The Most Effective Way to Disinfect Your Kitchen Sink, According to an Expert

Keeping your sink clean should be at the top of your home maintenance checklist. In case you didn't know, it's one of the dirtiest spots in your home—and it's not usually disinfected as frequently as it should be. According to Web MD, "food particles from plates left to soak or rinsed from dishes on their way to the dishwasher can serve as a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella."

During a Facebook Live interview, Ace Lara, the owner of cleaning service Ninja Made PH, shared her expert advice on how to disinfect the kitchen sink. "You can mix 1 cup of distilled cuper with 1/4 cup of baking soda and then just pour it [on the surface]," she suggested. However, if you want to tone down the powerful scent of vinegar, Ace also mentioned that you can add a few drops of essential oil into the solution. "For me, I use a citrus essential oil. It adds to the disinfecting factor because it's anti-bacterial as well.

"Just mix it all together and pour it into the sink, and let it sit there," Ace instructed. According to the cleaning expert, the last step is crucial but it's often skipped. "One common [mistake] that people [make] is that they don't let the solution work. They pour [the solution] then scrub [the surface right away.] It doesn't work like that. We have this thing that we call 'well-timed.' Whatever solution you're using, [whether it's an] all-purpose cleaner [or] toilet cleaner, you have to make it work first. Leave it there for three to five minutes—or depending on the instruction written on the disinfectant's label—before you scrub or wipe the surface." 

Aside from your sink, don't forget to disinfect other dirty spots in your kitchen like the handles, countertops, chopping boards, and sponges. 

For more tips on cleaning and disinfecting your home, watch Real Living's interview with Ace below!