Hey there, DIY lovers! If you’re anything like me, you know that nothing beats the feeling of a fresh, sparkling clean bathroom. And the sink? Well, it’s the heart of the bathroom—it’s where we start and end our days, brushing teeth, washing hands, doing our skincare routines. It can get a little messy and grimy over time, especially that pesky sink stopper and drain! But don’t worry, cleaning your bathroom sink is easier than you think, and I’ve got the perfect step-by-step guide to help you get that sink looking like new in no time. In this article we’ll cover:

Let’s roll up those sleeves and get to work!

Materials You’ll Need

Before we dive in, make sure you’ve got everything you need right in front of you. There’s nothing worse than getting halfway through a project and realizing you forgot something!

  • Soft sponge (non-abrasive)
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Vinegar (our cleaning powerhouse)
  • Baking soda (another MVP in cleaning)
  • Lemon juice (optional, but it smells amazing!)
  • Hot water

Got everything? Awesome! Let’s begin.

Step 1: Remove the Sink Stopper

First thing’s first, we need to remove that sink stopper. If you’re unfamiliar, the stopper is the little plug that blocks the water from draining out. Over time, it collects a lot of hair, grime, and soap scum. (Gross, I know! But trust me, it’s super satisfying to clean.)

To remove it:

  • Reach under the sink to find the horizontal rod connected to the stopper.
  • Unscrew or unclip it, and gently pull the stopper out. If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry! You may have to wiggle it a bit to loosen it up.

If your sink doesn’t have a rod:

  • simply grab the stopper and unscrew the cap. You may also have to pull the stopper out if you have an older sink.

Now that the stopper is out, let’s give it a proper clean!

Step 2: Clean the Sink Stopper

Okay, now that you’ve got the stopper in your hand, you’re probably seeing all kinds of gunk. It’s all part of the process, and this is where we tackle it!

Here’s how to clean the stopper:

  1. Wet your soft sponge with warm water.
  2. Add a bit of liquid dish soap to the sponge.
  3. Gently scrub the stopper, making sure to remove any visible hair, soap residue, or gunk that’s built up. (You may have to use tweezers for the more stubborn hairs)

If the grime is really stubborn, give it a soak in a small bowl of warm water mixed with a bit of vinegar. Vinegar is fantastic for cutting through tough grease and buildup. After soaking for a few minutes, scrub it again until it’s squeaky clean.

Set the clean stopper aside. We’ll come back to it later!

Step 3: Scrub the Sink, Faucet, and Drain

Next up, we’re focusing on the sink itself, along with the faucet and drain area. These spots collect water stains, soap buildup, and even toothpaste blobs (especially if you’ve got kiddos around!).

Here’s what you’ll do:

  1. Wet your sponge with warm water.
  2. Add a small amount of liquid dish soap.
  3. Gently scrub the sink, faucet, and around the drain area. Make sure to give the faucet some extra love, especially if there’s any water calcification or stains.

For a deeper clean around the drain, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub the grooves. This ensures every nook and cranny is clean.

Once you’ve scrubbed everything, rinse it with warm water to get rid of the soap residue.

Step 4: Mix Vinegar and Baking Soda and Pour It Down the Drain

Now, here’s where the magic happens! Baking soda and vinegar are a dynamic duo that creates a fizzy reaction, perfect for cleaning out that stubborn drain gunk. This combo will help break down any buildup and deodorize the drain at the same time.

Steps for the drain fizz:

  1. Sprinkle about ½ cup of baking soda directly into the drain.
  2. Pour 1 cup of vinegar over the baking soda. (It’ll fizz up—don’t worry, that’s what we want!)
  3. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. This gives the mixture time to work its magic.

Optional: If you love the smell of fresh citrus, add a few squeezes of lemon juice to the vinegar before pouring it down the drain. The fresh scent will leave your sink smelling lovely and clean.

Step 5: Run Hot Water to Flush Out the Vinegar Mix

Once the vinegar and baking soda have had time to work their magic, it’s time to flush everything out. Turn on the hot water and let it run for a few minutes. This will wash away all the loosened debris, leaving your drain fresh and clean.

Pro tip: Running hot water through your sink once a week helps keep buildup to a minimum.

Step 6: Replace the Sink Stopper

Remember that clean stopper we set aside earlier? It’s time to pop it back in.

  • Reinsert the stopper into the drain.
  • Reconnect the horizontal rod underneath the sink, making sure it’s snug.

Once that’s done, give it a little test to make sure it opens and closes smoothly. If it does—great job! We’re almost done.

Step 7: Fill the Sink with Water and Let It Soak with Dish Soap

For a final clean, let’s fill the entire sink with warm water. Add a few drops of your favorite liquid dish soap and give it a good stir.

Let the water sit for about 10 minutes. This will help loosen any remaining dirt and leave your sink with that fresh-out-of-the-box sparkle.

Step 8: Scrub Until Squeaky Clean!

Once the water has soaked the sink, drain it and give the entire sink one last scrub with your sponge. Make sure to wipe down the faucet, the edges, and anywhere that may have soap scum or stains. You’ll be amazed at how shiny everything looks by now!

Rinse one final time with warm water, and voila! Your bathroom sink, stopper, and drain should now be absolutely spotless!

Key Phrases for Searching Pictures:

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Feel free to search these up to get more visuals of the process, and happy cleaning! Let me know in the comments how your sink scrubbing session went. Did you try the lemon juice trick? I’d love to hear!

Final Thoughts

Keeping your bathroom sink, stopper, and drain clean doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With just a few simple materials—most of which you probably already have at home—you can easily tackle grime and gunk, leaving your sink fresh, shiny, and ready for action.

Not only is this a fantastic way to maintain a clean and functional sink, but it also helps prevent long-term buildup that can lead to clogging. A clean sink is a happy sink!

Also feel free to check out another of our posts about unclogging your kitchen garbage disposal!

How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal With Ice

Thanks for Reading!!!

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Reader Questions and Recommendations

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