The kitchen sink is the most prone to accumulation of dirt and grease since they are used regularly. Sink faucets are even worse when it comes to the amount of dirt they collect after a long time of use. Unlike the sinks basins, kitchen faucets need cleaning more often, because of the nature of their material and their finishing. The finishing together with the awkward shape of the faucets makes their cleaning harder. Even after washing and sanitization, a dull sink faucet looks dirty and is assumed to be unwashed.
Here are some steps to cleaning a sink faucet
Before you start any cleaning, you should consider the faucet’s finish by checking the manufacturer’s instructions. With this knowledge you can determine the amount of care you need to apply during cleaning. It will be easier for you to find out the right products and techniques to use for cleaning that will not tamper with the finish. It is also important not to thoroughly scrub the faucet since this may leave scratch marks all over them.
What you will need
You will need the following for the cleaning exercise;
- Water
- Dish washing soap
- 2 pieces of cloth; one wet and one dry
- An old toothbrush
- Vinegar
- Non-abrasive cleaner
This will ensure that your ordinary faucet becomes a best kitchen faucet within no time.
Procedure
Start with some basic cleaning first using just plain water or by adding some mild soap to the water. This does the trick for most types of faucets and you can complete your cleaning by drying the faucet with a dry cloth. This prevents spotting and adds some shine to the faucet.
Water and dish washing soap might not work to remove to dirt from your faucet. White vinegar will be your next option, where you will mix half of it and half the same amount of water. It is always advised to test this mixture on other surfaces so as to be sure it won’t damage your finish. Once you are sure then you can use it to clear water spots and fingerprints.
The areas around the edges of the faucets may be hard to reach with just a piece of cloth. An old toothbrush can come in handy to help clean these areas with an addition of plain water or dish wash. Once done you can dry the faucets with a cleaning cloth.
Much of the cleaning is needed when dealing with the drain area of the faucet. You can try using a non abrasive cleaner for this part of the faucet. Test the cleaner on a hidden surface before use so as to avoid damaging the it. Abrasive brushes as well as scrub sponges are usually not the best to use for most types of finishes.
Other times a mild surface cleaner might work as an option. You can also polish your faucet with some baby oil for that extra shine. For the cracks in between the faucet, you can use a piece of dental floss. You can alternatively do your cleaning by
- Spraying cola
- Spraying white vinegar
- Using a mixture of vinegar, salt and flour