If you have Porcelain fixtures in your home, you could be struggling with how to restore the shine of your porcelain Sink. They’re often chosen for their aesthetic appeal but lose their shine over time. Luckily, you can work to correct it.
The best way to clean a porcelain sink involves several steps. Read on to learn about them:
Here is what you need to know on how to restore shine to porcelain sink:
Get Rid of Stains
Before starting the shining process, use dish soap or dishwasher detergent to clean up any Stains. Use hot water for better finishing and clean in circular movements. Wipe down the soap with a sponge or cloth and then dry it with a towel.
If they can’t be handled with dish soap, use baking soda to loosen up the dirt first. Take baking soda with hot water and dish soap and mix it together in a small container before applying it on the stains. This technique can sometimes work better than cleaning chemicals, without the added damage.
When removing water stains, fill the sink up with hot water and pour 1 to 2 cups of vinegar in it. If you let it sit for a few hours and then drain the water, it should clean up water stains. Be sure to wipe the vinegar off with a clean cloth to avoid damaging the surface.
Don’t Use Harsh Brushes
Porcelain has a surface that can be easily scratched. Their material tends to hang on to anything that can cause potential stains. This may push you to use a rougher brush or steel wool. Avoid doing this at all costs as it will scratch your porcelain surface. The dirt particles could become further embedded and harder to remove.
Always opt for a soft sponge or pad even when trying to remove tough stains. If you’re using a cleaning pad, make sure it is nylon covered so that it doesn’t ruin the finishing.
Re-Glaze
- Amaco Satin Matte Glaze - SM-10 Clear Satin Glaze
- Clear Satin
Last update on 2020-06-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
After you have made sure that your sink cannot be any cleaner, use the glazing agent. Above is one of a good glazing agent.
- EASY TO USE - Simply spray and wipe away dirt, dust, grease water spots, and fingerprints
- SMELLS GREAT - The fresh lemon scent leaves any room smelling crisp and clean
- NO RESIDUE - Clean without leaving any sticky or greasy residue behind
- PROTECTIVE COATING - Thor’s protective coating helps your surfaces resist future fingerprints or water spots
- SAFE TO USE ON FOOD PREP SURFACES - Approved to use on food preparation surfaces.
Last update on 2020-06-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Apply the glaze with a clean cloth, like a rag. Be sure to cover the whole sink and look over the instructions provided with the glazing agent. Some people also prefer to use porcelain polish. It is intended for use on tiles but also works on porcelain sinks.
If you have a vintage porcelain sink, it is better to call in a professional for its cleaning. Since these fixtures are a good investment, it is worth the money to have someone come in to polish and shine the sink for you.
This will prolong the sink’s useful life because stained and scratched surfaces are susceptible to damage and will wear down easier in the long run.
Shine
Use lemon juice or baby oil to shine your sink. Pour some drops onto a clean cloth or rag and rub it all over the sink until it shines. Once you have coated the whole sink, let it sit for a while before running any water.
Using this method will stop stains from latching onto your sink’s surface. It’ll also become easier to clean in the future and will make your sink smell great.
FAQs
Q) How to clean porcelain sinks using bleach?
A) Pour bleach into the sink and make sure it reaches all the areas with stains. Use paper towels to cover the entire area that has bleach. Overnight, the paper towels will help the bleach soak into the stains and loosen them up.
The next day, wipe the sink down and wash off any remnants of bleach.
Two things that you need to remember while doing this is that your bathroom or kitchen should be ventilated to avoid anyone inhaling dangerous fumes. Secondly, if your sink isn’t white, do not try this. Colored porcelain will lose its hue if cleaned with bleach.
For colored porcelain, opt for hydrogen peroxide instead. It could take more time to show effects, but it is safer for your sink.
If you are using vinegar in the cleaning process, it is essential to clean away the remaining bleach before adding the vinegar. It could lead to damaging side-effects otherwise.
Q) I constantly clean my sink, but it always loses its shine within a few days. What do I do?
A) If you want to know how to make porcelain sink shine and stay that way, always avoid harsh cleaning chemicals. Using abrasive and acidic cleaners not only damages the surface, but it also lessens the shine.
If you feel the need to be extra vigilant, reduce the amount of time you leave chemicals in the sink. If you have antique porcelain, avoid bleach as much as you can. Hydrogen peroxide works slower but is a safe alternative to avoid risking long-term damage.
White vinegar can also work, but it should not be combined with bleach. Be sure to wash it off completely when you’re finished to remove any residue.
If pouring bleach seems risky, buy a spray bottle and use it sparingly over the surface instead.
To remove soap and grease buildup, try mixing one tablespoon of ammonia with a gallon of hot water. Hot water works better for removing stains because it dislodges dirt that is building up.
If you notice coffee stains on your kitchen sink, you can remove them with baking soda and a damp rag. Loosen the dried-up food buildup on the edges of the sink with a razor blade by putting its flat side on the sink and moving it gently over the buildup.
Take careful steps not to scratch the surface, or the buildup will fill inside the cracks as well.
Q) How do I remove metal marks from porcelain?
A) If you have stains from rust, use lemon juice. Only use this in cases where the stains are resistant to any other methods you try.
Sprinkle table salt over the stains and then pour lemon juice over them. Scrub the area gently with a brush and let it work on the stain for 20 minutes. Once you wipe the mixture off, it should remove the rust stains caused by metal.
- Removes rust from metal surfaces and removes bluing from surfaces such as guns, reels, etc. Remove loose scale with coarse sandpaper or wire brush. Apply Naval Jelly liberally to rusty surface that is free of dirt, oil and grease. Wipe off immediately from painted surfaces. Allow to work for 15 to 30 minutes and rinse off. Repeat application on heavily corroded surfaces. Limit application time to 5 minutes when used on chrome or other plated surfaces
Last update on 2020-06-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Another way to remove metal stains is to use naval jelly. Apply it to the stain and wait for it to change color. Be very vigilant, or you could risk damaging the material.
Q) Can I use wax while cleaning old porcelain sinks?
- Cleaning Wax
- No water required
- Easy to use
- Free shipping
- Includes microfiber and terry towels
Last update on 2020-06-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A) Using car wax is a great way to clean and shine your sink without scratching it. It’ll keep the old sink looking new and won’t be too expensive either.
Use a sponge to apply the wax over the surface of the sink. Use circular motions to give it a polished look.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these methods have taught you how to restore shine to a porcelain sink. It is important to be careful about the kinds of chemicals you’re putting on porcelain because it is easily damaged and scratched. Never use bleach on a colored sink, and avoid abrasives for all porcelain.
Keeping your sink shiny and scratch-free will help it stay clean for longer, and make stain removal easier.
The post How to Restore Shine to Porcelain Sink- the Easy Way appeared first on Great Cleaning Gear.
