Myriad methods for keeping your sink sparkling clean

All the soapy deposits, food stains, rust and water spots accumulating on your sink are a sign that regular cleaning should be a routine thing.

• Regardless of the material from which your sink is made, get out the dishwashing liquid, liquid laundry detergent or all-purpose cleaners.
• Using a small amount of detergent and a couple of drops of water, scrub the sink with a soft sponge.
• Rinse away residue. Don't use an abrasive cleaning agent or applicator. A gentle cream cleanser is good for very bad stains.

Try one of these treatments:

• Rub a freshly cut lemon around the sink to cut through the grease. Rinse with running water.
• Use baking soda in warm water. Sprinkle a little baking soda around the sink and then rub it with a damp sponge. Rinse with vinegar or lemon juice to help neutralize the alkaline cleaner and then rinse with running water.
• Make a paste the consistency of toothpaste with baking soda and water and gently rub the sink with a sponge or soft nylon brush. Polish with a paper towel or soft cloth.
• Never use scouring powders or steel wool on porcelain sinks, because they will scratch.

• Rub the sink with a paste consisting of 250 grams (1 cup) of powdered borax (available from supermarkets) and 60 ml (4 tbsp) of lemon juice.
• Dab a cloth or sponge in the paste, rub around the sink and then rinse with running water.

Use a cloth dampened with methylated spirits or vinegar.

• Place paper towels across the bottom and saturate them with household bleach.
• Let them sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with running water.
• Do not use bleach in coloured porcelain sinks, because it will fade the colour.
• Clean these sinks with mild dishwashing liquid, vinegar or baking soda.

• Apply a car wash and wax, with a soft, cotton towel.
• Wipe the cleaner on, let it dry for 5–10 minutes and then wipe it off.
• Do this every three months or so.

• Theses stains can be removed with toothpaste or a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water.
• Gently scrub the paste on with a non-scouring scrubbing pad, available from home improvement stores.
• Your last resort is scrubbing very gently with 800 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. Scrubbing too hard could wear a groove in the material. Polish the cleaned spot with a special polish made for solid surfaces sold at home improvement stores.

• Those that are etched into a sink's porcelain are difficult to remove. Buff them out with a polishing compound as soon as you notice the spots.
• Use jeweler's rouge (from jewelry making suppliers), or rub gently with a pink-coloured silver polish.

• For white porcelain surfaces — including sinks, tubs and appliances — pick up a container of white enamel paint at your hardware or paint shop.
• Following the package instructions, paint over the trouble spot with a small artist's brush, let it dry, rub with fine sandpaper, then paint again.
• Repeat the process until the painted area is even with the surrounding surface.
• If you want to get fancier, buy a porcelain repair kit, which will include filler, hardener, cleaning spray, sandpaper and more.