Let’s face it—few of us enjoy cleaning the kitchen sink, and even the most enthusiastic clean-freak can feel defeated by the task. Despite our best efforts, the result is often a dull, lacklustre surface. But one cleaning superstar has the perfect solution.
Cleaning expert Jacqueline Stein shares her tips and tricks with her thousands of followers under the handle Home Reimagined and recently uploaded a video to her Instagram page, revealing the steps we often miss when cleaning our sinks.
“Here’s why your stainless steel never shines,” she posted.
“Most people”, she explains, “skip the CRUCIAL first step”. By not removing all food particles with dish soap creates stubborn buildup that gets worse over time.
Next mistake? Wrong tools.
“Using rough scrubbers? You’re scratching your sink for life,” she said.
Instead, only use soft brushes or sponges. However, the “gamechanger” that most people mess up is using the wrong polish and the wrong amount. This creates fading, fogging, and micro-scratches.
“Use the right stainless steel polish and let it sit for 10+ minutes,” she said.
The final mistake Stein points out is not drying the sink properly after cleaning it. It might sound trivial, but skipping this step means nothing seals as it should—and just like that, you’re back to square one.
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The “gamechanging” tips quickly captivated followers, who were enthusiastic and grateful for the invaluable advice.
“This is so *sinking* satisfying!! Great tips. And I caught that sponge at the end, love ittt,” one commented.
“Shiny and good to go!!” one added.
“I just discovered BK’s and it’s sooo good!” another confirmed.
Unfortunately, the kitchen sink is not the only problem area in the kitchen. After all, cooking is a messy affair – not to mention the smells you leave behind and unfortunately, many of them can cling to your appliances, long after you’ve cleaned up.
However, there are some natural remedies to help deodorise everything from cutting boards to waste and even microwaves, leaving them smelling fresh and clean.
From lemons to vinegar and even salt, you can find most of the ingredients in your kitchen cupboards – so why not give it a go? Here are the great ways to beat those stubborn kitchen and waste odours:
Simply sprinkle some salt on a damp board and leave it for a few minutes to soak in and absorb moisture. Slowly begin rubbing the salt into the board with a damp cloth shortly after.
The movement and the sharp edges of the salt work to rub away at leftover moisture which causes the strong smell. Rinse the board off after and it should be scent-free!
Mix one tablespoon of baking soda into a cup of warm water and soak a cloth in it before wiping away inside. The baking soda works to break up stubborn odours inside. Then, for a fresher smell, simply mix some lemon juice into a large bowl of water and heat for a few minutes. After removing the bowl, wipe it down and the citrus smell should be faintly there still.
To help stem the smell, sprinkle some Borax or baking soda into the bottom before adding a new bag, and it will help to absorb excess moisture and odours in-between changes.
To prevent odours building up in your fridge, it’s worth trying to absorb them early. Pour either ground coffee, vanilla extract, or activated charcoal into an open bowl and place it in the fridge overnight. It will work by absorbing excess moisture and bad smells, before removing it the next day.
Pour some crushed ice in with rock salt. The jagged edges of the ice help sharpen the blades and remove stubborn food debris, while the salt disinfects inside.
Pouring lemon, orange, lime or any other citrus peel or fruit down your kitchen disposal allows the acid to disinfect the blades and disposal walls. Meanwhile, it leaves behind a fresher, citrus smell.
Pour about half a cup down and flush it through with water. It will pick up leftover moisture and break away at debris inside, causing the strong smells.
For a better clean, follow the baking soda with some vinegar. The two will have a strong chemical reaction inside and break away stuck-on food. Allow it to do its magic for around 10 minutes before washing it away with warm water.
While it’s not necessarily the most natural remedy, it’s something you may find around your house if you’re out of all other ingredients. Pour some in and allow it to flush away the stronger smells in the pipe walls.