Maybe white was not a good idea......

Wendy Shmaeff
by Wendy Shmaeff
Hi,
remodeled my kitchen a few years ago. love the look of white appliances and wanted a white sink to match.....at that time the material of stone sinks was in....I got an Elkay white.....what is the best way to keep it from staining?
It is not supposed to stain because of the materials, but it does and is often difficult to clean.
  21 answers
  • Jen Jen on Jul 03, 2013
    I find the bleach sprays (I use Clorox Clean up) available in the grocery store work well for this.... just spray on and let sit for a while. If you have a tough stain, spray a paper towel with the bleach spray, and set it on the stain. Rinse thoroughly and you've cleaned and sanitized!
  • Samof5 Samof5 on Jul 04, 2013
    Try barkeepers friend. I have a light colored stone sink that stains. Barkeepers friend in powder form has taken everything off including rust. For stubborn stains rub into stain with a little water making a paste and let sit. Go back later and scrub with a sponge. I use the scrubby kind safe for non stick pans.
  • Cynthia Nolen Cynthia Nolen on Jul 04, 2013
    Barkeepers Friend! Comes in powder and also a creamy liquid squeeze bottle which I prefer(both at my WalMart). It removed stains from a fiberglass shower pan that had been there for years. Like Kim Czupka says, for difficult embedded stains you may have to let it sit for a few minutes.
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Jul 04, 2013
    BarkeepersFriend has been around since the late 1800s and works great, but contains Oxalic Acid, so wear gloves when you use it, especially if you have sensitive skin. I don't have a white sink anymore, but I used to clean mine by filling it to the top with very hot water and adding Bleach. Just let it sit until the water cools, and the stains are gone.
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Jul 05, 2013
    Barkeepers Friend is a great product. I use it myself but if I want to get stains out I do what Leslie does and fill sink with water and a little bleach.
  • Candy J Candy J on Jul 05, 2013
    You girls took the words right out of my mouth - Barkeepers Friend! Found at Wal-Mart.
  • April April on Jul 05, 2013
    Mr Clean magic erasers clean these sinks really well.
  • Vicky Hudson Williams Vicky Hudson Williams on Jul 05, 2013
    Bar Keepers Friend now comes in a liquid/paste form. Not so hard on the hands, still cleans amazeingly!
  • Moonchild627 Moonchild627 on Jul 05, 2013
    Also Bon Ami; It is very mild, environmentally friendly and it gets stains out. I have a very old, double porcelain sink on which the finish is quite worn. When I moved into this apt. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it white enough to even look clean. The combination of Bon Ami and spray bleach cleaner does a good job, but with all of these recommendations for Barkeepers Friend, I think I am going to have to try that as well!
  • Cynthia Nolen Cynthia Nolen on Jul 05, 2013
    Yes, I do wear gloves when using Barkeepers Friend or use a sink brush with a handle so that your hands stay clean. I use BF liquid on my stainless cookware interiors using a brush, then with whatever is left on the brush I do a quick spin around the sink. Voila!
  • Linda Linda on Jul 05, 2013
    My "go to" is baking soda, adding bleach to make paste. While wearing gloves, I simply smear onto sink and it cleans before your very eyes, in mere seconds! Amazing! I like the no scrubbing and couldn't be cheaper! I'm very sensitive to chemicals, but since you don't need much, the bleach doesn't affect me.
  • Janet Bryan Janet Bryan on Jul 05, 2013
    yes, a bit of straight bleach with stopper in....let soak. For general cleaning, I cannot use any store-bought cleaners. I mix a combination of hot water, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and essential oil (lavendar) for everything from stainless, to glass to bathroom fixtures.....everything! I also have a white sink and when baking soda doesn't quite do it, then a bit of bleach
  • KrysFL KrysFL on Jul 05, 2013
    I, too, was going to suggest barkeepers friend... if its staining, sounds like the sealer may be off. I would look into getting it resealed and then afterwards, be sure not to use anything abrasive or bleach in it.
  • Patti Nicholas Patti Nicholas on Jul 05, 2013
    I own a "green" cleaning business and we use Barkeepers as well as Bon Ami. We avoid any type of Chlorine bleach due to the dangers, but Borax is excellent for keeping porcelain white. fill the sink with hot water, add 1/4 cup Borax, swirl around and let it sit overnight. swirl it around again in the morning, drain and rinse. Once a week should keep your sink (also toilet) sparkly white.
  • Bonnie Lewenza Bonnie Lewenza on Jul 05, 2013
    Use baking soda and vinegar safe & green
  • As3194912 As3194912 on Jul 05, 2013
    I too use baking soda and vinegar it is amazing the things you cn do with that combination.
  • MaeGatineau MaeGatineau on Jul 05, 2013
    baking soda and vinegar make a paste clean the sink and rince
  • Brenda Boudreaux Brenda Boudreaux on Jul 05, 2013
    yes Barkeepers is a good product to use
  • Lyndi F Lyndi F on Jul 05, 2013
    I like Bar Keepers Friend, too, but I also used the cream cleanser for glass top stoves when I had a porcelain sink. Worked great!
  • Moonchild627 Moonchild627 on Jul 09, 2013
    You said "It is not supposed to stain, but it does." You might want to contact the manufacturer or store where you bought it and report this and also ask for their recommendations on what to use.