Fireclay sinks are made from a combination of glaze and clay. The mixture is then heated at very high temperatures of about 2000 degrees, giving fireclay its strength and durability.
Fireclay sinks are one of the best farmhouse sinks known. They outshine others with their strength, elegant appearance, and durability.
Fireclay is resistant to stain, scratches, and rust because it is not made up of metal, making these sinks easy to maintain and care for. Sometimes, fireclay tends to hold onto dirt and stains and may get scratched easily if it is not accorded proper cleaning and care.
How to Properly Clean a Fireclay Farmhouse Sink:
Maintenance of Fireclay is not very different from other sinks. But because each product has its unique way of maintenance and care, you should consider the following steps for effective cleaning. Proper cleaning will help your fireclay farmhouse sink look sparkling clean and retain its beautiful and eye-catching appearance.
Materials you need
- Basin
- Clean, warm water
- Sponge or soft brush
- Dry cloth
- Mild soap
- Baking soda or vinegar
- Spray bottle
Step 1: Basic cleaning
Start by removing surface stains. Take a basin of warm water and mild soap. Using your soft brush, scrub off dirt on your sink. Do it in a circular motion using a soft cloth or sponge.
Rinse with lots of warm water to remove all soap and dirt. Dilute some whitener and apply it to the surface of your sink to ensure it maintains its luster. The solution is mildly abrasive; hence it will pick up stains even without scratching the sink.
For effective cleaning, scrub it in a circular motion. Use a soft dry cloth to dry the sink and restore the sink’s original appearance. The ratio of water to bleach should be 90 to 10.
Step 2: Coat and wax the sink
Ensure you coat and wax the sink after it is scorched. Use your clean, soft cloth to apply the liquid wax in the sink. Cover the sink with a paper towel and allow it to stay for some time. The towel helps the bleach close to the sink, enabling it to soak to the stains.
Allow the wax to dry before using the sink completely. Waxing is essential because it makes substances such as food waste to flow down the sink’s drain without clinging to the bottom or sides of your sink. Ensure you wax monthly so that your cleaning may be easier.
If your sink has grease stains or watermarks, use standard bathroom cleaners to wipe them away. Even though fireclay sinks are stain-resistant, ensure you wipe the bottom of the sink after every use to prevent the formation of water and grease spots. Ensure you do all this cleaning in a well-ventilated room to prevent you from inhaling the bleach fumes.
Step 3: Use vinegar for the removal of watermarks
White vinegar removes stubborn stains as well as disinfects your sink. It effectively removes limescale and mould spots. Fill your spray bottle with white vinegar. Spray the surface, then leave it for like 15 minutes. Wipe it, then use a dry cloth to dry the solution completely.
Step 4: In case of a scratch
Your sink may appear to have a scratch appearance, you can apply some force using a brush to scrub it, and the scratch will fade away. You should ensure you take a closer look at the marks because the marks are mostly stubborn debris that you can remove with ease.
If this does not work, you can try using metal polish. It will help remove the lines and restore your sink to its scratch-free look. Scrape off heavy deposits with a plastic spatula so that you may avoid scratching the surface.
If your sink has soap scum, treat it by adding water and vinegar in a ratio of 80 to 20. Spray the solution on the sink, then allow it to settle for like 5 minutes before scrubbing. Rinse then dry it thoroughly.
Step 5: Try other non-abrasive cleaners.
You can also use these products to remove stubborn stains—Mix ¼ cup of ammonia and ¼ cup of baking soda, and one-gallon water in a basin. Dip your sponge in the solution, then scrub the surface of the sink. Protect yourself from the strong odor of ammonia, which causes dizziness and irritation.
Hydrogen peroxide is another solution that is ideal for white surfaces. Spray the solution on the stains, then leave it overnight. Use a dry cloth to remove stains thereafter. Avoid contact with eyes.
Sodium Percarbonate is another solution that you can try. This is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, which forms an oxygenated bleaching agent. Add a little water to form a paste. Apply the paste on the stains and then leave it for approximately 30 minutes. Use a lot of water to remove the product.
Step 6: Shinning and polishing the fireclay sink
Apply baby oil or some lemon to make the sink shine. You simply apply some drops of the oil to the clean rag and then use it to coat the sink. This prevents any stain from sticking to the sink and makes your sink smell good all the time.
Things to Avoid when Cleaning Fireclay:
- Avoid using drain cleaners that are concentrated and scouring powder or liquid. These products are harsh, while fireclay sinks are non-porous. They only require gentleness when cleaning them.
- Avoid abrasives such as scouring pads and steel wools; they damage the sink’s surface and cause discoloration. Do not use metal utensils to scrap off stubborn stains from the fireclay sink so that you may avoid scratching the surface material.
- Avoid storing containers with, bleach; drain cleaner, acids, or other chemicals under the sink because they can cause corrosion to fireclay sink and other metals. Ensure they are tightly closed if you have to store them there.
- Avoid leaving watermarks on your sink so that you may avoid the formation of stubborn stains. Ensure you dry it thoroughly after use.
- Never bring vinegar and bleach into contact because they produce poisonous fumes when mixed.
- Fireclay sinks are strong and resilient, but you should avoid throwing hard substances into it because they can crack or chip.
- Avoid using oven cleaners, paint removers, and any other aggressive chemical to clean the sink’s surface.
- Do not leave any acidic food such as tomatoes or beverages such as tea or coffee on the sink. If left for some minutes, they discolor the sink.
- Before or after washing the sink, ensure you do not leave metal utensils or cookware inside the sink for quite long because they stain and rust the fireclay sink finish.
- Do not leave your sink with standing water. This water causes mineral deposits to build up hence blocking the sink drainage.
- Hot pans can damage the appearance of your sink; avoid placing hot pans directly into your sink.
Conclusion
Fireclay sinks are the easiest to care for and maintain. If you want to enjoy the best of it ensure you clean it immediately after use. Have a periodic cleaning routine because this is the only way to maintain the shiny appearance of fireclay sinks for longer.
You can also place a soft-feet sink grate at the bottom of the sink to protect it from scratches and stains. It should not cost you so much to clean your fireclay sink because you can use the already mentioned products readily available in your house. With these products, stubborn stains should never be an issue to your sink.
