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maintain a spotless porcelain sink will add charm and luster to your bathroom or kitchen — not to bring up value to your base . This glass - based ceramic is fired at mellow temperatures , then used to coat a metal or cast atomic number 26 alkali . Although the porcelain surface is non - porous , its glaze is susceptible to staining and casual wear and tear .

If you notice some maculation despite these preventative measures , try the methods below for how to clean a porcelain swallow hole , each one treat a slightly more serious stage of defile or scuff with dissimilar merchandise and techniques . If you have an antique or colored porcelain sink , use non - abrasive cleanser , avoid whitener , and connect with the manufacturer or a plumber if you have any interrogative . The best prescript of thumb : Do n’t clean   a porcelain sump with anything that would fray chicken feed .

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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Tools & Materials

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Step 1: Gently clean with liquid soap and dry.

Using warm water , swimming soap , and a sponge , mildly clean   the porcelain sink . Remove any food , soap , or toothpaste flesh - up from the aerofoil . This will allow you to   identify any stains or mule sucker need a deeper clean . Wash aside all soapy rest , and dry with a dish towel .

Step 2: Remove discoloration using bleach on white porcelain, and hydrogen peroxide on colored porcelain sinks.

abrasive scouring can damage porcelain , so your first line of attack should be the least abrasive . For blanched porcelainonly , bleach can be used to take away smear ; never use Cl whitener in biased or vintage porcelain , as it can damage the finish . For both whitened and coloured porcelain , liquid oxygen bleach . such as hydrogen peroxide , is a honest option . It may take longer to work , but it ’s less caustic and more environmentally well-disposed .

Pour the bleaching agent merchandise fit to your case of porcelain into a sprayer bottle . cover up your swallow hole with a level of newspaper towel . Spray bleach or O blanching agent over the towels , allowing it to dowse in thoroughly , and rent sit for 30 minutes to an minute . Discard the bleach - pluck paper towels , and rinse sink completely with water .

If you ’re concerned about put any kind of bleaching agent on an passe porcelain sump , use whitened acetum alternatively . Pour undiluted white-hot vinegar into a nebulizer bottle and spray the sinkhole . With a non - harsh sponge , expend circular move to clean the porcelain . Rinse thoroughly with water . If the stains do n’t lift completely and you resolve to try oxygen blanching agent , remove all traces of acetum first to avoid theharmful   effects of combining acetum and bleach .

Materials needed to clean a porcelain sink assembled on a bathroom counter.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Step 3: Tackle deeper stains with a mild abrasive.

If you do n’t sense well-heeled using bleach , try lifting stain with a gentle abrasive material . notice that there are many abrasive cleanser on the market , and not all are designed for porcelain . One dependable and effective liquid isBar Keepers Friend(available atWalmart ,   $ 2.47 for 26 oz. ) . Squirt a small amount into the sump and gently purge the surface with a non - abrasive sponge .   Its oxalic acid will lift stains , but be sure to use the product sparingly or peril discoloring and grave your porcelain .

Step 4:Lift metal stains with a little bit of acid or naval jelly.

Tackle silverware stains and orangey - red rust separately , using these methods .

Add a few drops of either lemon tree juice or white vinegar directly to a metal brand — do not mix in acids . rent it harp for several minutes , monitoring the colouration of the mark . Do not scrub . Rinse with water .

For rust stain , usenaval jelly . Apply a sparse coat to the varnished area , monitor carefully , and wash as before long as you detect a modification in the color of the stain . Naval jelly is primarily used to off rust from metallic element , so drill caution and rinse off it rapidly from porcelain as shortly as the stain lifts .

Woman wearing cleaning gloves cleans a bathroom sink with dish soap and a sponge.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

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Woman uses Bar Keepers Friend to clean a porcelain bath sink.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Woman wearing cleaning gloves uses naval jelly on rust in sink.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

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