Ceramic sinks are common accessories in bathrooms and kitchens that usually tend to be very durable. So, we need to know how to clean a ceramic sink? However, they get dirty and stained due to frequent use, so they should be cleaned regularly.
You can use a mild abrasive cleaner (such as baking soda) or a more potent chemical (such as bleach). Try to clean the ceramic sink once a month to avoid the appearance of stains and accumulations of dirt.
Clean with baking soda and lemon juice
Moisten the sink
Moisten the sink. Before applying baking soda, you should slightly moisten the bowl of the sink. You can let it fill with water and then drain it, or use your hand to splash water on all sides. You must ensure that there is no standing water in the sink, as this will dissolve and render bicarbonate unusable.
You should also moisten the sponge with which you plan to clean the sink. The sponge should not be soaked, so you have to wring it out well before starting the cleaning.
Spread the baking soda
Spread the baking soda around the sink. To start, you can apply approximately 250 g (½ cup) of baking soda and use your fingers or a spoon to spread it over the bowl until you cover the pottery completely. Be sure to apply baking soda on all areas that are dirty or stained.
Restrict baking soda with a damp sponge
The bicarbonate works as a mild abrasive cleaner and is effective in removing mineral deposits, toothpaste residues and general dirt from the ceramic. You should rinse the sponge as necessary and make sure to drain it completely before scrubbing the ceramic again. Once you have cleaned the sink, you should rinse it well.
As you rub, you will notice that the bicarbonate clumps together in small lumps. This is a good sign, as it means that the baking soda is not too wet and is effectively removing dirt from the sink.
Use lemon slices to clean the sink
Take a lemon and cut it into several slices to naturally “whiten” the ceramic sink. Take each of these slices and rub them around the bowl. Make sure you squeeze a lot of lemon juice on the ceramic. You can use the hard lemon peel to scrub spots or other dark areas.
You must use at least four or five slices to cover the pottery completely with the lemon juice.
Let the lemon juice sit for 30 minutes
Once you’ve covered the pottery with the lemon juice, you should let it sit for half an hour. In this way, the natural acidity of the lemon will remove the spots. As soon as the 30 minutes have passed, you should rinse the sink to remove the lemon juice.
You can discard the lemon peels or throw them into the garbage shredder in the kitchen sink.
Remove stains from ceramics
Apply a bleach solution over the sink
Put bleach and water in equal parts in a plastic spray bottle. Then, shake it lightly to mix the solution. You must open the window or turn on the bathroom fan before you start spraying this solution so that the room is ventilated. Spray the solution over the entire interior surface of the sink. Allow the mixture to settle for approximately 10 minutes. Finally, use a sponge or an old cloth to clean the sink.
Bleach is a strong chemical that can be harmful if swallowed or sprayed in the eyes. You must be careful when handling this substance and consider the possibility of wearing safety glasses, rubber gloves and some clothes that you do not mind that are damaged.
If you have small children at home, make sure they stay away from the sink while you spray the bleach.
Apply cream of tartar and vinegar
You can use a mixture of both ingredients to remove stains from the ceramic if you prefer not to use any chemical. Place the cream of tartar and vinegar in equal parts in a small bowl and stir them. Then, pour some of this mixture over the spots. Let it settle for about 10 minutes and clean it with a sponge.
This method also works if you replace the vinegar with hydrogen peroxide. You can get these three ingredients in a grocery store or a local supermarket.
Use a pumice stone to gently scrub the stain
The pumice stone is a very abrasive element, so it can remove stains on the ceramic. Before using it, you must submerge it in water to make sure it stays moist while you rub the spots. Then, rub it lightly over the affected area of the sink. Pumice also helps eliminate the discoloration.
You must be careful when using this method. If you rub a pumice stone over a ceramic sink, it can scratch or damage the surface. To begin with, you should gently scrub and stop if you detect scratches forming. If your ceramic sink is little damage, check how to repair ceramic sink.
Protect the sink from scratches or damage
Wash the sink with a soft sponge
Although ceramic is a durable and resistant material, it can still be damaged if it is rubbed with an abrasive material. You should avoid using scouring pads to clean the sink (especially any pad made of wire or metal). Also, do not use abrasive powders to clean a ceramic sink, as they could scratch or damage the surface. Instead of these products, you should use a soft, non-abrasive sponge.
Some cleaning companies manufacture scrubbing liquids. You should also avoid using these products on a ceramic sink.
Uses a soft product and specifically formulated which is used on ceramics
You should avoid the use of concentrated drain cleaners over a ceramic sink. Although these products are touted as safe for all surfaces, a chemically concentrated drain cleaner can damage or erode a ceramic surface. If you want to use one of these products, you should look for a softer cleaner that is specifically designed for you to apply on ceramic or porcelain.
You are more likely to find a drain cleaner in a health products store or in a natural foods store.
Wash the dishes in the sink or in a metal container
You should avoid washing the dishes in large plastic containers. Although these types of containers do not damage the ceramic, they are likely to accumulate soil in the bottom with normal use. If the accumulated dirt scratches the ceramic surface of the sink, these damages will be permanent.
If you are going to wash dishes, you should fill the sink with water and detergent or look for a large container that does not accumulate sand on the bottom. For example, you can use a large metals pot.
Hello, I'm William Jon. I'm a ceramic researcher, ceramic artist, writer, and professional blogger since 2010. I studied at the NYS college of ceramics at Alfred University in the USA about ceramic. I'm a professional ceramicist. Now I'm researching the ceramic products in Wilson Ceramic Laboratory (WCL) and reviewing them to assist online customers.
