How to Make Sinks Sparkle With Baking Soda

Baking soda is among the most common natural household cleaning products out there. It’s incredibly versatile in that its uses span across personal care products, cleaning products, as a laundry booster, detoxification agent, and much more.

For sinks, cleaning with baking soda is highly recommended as it cleans without scratching*. It’s a mild abrasive, making it strong enough to remove dirt, grime, and organic matter, without harming the sink’s materials.

*Note: If you’re worried about scratching, make sure the baking soda is fully dissolved with hot water before scrubbing. Also, opt for a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. Use light to medium pressure working in a circular motion. You’ll be amazed at how well baking soda cleans your sinks!

In this article, we’ll take a look at how to clean sinks with baking soda paired with other powerful and natural household products.

A few tips before you get started:

• Before cleaning, make sure your sink is completely cleared of food, dishes, and other items that may get in the way.
• Give the sink a quick pre-rinse to wash away any loose dirt and food.
• Put on a pair of cleaning gloves. Even though the methods below are completely natural and safe, some ingredients, such as vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, can cause skin irritation.

Let’s dive in and learn how to clean sinks with baking soda!

Baking Soda + Vinegar

Combine baking soda and vinegar to make one of our favorite natural sink cleaners. This safe and very effective solution works to grab onto and dissolve grease and grime. Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant for the sink, which will help to keep it germ-free. 

After just a few minutes of dwell time, rinse the solution to leave your sink sparkling clean.

An added bonus - combining baking soda and vinegar makes a natural drain cleaner! It deodorizes and loosens clogs without the use of toxic synthetic chemicals.

To use:

1. Remove all food, dishes, and other items from the sink.
2. Wet a sponge or microfiber cloth and damp wipe the sink’s entire surface.
3. Sprinkle with baking soda, fully covering the sides and basin.
4. With a damp, clean and soft sponge, gently scrub the baking soda in a circular motion.
5. Let dwell for 5-10 minutes.
6. Follow with a vinegar rinse, spraying or pouring the vinegar* generously over the baking soda. Note: Allow the baking soda and vinegar to fizz and bubble for 1 to 3 minutes before moving onto the next step.
7. Rinse with warm water, washing the baking soda, vinegar, dirt and grime down the drain. Note: Don’t let the vinegar and baking soda dry on the sink to avoid streaking.
8. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe, dry, and buff the sink clean.

*Important Note: Caution should be used when using vinegar (especially when spraying). Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is an eye and lung irritant. Make sure to avoid breathing the fumes and provide good ventilation to clear acetic acid from the air. Do not spray or use vinegar for cleaning while babies, children, and people with chronic illnesses are around.

Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide

Wine, coffee, and leftover food – basically all of the things that stain and “dirty up” our teeth also stain and dirty up sinks. 

When faced with a dirty, grimy, and stained sink, turn to the natural and non-toxic powerhouse duo – baking soda and hydrogen peroxide!

To use:

1. Remove all food, dishes, and other items from the sink.
2. Wet a cloth and pat the sink down until damp.
3. Sprinkle baking soda onto the basin and sides.
4. Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to each corner of the sink.
5. Gently scrub the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together with a damp, clean and soft sponge or natural scrub brush.
6. Let dwell for 10-20 minutes.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe, dry, and buff the sink clean. 

How does it work?

First, scrubbing with baking soda loosens any stuck-on dirt and food particles. Hydrogen peroxide then further loosens and eats away at the organic matter, making it easier to flush down the drain.

These two natural cleaning products also lift stains and can restore your sink to its original shine.

Porcelain Sinks

To safely clean and care for your porcelain sink, here are a few general tips:

• Porcelain sinks (especially the white ones) are prone to rust, coffee, and food stains. 
• To prevent food and coffee stains, frequent cleanings and wipe-downs after spills are necessary.
• To treat rust stains, sprinkle salt on half of a lemon and scrub directly on the rust. Clean with a natural, human-safe dish soap, and rinse clean.
• Avoid highly abrasive cleaning products such as scouring agents and cleaning tools, as they can scratch the finish. Opt instead for a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.
• Avoid toxic cleaning products like bleach and ammonia as they, too, can damage porcelain. And, not to mention, are highly toxic to you and your family.
• When in doubt, refer to your porcelain sink’s User’s Manual or contact the manufacturer.

For best results, we recommend cleaning your porcelain sink using the Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide method above.

For more helpful cleaning tips and tricks, see: How to Clean a Porcelain Sink Naturally

Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks are sleek, durable, and respond well to natural cleaners such as those listed here. 

For best results, we recommend using the Baking Soda* + Vinegar method above.

Or, give baking soda mixed with a few drops of natural dish soap, like Branch Basics Concentrate, and hot water a try. Gently scrub the sides of the basin, working down to push dirt and grime into the drain. Rinse and follow up with a microfiber cloth to dry and buff.

Here are a few general tips to help you clean your stainless steel sink:

• If you have hard water, consider warming distilled or ionized water in a pot for cleaning and rinsing. This will help to avoid staining or damaging the stainless steel finish.
• A soft sponge or microfiber cloth are the best tools for scrubbing (gently) and polishing stainless steel sinks.
• Avoid using bleach-based cleaning products (they’re toxic, anyways!) as they can damage or alter the stainless steel finish.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools such as wool or rough sponges.
• Acidic foods and ingredients can also damage stainless steel if left to sit for long periods of time. Yes, vinegar is safe to use for cleaning stainless steel. But because vinegar contains acetic acid, avoid long dwell times. Mist or dampen and let sit for 1 to 3 minutes (max!), scrub, and rinse away.
• If you’re concerned any of these natural cleaning methods could damage your stainless steel sink or its finish, review your User’s Manual or contact the manufacturer.

*Note: Baking soda is a very mild abrasive, making it gentle enough for cleaning stainless steel sinks.

Learn more stainless steel cleaning tips and tricks in our article: Cleaning Stainless Steel Naturally: 7 Simple Methods. 

Discover Other Ways to Clean with Baking Soda

Baking soda is truly one of nature’s most versatile and inexpensive household pantry staples. It’s a powerful non-toxic cleaning agent that can be used in so many different ways.

Including:

• Bathroom tile cleaner
• Stain remover
• Grout and mold cleaner
• Produce cleaner
• And so much more!

For more ways to clean with baking soda, check out Cleaning with Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): 12 Surprising Uses.

Toss The Toxins With Branch Basics

Now you know how to clean sinks with baking soda – a must-have, natural cleaning tool that’s great for use around the house, in DIY personal care products, and so much more.

Not to mention, baking soda is a great compliment to the Branch Basics line of cleaning products, including our all-in-one Concentrate and best-selling Oxygen Boost, and human-safe cleaning methods. 

Our Premium Starter Kits (available in refillable plastic or glass) come with everything you need to replace every household cleaning product with our multi-purpose, human-safe, plant and mineral-based Concentrate. Mix with water to make Laundry, Bathroom, All-Purpose, Streak Free, Foaming Wash. You’ll also receive a bag of Oxygen Boost!

For more natural cleaning and lifestyle tips, check out our blog, podcast, and Toss the Toxins Online Course.