The Best Way To Clean A Black Sink To Keep It In Tip-Top Shape

A black sink might be a better option than a conventional silver stainless steel or white sink because it adds so much character to your kitchen. Sleek, modern, and elegant, it creates an instant feeling of luxury, as if you'd stepped into a 5-star hotel. Black sinks might inspire other kitchen appliance upgrades or be part of a larger renovation, but you might wonder how practical they are. Will they scratch easily or get discolored? Well, it turns out you do need to clean them with the right tools to prevent scratching, and they require more gentle care than a white or stainless steel sink. The best, most reliable way to keep your black sink in spectacular shape is to clean it using a lint-free cloth with mild dishwashing liquid, and then give it a deeper clean occasionally with vinegar or baking soda, depending on the sink material.

Though they look somewhat similar, black sinks aren't all the same and can be built from different materials. They are fabricated from black stainless steel, composite granite (which might be mixed with resin), and porcelain. They're all non-porous, which means they won't absorb colors or odors, and are very durable — though, the composite granite and acrylic model comes in at the head of the pack for durability and low maintenance.

The number one guideline to clean black sinks regardless of what they're made from is to use a microfiber or other super soft cloth, warm water, and liquid soap. Wash, and in the case of stainless steel, rub in the direction of the grain, then rinse with clean water and dry. You simply can't go wrong with this formula no matter what. 

If your sink is made of stainless steel and gets food stains or limescale from hard water, you can use mega-miracle baking soda and water to lift off stains and spots. Follow with a spritz of vinegar and water. Let that sit for five minutes, rinse the sink, then dry it with a cloth to avoid further spotting. If you don't have a stainless steel sink, it's best to just use the vinegar and water method and skip the baking soda. To maintain that gorgeous sheen, every once in a while you can clean it as usual, dry it, and then coat the sink with a little vegetable oil. After five minutes, remove the excess oil with a clean cloth.

The worst thing for a black sink is anything abrasive, whether it's physical or chemical, so make sure to keep metal scrubbers far away. You should also never use bleach, chemical spray cleaners, chemical stain-removing products, or any homemade chemical cleaning mix other than vinegar and water.