Many of us lead busy lives and it can be difficult to find the time for cleaning tasks. When it comes to your kitchen sink, it’s not just the basin itself that can get dirty. Water splashes and piles of washing up can also leave the area around the sink in need of a clean. Here are some good habits you can implement to help keep your sink area sparkling.

Tackle splashes quickly

It’s easy to accidentally splash the kitchen surfaces while you’re doing the washing up. If you use a drying rack for plates, these can also drip onto the area around the sink. When the water dries, it can sometimes leave a residue behind. This can often be worse if you live in a hard water area. An easy way to prevent this is to get into the habit of wiping up splashes as soon as they happen. Keep a dedicated absorbent cloth beside the sink. Then use it to quickly soak up any excess water as soon as you’ve finished the washing up.

Housekeeping blogger Holly, who runs the site Spend With Pennies, says:

“Water spots on your stainless steel sink got you down? Don’t worry. Just rub them down with a little white distilled vinegar for a shine that won’t quit!”

Use a plug strainer

When you rinse off dishes after a meal, small pieces of food can fall into the sink and down the plughole. Over time, this can build up and end up blocking your sink. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a plug strainer. This is a little grid that sits over your plughole. It lets the water pass straight through but catches any loose bits of food. You can then remove it and empty the food into the bin. You can buy plug strainers in homeware shops or online. Just make sure you find one that fits your specific plughole correctly.

Use a water softener

If you live in a hard water area, you might find that your water leaves a residue on your sink and surfaces. You might also get buildups around your faucets. A lot of people tackle this problem by investing in a water softener. This typically sits underneath the sink and will help to remove the hardness from your water supply. In turn, it should help to reduce residue around your sink and faucets. To read about the many benefits of using a water softener, click here.

Clean up regularly

Although it seems like an obvious tip, a simple way to keep your sink looking great is to clean it regularly. You might be surprised at how great things look after a proper scrub! For a lot of people the difficulty lies in cleaning consistently. Like a lot of jobs, the longer you leave it, the trickier it will become. That’s why it’s a good idea to set time aside in your calendar and commit to cleaning the sink on a regular basis. If you use an electronic calendar, you could even set some reminders to help you keep on track.

Don’t forget the drying rack

Try to get into the habit of drying things like plates, cups, and cutlery each evening. Once these have been put away, shake any excess water off your drying rack. This will help to prevent water residue from building up. It’s also a good idea to schedule time to clean your drying rack on a regular basis.

[Photo by kaboompics]