keeping a porcelainized sink clean

[masraum]

We installed a nice Kohler porcelainized cast iron sink many years ago in our previous home. It was a very nice sink. We also bought the rubber footed stainless grate that went in the bottom of the sink to protect it. We left the grate in the sink all of the time. We were on city water, which I think was not very hard, but a little hard.

WHere the feet of the grate were got "stained". Thinking about it now, I think that's because having them in the sink 24x7x365 allowed some hard water build up and the build up stained. Back when we had it, I thought it had been scratched by having grit get between the rubber feet and porcelain, but now I'm thinking that's not the case.

I know that I've seen my grandmother keep a plastic tub in the sink that she used when washing dishes to protect it.

What methods do you guys use to protect a porcelain sink and keep it looking nice?

[GH85Carrera]

Just scrub it out with something like barkeeper's friend. Real easy, and done. At my last workplace we had a sink that was from the 1970s and used by a mostly male employees to make coffee. It would get gross and brown colored. Just fill the sink with a strong dose of Clorox, and bam, back to pretty white with no scrubbing.

[john70t]

I use GelGloss on plastic and porcelain kitchen and bath. Rub it in good.
(bottle lasts longer than the spray can which cleans better)
It saves my counters from wine and especially turmeric.

It's not food grade though.

[masraum]

Cool, thanks!

[john70t]

Something like this might work better and last longer: https://www.howardproducts.com/product/wax-it-all/

[craigster59]

When I used to brew beer I would sanitize my bottles in the sink or bathtub filled with water and a cup of bleach. After draining that sink/tub would gleam like new.

[Tobra]

Non-abrasive, Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by craigster59

When I used to brew beer I would sanitize my bottles in the sink or bathtub filled with water and a cup of bleach. After draining that sink/tub would gleam like new.

Yep, bleach is cheap and super simple. Plug the sink, fill with water and several glugs of liquid bleach, fill to top of sink. Let it sit for a while, drain and done.

[masraum]

Of course, bleach doesn't actually clean anything. It'll turn dark stains light, and it'll kill germs, but if there's a hard water build up or something like that, you'll still have that. It seems like it would be better to get rid of the hard water deposits, then you wouldn't need to bleach the stains because there wouldn't be any.

[GH85Carrera]

Mostly bleach gets rid of any coffee or tea stains. Or any stains. Yea, hard water deposits or lime will not be cleaned, but it will be nice and white!

[Tobra]

CLR is what you want for hard water deposits.

[masraum]

Interesting. I would not have expected bleach to be a problem.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting. I would not have expected bleach to be a problem.

That may be the lawyer's input. I could see chlorine bleach attacking any glaze on the porcelain over an extended time and constant exposure, but occasional use shouldn't be a problem. I think.

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Non-abrasive, Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend

^^^ +1

But make sure you get Bon Ami cleaning powder, not Bon Ami cleanser. Similar label, big difference in abrasiveness.

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by tobra

non-abrasive, bon ami or barkeepers friend

+1

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Flat Six

^^^ +1

But make sure you get Bon Ami cleaning powder, not Bon Ami cleanser. Similar label, big difference in abrasiveness.

I'd wondered, since I know that I've seen Bon Ami that said that it was an abrasive cleaner.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

That may be the lawyer's input. I could see chlorine bleach attacking any glaze on the porcelain over an extended time and constant exposure, but occasional use shouldn't be a problem. I think.

That makes sense. The glaze is pretty tough stuff.