How to clean the sink from limescale and yellowing: proven methods

No matter what kind of kitchen sink or bathroom sink you have, these plumbing fixtures get dirty very quickly. In addition, they get limescale stains from hard tap water that leave ugly yellow marks. How do you remove this yellowing from the sink?

OBOZREVATEL recommends that you first pay attention to the material from which the sink is made. This is what determines how you can clean the plaque without damaging the surface.

Enamel sink

This type of sink suffersfrom the formation of plaque and rust stains the most. However, it is not afraid of acidic cleaners. That's why enamel sinks can be descaled with vinegar. Simply apply the liquid to a sponge or cloth, dab the surface with vinegar, and leave it on for 10 minutes. After that, the vinegar can be washed off with water.

Enamel can also be cleaned with citric acid. The powder can be poured directly onto the stain and rubbed as if it were a regular abrasive. The acid will clean the plaque and gently scrape away the dirt.

Finally, enamel sinks can be treated with a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in a 2:1 ratio. This product should be applied with a sponge or cloth and left for 10 minutes. Do not forget to wipe the sink dry after cleaning because it is the water droplets that evaporate and leave behind the plaque.

Stainless steel sink

This is a very popular material for kitchen sinks. However, it has two drawbacks: acids can corrode stainless steel, and abrasives can leave scratches. If you don't care too much about the surface of this working tool (metal knives and forks will do the job anyway), you can clean it with baking soda. This is a fairly mild abrasive, and it also has degreasing properties.

If you want to scratch such a sink as little as possible, use dishwashing detergent to clean it. You can apply it by foaming it on a sponge, or you can soak the sink if it has dried stains. In this case, run plenty of hot water, add a few drops of the product, stir it, and leave it for 15 minutes. After that, the water should be drained, and the sink should be thoroughly wiped and rinsed. Do not forget to wipe the surface dry to avoid stains.

Cast iron sink

This is the most sensitive material of all. Cast iron is afraid of harsh abrasives, including brushes and scrapers, and products with dyes. The former scratch it, which leads to corrosion, while the latter leave colored stains that cannot be removed. However, baking soda is mild enough to clean cast iron. You can wipe the sink immediately or leave it on the stains for 10 minutes. Cast iron is also not afraid of bleach products. Dissolve chlorine bleach in water in a 3:1 ratio and apply this solution to the stains. You can also leave it on for 10 minutes.

Owners of cast iron sinks are also advised not to store dirty dishes in them. Grease, juice, sauce and other food residues can oxidize cast iron and leave stains that are very difficult to remove later.

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