By ERIN TURNER

Kitchen sinks are like work horses.  They take a beating almost every day.  Between being filled with dirty dishes and filling pots full of water, mine also is home to numerous science experiments which my boys are testing, washing out paint brushes, soaking dirty veggies from the garden, washing muddy shoes and the list goes on and on!  By the end of almost every day, my sink looks like a bomb exploded in it!

So, I rely on a super dependable and result-guaranteed method of cleaning my porcelain sink.  I am adamant about it at least getting rinsed out every night so the icky crud doesn’t glue itself to it forever.  But then a couple times a week, I give it a deep cleaning.  My sink is ten years old…and remember I live with 4 males on a farm, we cook almost every meal in our kitchen and my sink definitely gets used and abused.

But even with all that wear and tear, I am able to keep it looking almost brand new with this easy and cheap method of cleaning it at least once a week if not more.  It really only takes me less than 20 minutes to clean my sink and have it sparkling new when I’m done.  So, I’m not spending a ton of time or a ton of money, to get these results.  Because who wants to spend all day cleaning a sink or spend $50 for someone else to come in and clean it?  Not me!

Here’s a method for getting a sparkling clean porcelain sink:

Step 1:

Wash the sink basin with a soapy (I love Dawn dish soap) washcloth.  Get all food and whatever else washed off the sides and empty the drain baskets.

Step 2:

Turn your faucet to the hottest possible water.  Plug your sink and fill half way.  Add ¼ cup of liquid bleach and swish around well.  Let sit for at least 10 minutes (longer if sink is really stained).  During this time, I like to take a toothbrush soaked in vinegar and scrub any hard water buildup around the base of the faucet and also clean out the screen on the faucet.

Step 3:

Empty the sinks of the bleach water and rinse the sink with clean water.

Step 4:

Sprinkle the bottom of the sink with “Bar Keepers’ Friend” (I use the powder because it is SUPER cheap…less than a dollar a can).  With a damp cloth, begin gently scrubbing the bottom of the sink.  Using a circling motion works best on those stubborn black marks or coffee stains.

Step 5:

Rinse the sink well and buff it dry.  Don’t forget to polish up the faucets too.

Now, step back and enjoy that brand new looking sink!  But be prepared…I was admiring my sparkling sink the other night and my oldest son said, “Excuse me, Mom” and proceeded to rinse his plate in the sink.  The blob of unused mustard on his plate sprayed all over the sink as the water hit it.  He semi-rinsed it off but I could see that my next deep cleaning wasn’t too far off.

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Erin Eisenman-Turner is proud to be a native Missoulian. Along with her husband and three sons, they raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and vegetables at Turner Family Farms in the Orchard Homes area. When the farm chores are done, the coupons clipped, and the blog written, you can find Erin exploring Montana, collecting antiques, and trying to maintain a well-run, happy, and organized home for her family.  Read more of Erin’s blogs about homesteading, farming, homemaking and other fun things at TurnerFarmLiving.com

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