been sitting for 10 to 15 minutes, now it’s time to wipe it clean. Start by rubbing the sink with a damp cloth, it should be dipped in warm water. Usually, this should start to remove the stains as you clean it.
However, in some cases you might notice that the stains remain, in that case spray the sink again and let it sit for a few more minutes, then repeat the cleaning with a warm cloth for a clean utility sink.
2. Clean Using Soft-Bristle Brush
Items Required:
- Soft-bristle brush
- Distilled vinegar
So you tried the cloth, and you waited yet still the stain did not go away. No reason to panic! We still have you covered. A soft-bristle brush can help clean a stained utility sink. Sometimes, the cloth can be too smooth to clear out some stubborn stains, this is where the soft-bristle brush comes in.
Unlike a hard-brittle brush which can scratch or damage the sink, a soft-bristle brush is less harsh and can prove to be more effective in cleaning those stains a regular cloth can’t.
Apply the vinegar mixture and use the soft-bristle brush to gently rub until the stains are gone.
3. Clean Using Baking Soda Mixture
Items required:
- Baking Soda
- Lemon juice
- Soft-bristle brush
Sometimes, stains can be very difficult to remove. Don’t worry if vinegar or a soft-bristle brush haven’t done the job, there’s always baking soda.
Step 1: Make the Mixture
Start by making a mixture, add in one part baking soda and one part lemon juice. This will then make a strong liquid to clean the sink. Once the mixture is added you will see it forms a paste.
Step 2: Apply Mixture To Sink
Next up, just simply apply the mixture to areas most heavily stained. Once you’ve applied the mixture, don’t immediately clean it off, instead, let it sit for at least an hour.
Step 3: Clean using soft-bristle brush
Once an hour or so has passed by, start by cleaning off the mixture using a soft-bristled brush. The stains should now rinse off without much effort.
This often proves very effective when trying to clean a stained utility sink.
4. Rinse With Warm Water
Items required:
- Warm water
- Soap
- Cloth
Hopefully, the steps before would have led you to a clean utility sink. For some stains that might survive everything before, they can be dealt with warm water.
Step 1: Clean Sink Using Warm Water and Soap
You can simply use warm water over the remaining stains or use a damp cloth dipped in warm water and scrum the stains that are left. Repeat the process.
Step 2: Let the Water Sit
Once you’ve done it enough times, next simply fill it with hot, soapy water and then let it sit for about 30 minutes.
Step 3: Drain And Clean With Fresh Water
Once the time has passed by, simply drain the sink and then use fresh water to clean out the remains of the soap.
Maintaining Utility Sink
While most utility sink cleaning can be done from the methods listed above, there are those which require some other solutions when trying to get rid of stains in a utility sink. There are many other methods and chemicals available to help with that. Here are some ways.
WD-40 is a water dispensing spray. It’s mostly used for protection against rust, corrosion. It can also penetrate stocks and clogged areas. If your utility sink has been stained with paint, WD-40 is the perfect thing to use along with a scraper knife to get paint off a sink.
However, it’s important to remember that a knife can end up scratching or even further damaging a sink and its plastic body, so be careful and only use this method when you’ve exhausted every other way.
Conclusion
These were some of the easy tasks which you can follow to clean your utility sink. There are numerous other methods and ways you can clean, however, these are among the most common and easy ones to follow. As mentioned before, utility sinks can indeed be extremely useful and helpful when taking care of tasks your regular home sink simply cannot.
While that’s true, it’s also important to take care of them. Try to clean, rinse and dry the utility sink as quickly as possible. Ideally, whenever you’re done cleaning or washing something, attend to the sink as early as possible. The quicker you clean it, the less time you’re giving for the stains to sit in hence it’s easier to remove stains from utility sinks when it is early.
Whether you’re looking for a clean laundry sink or ways to clean stains from your utility sink, you now have all the knowledge about how to clean your utility sink at home, so next time you plan on cleaning yours, you will know exactly what to do and how to do it.
