Porcelain sinks are notorious for scratching and staining. Many think you need to grab harsh chemicals, like bleach, to really get it clean and white again, but there is an easy method that completely whitens, brightens, and cleans a porcelain sink with no harsh chemicals and minimal work. Ready to see how to really clean a porcelain sink?
Today we’re talkin’ sinks. I have a porcelain sink in my kitchen and it seems to stain and scratch so easily. (This may, or may not, have something to do with the fact that I pile all sorts of dirty dishes in it.) For the longest time, I used diluted bleach to clean it, but I really didn’t love using such a harsh chemical, and it didn’t remove any of the scratches, so I thought I’d look for an alternate cleaning solution. I have two sides to my porcelain sink, so I tried out two different methods. My intention was to share both cleaning solutions with you, but one was so far superior in cleaning the porcelain sink, I decided to just share one! (I’ll share what didn’t work as well, so you don’t waste time with that method.)
What You Need to Clean A Porcelain Sink
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How to Clean A Porcelain Sink
Begin by rinsing the sink to wet down the bottom and sides. Once the bottom and sides of the sink are wet, plug the drain and sprinkle on some baking soda. You just need a fine layer of baking soda; no need to heap it on.
Scrub the sink using a sponge. This is like a magic stain eraser. The brownish color in the sink started disappearing before my eyes and was soaked up in the baking soda. This did not require a ton of scrubbing at all. (Yay!) Now, add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the sponge and scrub some more.
The scratches will start to disappear and the sink will whiten up. You will have baking soda clumps in the sink. No worries; this is normal. After thoroughly scrubbing with the hydrogen peroxide, rinse everything down the drain.
Results
Before and after pictures are always a good way to see the results, so here you go.
See this Cleaning Tip in Action
As I mentioned, I tried an alternate method using equal parts Cream of Tartar and Vinegar. I scrubbed and scrubbed, and while it worked a little, it was nothing like the method described above. Here’s the process on the other side of the sink.
How Much Do You Save?
Buying Sink Cleaner on Amazon
- Bar Keepers Friend= $7.99 for 21 oz.- The reason I chose this particular sink cleaner is because it had a lot of great reviews and it looks like it does an amazing job. If you are interested, go for it. However, I am looking for a cheaper, more natural version.
Making Your Own Porcelain Sink Cleaner
- Approximately 1/4 Cup Baking Soda= 7¢ (based on Walmart’s price of 54¢ for 16 oz.)
- Approximately 2 Tbsp. of Hydrogen Peroxide= 3¢ (based on Target’s price of 97¢ for 32 oz.)
The total amount made was 3 ounces, based on 2 oz. of Baking Soda and 1 oz. Hydrogen Peroxide.
Savings
This means that for 21 ounces of sink cleaner from Amazon for $7.99, you could make 21 ounces of your own for 70¢, saving $7.29.
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Cleaning sink is important to avoid damage. Baking soda is very helpful to clean our sink and it’s very affordable cleaner. Thank you for this article!
I forgot about wiping down the after I put baking soda on the porcelain. So I took paper towels and laid them on top of baking soda and poured hydrogen peroxide and let it soak all night. I have a brand new sink. Thank you for the idea
My sink is new so clean but was scratched by contractor installing it. Suggestions?
Have him buy you a new one.
I use bar keepers friend and vinegar and water mixed. But thanks for showing me your way because I am going to try it.
This worked like a magic eraser – thanks for helping me save my new sink! I thought it would never come clean.
This works great and none toxic. For years I used bleach and my husband would come home and ask how much did you use and must you. No more. Are you trying to kill us with these fumes! 🙂
Tried this and oh my..my porcelain sink shines like she is brand new!!! ??
Comet works great too.
Can i do this with fake porcelain? We couldn’t affrod a real one.
I think you could certainly try it, although I cannot be sure you’ll get similar results. I always recommend trying it on a small area first, just to make sure there is no harm done to the finish. Good luck!
I have an old farmer’s sink that is so stained and scratched. I’d like to try this. Question is: Why are you plugging the sinknif you’re not putting any liquid in it? My sink can’t be plugged so wondering if I should even try.
Thanks
The only reason I plugged the sink was to keep the baking soda from going down the drain before I finished scrubbing it around. There is certainly no need to plug the drain 🙂
Bon Ami is a great scrub that works well and is all natural. It’s really inexpensive as well… Though a bit hard to find.
Will this work for a porcelain tub?
I don’t see why not. I always suggest trying it out on a small, out of the way, area first, to make sure it doesn’t negatively affect the finish. Hope you find success with it!
This did not work AT ALL for me. It didn’t do anything :'(
Ugh. So frustrating. I know SO many people have reported success with this method. Sorry it didn’t work out for you 🙁
I would suggest that you let it set overnight. That might make the difference.
I tried this today and all I can say is WOW!!! It did take me some time as the stains were pretty set in, but I can tell the difference. My sink is finally white. Thank you so much for this remedy as I have spent so much on cleaners with no results.
Woohoo!!! I am so happy to hear you had such success. So many people have said that this method has worked better than store-bought cleaners (including Bar Keepers Friend). So glad you’ve got a nice, white sink again 🙂
I called my husband at work and told him to bring me some more baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. I am going to try this tonight! We bought a foreclosure and the sink is a dull yellow/white. Can’t wait to try this!
Love this method.
It did not Work any better than simply spraying Clorox clean up spray!! Your method took with Applying, Scrubbing, Applying, Scrubbing,the 15 minute wait, and Rinse..calculated time off my life averaged 30 minutes!
To simply Spray, scrub a mere minute, Rinse was less time with same results!
Scratches remained!?
So many readers have reported great success with this technique, as you can see from the other commenters. Sorry to hear it didn’t work well for you.
This works better than BarKeeper’s Friend and Softscrub and it’s non-toxic! Thanks for sharing.
I am still amazed every time I do this. While I’ve never tried Bar Keepers friend, many have agreed with you, stating that this method works better 🙂
Thank you …. this actually worked! It looks like I have a brand new sink!
Yay! So happy to hear this little trick saved your sink.
So , where is the baking soda? Why you need it? There is no information on why and how to use it here.
Here’s the part of the post that explains the use of baking soda,
“Once the bottom and sides of the sink are wet, plug the drain and sprinkle on some baking soda. You want a fine layer of baking soda; no need to heap it on. Scrub the sink using a sponge. This is like a magic stain eraser. The brownish color in the sink literally started disappearing before my eyes and was soaked up in the baking soda. This did not require a ton of scrubbing at all. “
Nice tip. Also a regular magic eraser works away all those stains. Super easy.
OMG! This worked wonders on my sink. Thank you so much. When we first moved to our new house and I went from a stainless sink to a porcelain sink I was so sad. They always seemed to look so dirty… not anymore!!!
Yay! I am so glad this worked so well for you. It’s pretty incredible what these two ingredients can do.
Wow, the hydrogen peroxide-baking soda combination made that sink look like new again! That’s one impressive after!
I couldn’t believe how well it worked either! Pretty amazing combination 🙂
I believe there might truly be a difference in the quality of peroxide
I was just thinking yesterday that I was going to beg my husband to buy me a stainless steel sink. We bought the most expensive bisque Kohler sink we could find at the time and it is tragic looking. I tried soaking it with Comet, but that does nothing.
I can’t believe how beautiful it looks now after using your technique. I don’t care if it dulls it more or not, it looks 100% better. Thank you, thank you and thank you
YAY!!! I am so glad to hear this worked so well for you. I cannot tell you how many people have said they were about to buy a new sink, then tried this method, and saved themselves a whole lot of money. Thanks for sharing your experience with me!
My other tabs I have open on my browser are “Bar Keepers Friend” on Amazon and “How much does a new sink cost” on Google results. My sink was so disgusting I truly thought it was done for. I went from brown, scratched, truly ugly porcelain sink to a brand new looking sink in about 10 minutes (I got so excited I didn’t read down to where it said leave it sitting for 10-15). I just got the sink wet, sprinkled a good quarter of a box of baking soda all over it, dumped some peroxide haphazardly on a sponge, and started scrubbing. I used a toothbrush to get the stainless drains. It is literally just the sink just came out of the box. THANK YOU.
YAY!!! I am so glad this saved you from buying a new sink. Way cheaper 🙂
*gasp* I think I love you!! 🙂
Thanks so much for this!!
Ha! You’re so welcome!
Would this work on a cast iron bath as I have tried everything to clean it with no success
You could certainly try it. I always recommend trying any cleaning solution in a small area first, preferably that’s more out of the way. This way you can see the effect on your finish before committing.
Yes definitely do this because luckily i did or id have huge holes where the alcohol ate thru my couch!!!!
Obviously a cast iron item wouldnt have this problem but for those using this method for micro fiber ?
Thank you for putting drink a cup of coffee (guilt free) as a step in the instructions. Love it☕️
No problem. Everyone needs a coffee break now and then 😉
My sink is black & hubby used soft scrub w/ bleach so now it looks dull when it is dry. Will the baking soda/hydrogen peroxide solution work? Please E-mail me if you can!
Hi Susie- Thanks for your question. Using baking soda does create a mild abrasive, which could, potentially, dull your sink. I have had great success with it, however, if you’d like to try a different method, I have heard wonderful things about Bar Keeper’s Friend, although, I, myself, have never tried it. Hope that helps.
I also clean my porcelain sink with baking soda and the results are awesome. Before I tried many different chemical products, but nothing didn’t work so well.
After I started cleaning my sink with baking soda, it seems to get stains much more easily. It seems the baking soda leaves it more naked or vulnerable. Like I have to keep doing it more frequently. I wash the coffee grinder there daily also. What can I use to seal it or protect it after stripping it with baking soda?
Have you tried Bar Keeper’s Friend? I mentioned it in this post for price comparison purposes, but many have had a lot of luck with it. If you do choose to try it out, will you let me know how it goes?
It works perfect! Takes scraps out without much elbow grease.
I wish I could find a way to restore my porcelain sink to its original shine- it’s black.
Lisa- What have you tried? I know porcelain is tricky to keep clean!
I’m in the same boat! My is dull & won’t shine anymore. Did you find a solution? Please E-mail me with ab answer.
Thanks so much for sharing your sink cleaning tip at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.
I LOVE this tip, Erin. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m sharing it on the Fun Home Things FB page this afternoon:-)
Thanks Katie!!! I appreciate it! Happy Monday!
Looks like a great alternative to Comet! I can’t wait to give it a try. Definitely one of the things I dislike about my porcelain sink is how dirty it always looks!
I agree. I love how deep the sink is… hides my dirty dishes pretty well, but it stains and scratches so easily. I was actually pretty stunned by the results of this little concoction. Hope you find it works just as well.
This is a great cleaner! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely! Glad to help!
Love this! I need to do it to our downstairs sink! Thanks so much!
XO Ellen from Ask Away
http://www.askawayblog.com
You are so welcome! Let me know how it goes.
Erin,
It worked great, especially considering my sink is 50 plus years old. I also used the cleaner on the white (at least they were white when I bought them) sink mats. Did a pretty good job. No fumes makes it a keeper for me. I need a cute bottle for the peroxide under my sink and a shaker for my baking soda. By the way, my old sink’s are a light yellow.
YAY!!! So glad it worked! You could use an oil dispenser for the hydrogen peroxide and a spice shaker for your baking soda, just a thought. Thanks for letting me know your results!
Thank you for the ideas. I actually have cleaned a couple spice bottles thinking about the baking soda. Love the idea for the peroxide.
Wow! A big difference between the two cleaners. I never thought about hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Great tip!
Thanks Stephanie! (And thanks for tweeting about this post as well!) I’m actually not sure I’ve used baking soda in combination with hydrogen peroxide either, but I’m a big fan now. I seriously keep staring at my sink in disbelief at how white it is now. Thanks for stopping over… Enjoy your evening!
Oh this looks like a good one! I’m going to try it on our old bathtub! Thanks.
Awesome! I cannot believe how well it worked, and how easy it was! Hope your results are similar!
Erin,
I am so excited to see the porcelain sink cleaner today. I am going all natural as I find good cleaning methods. Your site has been wonderful!! have my sink soaking as I am typing. I used a cloth vs. sponge got to go shopping. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I see your post to open. It is like Christmas as a kid and at 64 that is great. Keep it coming. Thank You Darlene.
Darlene, you just made my day! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am doing the same with trying more natural cleaners. I’m not a fan of choking on the smells other cleaners have. Hope this worked well for you. I’m still in awe of the results! Enjoy your evening!