Kitchen sinks can be sanitized with natural cleaning solutions.
Kitchen sinks are prime breeding spots for many types of bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses that result in infections, intestinal problems and nausea. There are many types of commercially produced cleaners that clean and sanitize sinks and counters, but you can avoid the cost and chemicals of these products by making your own natural sanitizers.
Vinegar
Acidic solutions naturally kill or deter the growth of some germs, which is why vinegar is the key ingredient in preserving foods such as pickles. To turn vinegar into a sink sanitizer, combine 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 cup of water. Spray the interior of the sink and spread it all around the surface with a sponge. Then rinse it with sprays of cold water to avoid recontamination with the sponge. To enhance the antibacterial properties and make the solution smell better, add a few drops of lemon, orange or bergamot oil to the mixture.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is not only efficient at cleaning scratches and abrasions on the skin, it also kills bacteria in sinks. Use it like the vinegar solution either full strength or mixed with equal parts of water or vinegar. You can see it sanitizing as bubbles form on the sink's surface and around the drain.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
This extract, also called GSE, is available at health or natural food stores. Made from the leaves, peels and seeds of grapefruit and grapefruit trees, the extract has more antibacterial properties than other citrus oils. To use it is as a kitchen sink cleaner, mix 30 to 40 drops into a quart of water and shake it until combined. Spray, sponge and rinse with cold running water.
Tea Tree Oil
This antibacterial, antifungal oil has disinfecting power comparable to household bleach, without the offensive smell. Mix 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil, 2 cups water and 3 tbsp. liquid hand or body soap to aid in emulsification in a spray bottle and shake well before spraying the sink interior and rinsing it.
Neem Oil
Extracted from the seeds of the neem tree, indigenous to India, neem oil does double duty as a natural sanitizer and insect repellent. Like tea tree oil, it needs help to fully dissolve in water. Mix it with a vegetable-based soap such as Castile and use the mixture undiluted to clean the kitchen sink or thin it with water and spray it on the surfaces to disinfect them before rinsing.
Tags: antibacterial properties, kitchen sink, Kitchen sinks, many types, rinse with, with sponge, with water