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Good Question: The Perfect Sink Cleaning Tip?

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We were visiting Southern California this weekend -- here's a question we were asked by one of our friends:

I've switched over to green cleaners almost entirely, but I'm holding out on one product: I still use Soft Scrub for my white kitchen sink. Nothing else seems to get it really gleaming and stainless. Is there a green cleaning product or a homemade solution that is as effective as Soft Scrub?

 
 

We suggested half a lemon dipped in baking soda (our favorite sink cleaning method) but our friend wasn't convinced. What is your favorite sink cleaning trick? Have you found something that works really well?

image via cafemama; Flickr.com

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Comments (15)

Bon Ami- it's like a green version of Comet :)

posted by lisbet on March 17th 2009 at 5:35pm
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What about Shaklee's Scour Off?

posted by stickyricemama on March 17th 2009 at 5:39pm
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Use an orange peel. The orange oils in the peel cut through the gunk and shines the sink.

posted by Condo Blues on March 17th 2009 at 5:57pm
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Before giving my 2-month-old twin sons a bath in the kitchen sink, I use the following procedure to clean it. I start with a generous sprinkling of baking soda and scrub with with a stiff brush or scrubber. I also spray the grout or caulking surrounding the sink with vinegar, a natural mildew remover. Next, I use a cut lemon or lime to finish polishing the sink. The lemon and baking soda fizz and make it kinda fun. Finally, I rinse the lemon juice/baking soda residue down the sink and toss the lemon rind in the disposal. When I'm done the sink sparkles and has a wonderful lemon smell, all without any harmful chemicals. All ready for bath time!

posted by djphome on March 17th 2009 at 6:35pm
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I really really love ecover's cream scrub. I purchased it to try to clean my enamel kettle as a last resort before buying sos pads (Bon Ami didn't work) The cream scrub worked like a dream and unlike the powdered scrubs rinsed away without any effort.

posted by i4design on March 17th 2009 at 7:32pm
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Baking soda and vinegar are my secret weapons. They're so useful!

It sounds like they're looking for a brand name, though. I've had great experience with the Method line—I definitely recommend it!

http://www.methodhome.com/

posted by Heather Pierce on March 17th 2009 at 7:34pm
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If staining is the problem because the enamel is older and porous try cleaning as well as you can with your dish soap and a scrubbie sponge. Rinse well and then fill it with an tablespoon of an all fabric (oxygenating) bleach and hot water. I use All Fabric Bleach by Amway. It will make your sink sparkle!

posted by smsintl on March 17th 2009 at 10:51pm
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Oops! after filling your sink with the bleach and water let sit for a half hour. Then rinse well. Now your sink sparkles!

posted by smsintl on March 17th 2009 at 10:53pm
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i have a white enamel sink as well and i second the bon ami suggestion. i get it all a little wet, sprinkle some bon ami, scrub, then use mrs. meyer's all-purpose cleaner to wipe it up and make it shine. works perfectly for me every time.

posted by chewbecca on March 18th 2009 at 9:04am
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Thirding bon ami! It does a fantastic job and it's reasonably priced.

posted by glasses on March 18th 2009 at 9:40am
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I'm swearing by bon ami as well. We have a white kitchen sink and white counters, and it works great, even on red wine stains that have been sitting on the counter for a while.

posted by elkanikkole on March 18th 2009 at 11:59am
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Will any of these techniques work on a stainless steel sink? I'm having a problem with my grout around the sink.

posted by bmfree on March 18th 2009 at 2:03pm
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I logging in to say that Bon Ami is my secret weapon (not to mention cheap, and not hard to rinse like Comet or other scrubs), but others have beat me to it. I also use it on my Formica countertops to get things clean if they start looking stained. Spend the buck to get a can and give it a try.

posted by SeattleL on March 19th 2009 at 12:49am
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bon ami and bar keepers friend are both inexpensive, environmentally friendly and non-abrasive (they won't scratch surfaces like comet!)

i prefer bon ami... and it's great for cleaning pots and pans!

posted by berkeley.loves.grey on March 19th 2009 at 6:12am
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i clean almost everything in the house with vinegar and water. i buy a huge container of white vinegar at COSTCO (the first one lasted 4 years), and use about 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 water. it cleans glass, stainless steel, countertops, porcelain, laminate. For shower, bathtubs and toilets i use 7th Generation's toilet cleaner. to clean around the toilet i use the vinegar solution and a diluted bleach (~1:5 with H20)cos i have a young son who's not so accurate in the night!

posted by darlingcaro on March 19th 2009 at 1:35pm
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