Cleaning Sinks

Division Of Student Affairs; Western Michigan University


Clean Sinks:


Cleaning Sinks:

Clean the sink on a daily basis. It is easy to do after washing the dishes. Use detergent and warm water. Rinse with clear water.

Clean the faucets with detergent and water. Do not use scouring powder, as the finish could be rubbed off. To prevent scratching on stainless steel sinks, do not use coarse scouring materials.

Unclogging Drains

  1. Run hot water into the sink. The hot water will stay in the trap. If the water drains slowly, pour hot sudsy water through the drain. This will cut the grease. After it drains, flush well with clear, hot water.

  2. If the hot water does not dissolve the clog, use a special drain cleaner. Follow the directions on the label. Use one kind of drain cleaner at a time. After pouring the drain cleaner into the sink, move away from the area. The fumes could damage your eyes and lungs.

  3. A rubber plunger can be used if the sink stops up often. Fit the plunger tightly over the drain. Force the plunger handle down quickly several times. The clog should be loosened.


Special Problems:

If the sink is old and badly stained, a coarser scouring powder may be required to clean it. To make the sink whiter, fill the sink with hot water and add bleach. Let it stand a while. Drain and rinse. To remove brown stains around the faucets, use lemon juice or vinegar in water. Clean around the faucets with this. Rinse with clean water.


Commonly Used Cleaning Products:

Rough Cleansers - Comet, Zud, Ajax, Bar Keepers Friend

Soft Cleansers - Soft Scrub, Bon Ami

Faucet Cleaners - Lysol, Pine Sol

Drain Cleaners - Draino, Liquid Plumber


OFF CAMPUS LIFE
3510 Faunce Student Services Bldg.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5077
Phone: (616) 387-2336
Fax: (616) 387-2325

Original HTML by Timothy Strunk