Make your sinks and faucets sparkle

Kitchen and bathroom sinks get used and abused on a daily basis and they can look pretty neglected between cleanings. Even if you’re quick to wipe away soapy scum and toothpaste splatters, you probably have water spots dulling the finish.

Here at Northumberland TIMBER MART, we want your sinks and faucets to shine as brightly as the rest of your home. So here are a few surprising household items that can keep them sparkling in just a few minutes.

Remove the grime

• DIRTY: Lime juice and baking soda. If you’re plagued by a grimy stainless steel sink and faucet, try this concoction. Make a paste with a few drops of lime juice and some baking soda and leave the paste spread over the sink and faucet for five minutes. Then use a soft cloth to wipe the paste away and rinse well with hot water.
• DIRTIER: Lemon juice, dish soap, and vinegar. If you’re dealing with an especially dirty kitchen sink or serious calcium build-up, try this spray-on solution. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup lemon juice in a spray bottle, and then add 1 cup of liquid dish soap. Spray the mixture onto your sink, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then scrub it well.
• DIRTIEST: Cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. It doesn’t seem fair that something called “stainless steel” could get stained, but if you’re battling stubborn marks, it’s time to bring in the big guns. Mix together three parts cream of tartar with one part hydrogen peroxide and rub it on the stains using a soft cloth or sponge.

Make it shine

• Olive oil: Once your sink and faucet are clean, pour a bit of a olive oil onto a soft cloth and wipe in a circular motion to buff them. You can also use baby oil or mineral oil. Just be sure to only use a small amount, because too much can actually make the sink get dirty again faster.
• Vinegar: Pour some vinegar on a sponge or damp cloth and wipe down a clean and faucet sink to get them nice and shiny. Vinegar also disinfects and deodorizes, which is great for kitchen sinks.
• Wax paper: If you don’t have vinegar or olive oil, don’t sweat it. Once you’ve cleaned a shiny chrome faucet, try rubbing it with a piece of wax paper. It creates a waxy force field that makes it trickier for water and toothpaste flecks to adhere to the surface.

Happy cleaning!