It's easy to assume that your bathroom basin can be kept clean with soap and water, but it requires more than that. With many corners and crevasses, and a generally humid environment, it's easy for contaminants to fester and eventually cause you to fall sick. It's important to know the right cleaning techniques to ensure that your sink is thoroughly washed.
Your bathroom sink in Singapore is one of, if not the most heavily used bathroom fixtures; after all, you wash your hands in it after relieving yourself, after a shower - basically whenever your hands are dirty. It is therefore important to keep it clean and in excellent condition, as sinks are breeding grounds for bacteria trapped in places that might be difficult to clean. In fact, stagnant pools of water on a bathroom basin, however tiny, can breed nasty microbes like Streptococcus, Campylobacter, and E. coli. With that in mind, here are some ways you can keep your wash basins in Singapore clean.
Knowing Your Bathroom Sink
While general cleaning techniques are widely applicable for most sinks in Singapore, it's important to know what your sink is made of. This will give you a better idea of the kind of cleaning detergents or brushes to avoid so the material isn't damaged.
Ceramic, Porcelain, Fireclay, and Cast-iron
Known for their durability and scratch/chip resistance, these materials are popular choices when it comes to making wash basins in Singapore. However, there are some things to look out for when cleaning these sinks -
- Avoid scouting brushes and pads, especially steel wool
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or scouring powders as they can scratch surfaces
- Avoid using bleach
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel bathroom basins are more commonly found in kitchens, but can still make the odd appearance in a modern bathroom. While stainless steel is also durable and can withstand intense scrubbing, they're still vulnerable to scratches.
- Refrain from using steel wool or brushes, as they scratch the surface, leaving it more prone to stains
- Abrasive cleaners and scouring powder will also scratch the surface and dull the polished steel finish
- Avoid bleach and cleaners that contain chlorine
Resin & Composite
Resin is the more affordable alternative to marble or granite. It's nonporous and stain resistant, but can still be prone to scratches.
- Avoid steel wool or brushes as they could scratch surfaces
- Avoid using abrasive cleaners, scouring powders, and bleach
- Use coarse sandpaper to softly rub out scratches
How to Clean Your Bathroom Sink
It might be tempting to immediately start washing down your bathroom basin, but the best thing to do is to first use a dry towel or sponge to wipe your entire basin dry. Then, use your hands to remove grime, hair, and dust that you can clearly see.
Next, use hot water to rinse the sink as it helps loosen up soap scum and dirt. Dip your sponge in hot water in order to reach the sides, corners, and crevasses. Don't forget the faucet as well.
Then, squirt a few drops of dish soap into the basin, plug the sink, and let warm water run from the tap to fill up the basin in half. You can now take your towel or sponge and scrub any remaining dirt and grime, with extra focus on the drain and other crevasses, including the faucet.
Finally, drain the sink and give your bathroom basin a quick wash down with cold water until the soap and bubbles are gone. Then, wipe it dry with a cloth, and disinfect your basin to add a layer of protection.
The cleanliness of your sink is essential to your bathroom experience and even your health. Here at TOTO, we incorporate innovative technologies into our bathroom sinks in Singapore, such as our CEFIONTECT technology that gives your wash basin a smooth, ion barrier glazing for a cleaner sink. For more information about our wash basins, please visit our website.