Every basin needs to be cleaned regularly. Soap scum, residue, toothpaste and spit will remain on the surface of the sink unless it is thoroughly washed and dried off after each use. Added to that are the natural minerals, including the dreaded limescale of hard water areas, which are in the water and will deposit on the basin surface and waste plug if left to dry naturally.
Furthermore, the waste plug, overflow channel, and bottle trap will all benefit from regular cleaning to reduce smells and blockages. Now, let’s dive deeper into how to care for and clean ceramic bathroom basins!
Table of contents
- Cleaning limescale residue from bathroom basins
- Cleaning and caring for bathroom ceramic basins
- Cleaning the overflow
- Cleaning the waste, waste pipe and bottle trap
- The effect of limescale in hard water areas on bathroom basins
Cleaning limescale residue from bathroom basins
A vinegar and water mix is a tried-and-tested method for removing limescale from your bathroom basin.
Step one: Agitate the buildup
Use an old toothbrush or nail brush to scrub the area.
Step two: Fill the basin with the vinegar and water mix
Use a vinegar mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Leave this sitting in the basin for up to an hour.
Tip: For thicker, more stubborn areas of limescale, pour pure white vinegar over them rather than diluting the solution and leave for 3-4 hours or overnight if needed.
Step three: Brush the area again and clean with warm water
Give the area another brush and then clean it with warm water to rinse thoroughly away the deposits to remove any residue.
Handy bathroom tip
When the vinegar and water solution is standing in the basin, add any small items that need cleaning into the water during the final 15 minutes, such as your soap tray or toothpaste cup.
Let everything sit for 15 minutes, then drain the sink, rinse and dry the items. This vinegar-water mixture is non-toxic, plus the acidity of the vinegar easily cuts through lime deposits and soap scum. It also evaporates quickly, leaving everything clean and shiny
Wipe over the sink and any remaining water with a dry cloth.
Cleaning and caring for bathroom ceramic basins
You can clean most bathroom sinks using a general bathroom cleaning spray and a soft cloth. These products are designed for ceramic basins and, therefore, are ideal. If you prefer a gentle option, use:
- mild dish detergent; or
- white vinegar mixed with water to cut through grime
Keep an old toothbrush or another small, soft-bristled brush for scrubbing around the basin and waste drain.
Ideally, the basin should be cleaned every day. It’s also good practice to spray, wipe out and dry the basin each night after your bedtime wash routine.
Cleaning the overflow
Some basins have an internal overflow that prevents flooding if the tap is accidentally left on. This is an open hole to the drain and can become smelly if the drain becomes blocked. It is also an area where bacteria can build. A spray of bleach or antibacterial will help manage this properly and keep the area clean.
If it appears blocked or particularly smelly, then hot water and a sink cleaner or a small bottle brush to clear the channel will help.
An alternative three-step method for dealing with stubborn smells or blockages:
- Funnel 1 cup of baking soda into the overflow
- Add 1 cup of white vinegar
- Let it fizz away for 15 or so minutes before funnelling very hot water into the overflow
Tip: It goes without saying to take extra care not to scold yourself when doing the final flushing
Cleaning the waste, waste pipe and bottle trap
Some of the most common things regularly washed down the waste plug are:
- Hair
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Foams
- Shavings
These can quickly build up, causing the basin to drain slowly and become very smelly.
To deal with this, open up the screw part at the bottom of the bottle trap to remove and clean it. This is the round part at the bottom. It will undo, making for easy cleaning.
As for basin bottle traps, these can get bound very quickly with:
- Hair
- Soap scum
- Heavier items (e.g. jewellery or hair clips)
Some DIYers find that a short-term solution to clean out any limescale buildup in the waste and bottle trap pipes is to pour a 2-litre bottle of Coke (regular, not diet) into the basin and leave it for at least four hours (overnight if possible). The cola contains phosphoric acid, which is effective in breaking down limescale. Run the tap in the morning to flush out the debris (which has lifted) and it should be left gleaming.
The effect of limescale in hard water areas on bathroom basins
Hard water staining in basins is common. It is a build-up of the calcium in hard water, which has dried (evaporated) off the basin surface, leaving this mineral behind. As this sits and builds, it gets stained from the dirty water as the basin is used, giving it this yellowish-brown colour.
The harder the water, the quicker and heavier this will appear. Check your hard water level where you live.
There we have it! Hopefully, this guide is all you need to keep your ceramic bathroom basin clean. Why not check out our guide on everything you need to know about cleaning your bathroom?
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