How to Clean Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Published by Hala Zaqqout on May 17, 2022 | Last updated on May 15, 2023

Is your sink getting dirty or clogged, making it difficult to drain? Then, you must clean your sink. Using baking soda and vinegar, rather than chemical cleansers, is an effective way to clean your sink naturally.

If you wonder how to clean sink with baking soda and vinegar, keep in mind that the sooner you act and use the correct materials and methods, the better.

In this Cleaners Advisor guide, you’ll find easy and effective steps on how to clean sink with baking soda and vinegar. The good news? The products and tools you’ll need are most likely in your kitchen pantry.

At the end of this article, you’ll probably find some helpful hints you hadn’t considered before if you really want to prevent your drains from clogging and keep your sink in a good condition.  

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Materials and Tools Needed

Wondering how to clean sink with vinegar and baking soda? It’s always good to have a materials list first when it comes to unclogging your drain.

• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Pot or Kettle
• Funnel
• Boiling Water
• Dish Soap

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How often to clean your drains? 

Cleaning your drains regularly is the best method to keep them draining properly. it’s important to clean it weekly to prevent build-up and odors by pouring boiled water mixed with liquid grease-fighting dish soap down the drain.

This should remove any greasy suds that may have accumulated in your drain and prevent a clog caused by build-up.

If your drains are not draining properly, you can clean them using the homemade baking soda and vinegar mixture. You can use this process as a regular maintenance method for your drains.

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How to Clean Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar?

You can use baking soda and vinegar combination to help clear a sluggish drain. Here is Cleaners Advisor step-by-step guide for how to clean sink with vinegar and baking soda:

1. Thoroughly Rinse Your Sink

The first step is to rinse your sink thoroughly. Remove any grease or food particles that have stuck to the side of your sink. Empty your drain basket into the trash can after you’re done.

2. Heat Boiling Water

Heat boiling water in a kettle or a pot of water on the stovetop or in a large pourable measuring cup in the microwave. The more water, the better.

3. Pour Boiling Water and Dish Soap into the Drain

Pour a bit of grease-fighting dish soap down the drain and carefully pour hot water down it. Dish soap will help in the removal of grease blockages.

4. Pour Baking Soda into the Drain

Now sprinkle the sink with a cup of baking soda that will gently scrub your sink clean without damaging the finish. You can use a measuring cup or a funnel if your drain is small which makes it hard to pour directly into the drain opening. 

5. Follow with Vinegar

After the baking soda is completely down the drain, pour 1-2 cups of distilled white vinegar into the drain, and don’t be surprised by the chemical reaction that occurs. Foam will fizz its way up out of the drain and potentially fill your sink.

6. Leave Them to React Completely

Allow the baking soda and vinegar to react completely, waiting as long as five minutes if necessary.

Even if no foam is coming up from your drain, there may still be a chemical reaction going on below the surface.  Vinegar will remove any hard water stains left on your sink.

7. Flush with More Hot Water

Pour 1 gallon of boiling water down the drain when the chemical reaction has subsided to rinse away the loose debris.

Watch this video and follow the steps mentioned above of how to clean sink with baking soda and vinegar.

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How to Clean a Clogged Drain with Salt and Baking Soda?

You may know how to clean your sink with baking soda but without adding salt. If the baking soda and vinegar method fails to clean the drain, try using salt and baking soda. It’s better to do it right before bedtime since the drain won’t be used until morning.

Here are some easy and simple steps of how to clean kitchen sink with baking soda and salt:

1. Pour one cup of baking soda into the clogged drain or you can use a funnel if you have a small drain.

2. Now pour ½ cup salt into the drain. Allow the baking soda and salt to soak in the drain for at least a few hours or overnight.

3. In the morning, boil 2 cups of water and carefully pour the boiling water down your drain.

4. If the drain starts to drain, flush it with hot tap water for several minutes to ensure that any residue in the drain is removed.

5. If the drain remains clogged, repeat the process once or twice. If that doesn’t work, the clog may have to be removed by disassembling the drain.

Check out this video and learn how to use baking soda and salt to unclog the drain.

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Few Tips on How to Clean Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar

These six simple techniques will help to prevent your drains from clogging and keep them clean without using expensive or harsh chemicals.  

1. Use strainer baskets in all of your drains to prevent food particles and hair from clogging the pipes.

2. Never put grease or oil down the drain. Wipe the cookware with a paper towel after cooking greasy or oily foods so that less grease, oil, and fat go down the drain and cause a clog.

3. To avoid greasy clogs, add boiling water with a grease-fighting dish soap down the drain regularly. 

4. Coffee grinds should not be disposed of in the sink. Coffee grounds don’t break down when immersed in water. They cluster together and clog your sink instead.

5. Before cleaning greasy pans, wipe them down with a paper towel. This will get rid of a lot of greases and prevent it out of your drain.

6. You can use baking soda, vinegar, and salt to clean and freshen your garbage disposal.

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How to Clean Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar FAQ

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To Wrap Up

Baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water soften oily, fatty buildup like soap and shampoo residue or cooking oil, allowing it to shrink and be flushed out of the pipe. It takes 20-30 minutes to clean sink with baking soda and vinegar.

You know now how to clean sink with baking soda and vinegar properly; say goodbye to clogs with our cleaning hacks.

If you have any tips on how to clean kitchen sink with baking soda and vinegar, then share them with us in Cleaners Advisor, in the comments box below!