Many people opt for durable, long-lasting sinks, like stainless steel. Others choose the sleek, clean lines of a black stone sink. While cleaning stainless steel is straightforward and quick, properly cleaning a black stone sink requires a bit more consideration.
Kitchen and bathroom stone sinks, like black composite, require careful cleaning to avoid damaging the sink with abrasive or harsh products. Some cleaning products work perfectly fine on other sink materials, like stainless steel, but will damage your black stone sink. So, to help you avoid accidentally damaging your sink, we’re here to review the best cleaning procedures to keep your black stone sink sparkling clean.
Types Of Black Stone Sinks
Black stone sinks come in various options. Many different brands market black stone sinks, including Blanco, Kohler, Kraus, and many others. The sinks are available in different mounts, like undermount, drop-in, top mount, etc.
In addition, black sinks are available in multiple material types. For example, composite stones, like granite or quartz, are popular picks.
Are Black Granite Sinks Hard To Keep Clean?
Nope, black composite sinks aren’t tricky to keep clean. Black sinks come in all sorts of materials, like various types of composite stone, quartz, onyx, etc. Generally, the rules remain the same for most black stone sinks.
The major kicker is avoiding products that will damage the stone instead of cleaning it. Other than that, it’s pretty straightforward. It doesn’t have to be complicated; just ensure you use suitable materials to clean the sink.
What To Avoid When Cleaning A Black Granite Sink
There are a few materials you should skip when it comes to cleaning your black granite sink. First and foremost, avoid using harsh cleaners. Some cleaners contain harsh chemicals that may be too acidic or alkaline for the sink, leaving discolored spots and blemishes in their wake.
In addition, these cleaners can also strip the shiny finish from your sink, leaving it unprotected and dull-looking.
Limescale removers are another major no-no with black granite sinks. Although black composite sinks clearly display hard water stains and limescale deposits stick out like a sore thumb, don’t use limescale removers.
The issue with limescale removers is the contents. Oftentimes, they’re excessively abrasive and have a very high or extremely low pH, which damages the finish and leaves large discolored patches.
Aside from chemical cleaners, you should also avoid using abrasive scrubbers. While specific scrubbers, like Brillo pads and steel wool, work just fine for cleaning other sink materials, they’re not nice to black composite sinks.
Abrasive scrubbers can damage the sink, leaving a collection of tiny scratches. So, instead of turning to the aggressive cleaning power of a steel wool pad or steel scrubber, go with a soft, microfiber cloth. Or, use a soft, regular cloth. Either way, make sure it’s soft and won’t scratch the sink.
How To Clean A Black Stone Sink
With a clear idea of what not to do in mind, let’s take a peek at the proper steps for cleaning the stone. There are a few tips and tricks you can use to promote the shiny appearance of the sink for many years to come.
Keep The Sink Dry
Keeping the sink dry is essential since water spots and mineral deposits are on full display on a black composite sink. Pools of water hanging out in the bottom of the sink for extended periods can cause discoloration and leave behind pesky deposits.
Mineral deposits and limescale can wear the finish off your sink, leaving dull spots behind. However, it’s easy enough to avoid this problem. Dry the sink out after each use. Don’t use abrasive rags to dry the sink. Instead, gently dry the stone with a soft cloth, like microfiber.
Clean The Sink Regularly
To stay on top of things, its best to clean your sink regularly, as in daily. Mineral deposits and limescale develop very quickly, leaving white spots all over the surface. So, be proactive and spend a couple of minutes per day cleaning the sink to ward off unwanted white marks.
Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water for daily cleaning purposes. Spray the sink down each day, then gently scrub the sink with a soft cloth. Rinse the solution away with water, then thoroughly dry the sink.
Tackle Soap Buildup With Dish Soap
If stains take root in your sink, or there’s a buildup of soap stains, use generic mild dish soap to tackle the issue. You don’t need any harsh chemicals. Simply apply a small amount of dish soap to a soft cloth, then wipe down the offending area. You may need to scrub gently using the cloth.
Once the stain lifts, rinse the sink with clean water. Follow up with a dry cloth.
Baking Soda For Limescale And Hard Water
You may be wondering how to tackle limescale and hard water spots in your black composite sinks. Since store-bought chemical cocktails are out of the picture, what do you use? Baking soda.
It works great against limescale and hard water buildup. The best part? Excessive scrubbing isn’t necessary. Simply sprinkle a dusting of baking soda on the problem areas. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes while the baking soda works its magic.
Then, scrub gently with a soft cloth as necessary to lift the deposits. The baking soda creates a slight amount of abrasion to lift the offending deposit or limescale, all without scratching the sink. Once you’re done, rinse the sink with hot water and dry it thoroughly.
Oil For Shining the Sink
As time passes, the shiny coating on your black composite sink may begin to lose its glossy appearance. This is typical and is easy to fix. All you need is a bit of mineral or olive oil and a soft cloth.
Mineral oil tends to work best. Simply apply about a tablespoon of oil to the sink and buff it into the finish with a soft cloth. Repeat the process as needed. Generally, you’ll need to repeat the process every 4-6 weeks to keep it looking shiny and new.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do black granite sinks fade?
Black sinks shouldn’t fade. Of course, this depends on the material composition of the sink. Quality black sinks, like those made of granite or quartz composite, are fade-resistant. On top of that, they’re durable, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and heat-resistant. How’s that for convenient?
Why is my black sink turning white?
Sometimes, black or other dark-colored stone sinks can develop a hazy white film over the surface. Usually, this is the product of hard water mineral deposit buildup. To remove the film and restore the shine, simply clean the stone with a mild cleaning solution to remove the film and restore the shine.
Then, once the sink is clean and the haze is gone, follow up with a light, thin coat of olive or mineral oil. This gives the sink a glossy shine and helps protect the sink without damaging the stone.
Can I use a sink restorer kit for my black granite sink?
Some brands sell sink restoration kits for various sink materials. If you want to use a sink restoration kit for your black stone sink, ensure that it doesn’t have harsh chemicals and is safe for use on the stone you have (granite, quartz, etc.).