Buzz
While kitchen sinks are often regarded as just a place to clean dishes, not something that needs cleaning itself, organizational expert Marla Cilley—better known as the Fly Lady—argues that a gleaming sink is the secret to a more organized and joyful kitchen.
Given that a sink piled with dirty dishes is a major mood killer in my house, I’m all for any method that prevents them from accumulating. While cleaning your sink to a sparkle may seem excessive, it actually makes perfect sense. Once you've scrubbed and sanitized your sink until it shines, you're far less likely to mess it up with a dirty dish. Others in your household will likely follow your example, too, as they’ll be wary of triggering your frustration.
The Fly Lady’s method is a thorough one—read the whole thing here—but the essential steps are as follows:
Empty the sink and fill it with hot water. Add one cup of bleach and let it soak for an hour.
Use tongs to remove the stopper, drain the water, and rinse the sink well.
Sprinkle a powdered cleaner like Ajax or Comet on the sink, scrub thoroughly, and rinse again.
Use a butter knife to clean under the rim of the sink. If you’ve never done this before, it might be unpleasant, but that’s okay. Rinse it once more.
Use a toothbrush to clean around the faucets.
Finish by spraying with window cleaner and giving the sink a good polish.
Now you have a beautiful sink that you're less likely to clutter with dishes, along with a satisfying sense of accomplishment. This may not be something you do every day, but it will motivate you to keep your sink looking neat and clean as much as possible.
