How to clean an artificial stone sink

Agglomerate or acrylic, from which stylish sinks are made, also gets dirty. Agglomerates are washed off quite easily, but the acrylic version is capricious and demanding on the composition of the cleaning agent - the surface can be damaged by incorrect actions. To prevent this from happening, the HomeMyHome editors will give advice on how to clean an artificial stone sink.

Shining PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Do I need to clean artificial stone?

Artificial stone is small granite or quartz chips glued together with polymer resins. The finished material is painted and poured into the shape of a shell.

Like any other material, artificial stone requires regular maintenance. Over time, the surface of the sink or sink becomes contaminated with limescale contained in the water, and also becomes covered with stains or greasy marks.

To keep the sink clean, after each use, wash the surface with any dishwashing detergent and wipe dry. If more stubborn dirt appears on the sink, use suitable chemicals or improvised means to clean it.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are many more advantages than disadvantages

Artificial stone is not porous. The main difference from natural products. Makes it resistant to penetration of fat and moisture, chemical solutions and acids.
High strength Increased resistance to mechanical stress, clearly exceeding that of natural materials.
Variety of colors Large range. More than 100
Environmental friendliness Unlike natural materials, artificial stone has an absolutely smooth surface without pores, cracks or crevices. Which prevents the formation of microorganisms and pathogens, and as a result, unpleasant odors.
Repairable Scratches and cuts can be easily removed. You can drill without worrying about it breaking.
Color stability Artificial stone does not fade and retains its original color throughout its entire service life.
Easy to install the faucet. You can install the faucet in any convenient place after assembling the kitchen.
Durability With proper care it can last you 10 years or more.

Of the minuses:

High cost High-quality sinks from well-known brands often have a high price. Although this disadvantage can be called conditional, since high cost, as a rule, leads to high quality, and at the same time durability and convenience.
Scratched After active movement of pots, pans and other heavy metal utensils, scratches may appear on the surface. One piece of advice: Just be careful.
Heat resistance Although the material is resistant to boiling water, it is not advisable to place pans directly from the stove, otherwise a print may remain that will not be easy to remove.

General cleaning rules

For daily sink care, use gel or cream products, as well as dishwashing detergent. Action plan:

Apply dish detergent to a slightly damp, clean sponge and lather it up.
Remove grease stains from the coating.
Rinse off the substance with warm water.
Apply cleaning gel to the sponge.
Wipe the bottom and sides of the sink.
Leave the product on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Dry the sink with a kitchen towel.

It is highly recommended not to wash the sink with too hot water. Composite material is not able to withstand high temperatures or temperature changes. Otherwise, the surface may crack and chips will appear on the sink.

General rules for cleaning and operation

Products that can be used to clean stone sinks should be in the form of creams or liquids. Cream or liquid should be applied to the bottom and walls, wait a little and rinse with water. The weekly cleaning sequence is as follows:

treat the sink with dishwashing gel to remove grease;
remove strong stains separately;
apply cream or liquid to the walls and bottom;
wait 15-20 minutes;
wash off the product;
Wipe the sink with a dry and soft cloth.

Cleaning compounds should be washed off with moderately warm water. Never try to deal with stains by pouring boiling water into the sink. Small cracks will quickly appear on the surface, which will eventually lead to surface cracking and chipping. It is impossible to eliminate them without the use of special means.

Temperature changes have no less detrimental effects on composites. You cannot put a hot pan on the stove in the sink if it was frozen before. You can pour boiling water into the sink, but you need to do it carefully. First turn on the cold tap and gradually pour the boiling water down the drain. The bowl of such a sink is not intended for crushing ice or cutting meat.

Professional products

In the hardware department of any supermarket or specialty store, you can always find a suitable cleaning product for artificial stone items.

Well recommended products:

PolyGran;
Silit Beng;
Akemi;
Sif;
MisterChister;
Sonata.

Use the selected product according to the instructions on the package. You can also use dishwasher tablets for cleaning.

Traditional methods

If you need to clean a stone sink, but don’t have a special product at hand, you can use improvised materials for processing.

Soda

Works great on greasy stains and stubborn stains. Prepare a paste of baking soda and water and brush the surface with the mixture. Leave the product on the sink for 20-30 minutes and then rinse with running water.

Mustard powder

By analogy with soda, you can make a porridge with mustard powder. Dilute a small amount of dry mustard powder with water and wipe the surface with a soft sponge or brush. After cleaning, rinse the substance with water and wipe with a dry cloth. Mustard powder removes fresh greasy stains well.

Lemon

Fresh lemon copes well with marks from drinks, rust, and limescale. Cut a small slice of lemon, rub it on problem areas and leave for a while. Then rinse the sink with water and wipe dry.

Acetic acid

Vinegar perfectly cleans the surface of plaque and old stains. To remove dirt, dilute one part 9% vinegar in two parts water and thoroughly treat the surface.

Carbonated drinks

It has long been no secret that carbonated drinks containing phosphoric acid are used to clean various household items. An artificial stone sink is no exception. Using soda can remove rust and limescale from the surface.

To clean the sink with the drink:

Buy Coca-Cola, Sprite or Pepsi-Cola at the grocery store.
Heat the drink to approximately 30 degrees
Seal the sink and apply soda over its entire surface.
Wait 2-3 minutes.
Rinse off the soda thoroughly with water to ensure the sink is not sticky and wipe down the surface.

Please note that a clear drink is suitable for treating light stains, and a dark one is suitable for old and stubborn stains.

Toothpaste

The product is suitable for cleaning artificial stone sinks and chrome-plated sanitary ware. Apply toothpaste to the entire surface and wait a little. Scrub old stains and rust spots with an old toothbrush. After the procedure, rinse off the substance with warm water and wipe the sink dry.

Melamine sponge

The recently popular melamine sponge does an excellent job of removing various stains and traces of rust. There is no need to use detergent. Lightly moisten the surface and the product itself with water and simply rub the sink in problem areas. After manipulation, wipe the sink with a damp and then a dry cloth.

Chemicals for cleaning stone sinks in the kitchen

Dirt accumulated on a stone sink in the kitchen, stubborn stains, stains can be washed off using household chemicals marked for composites, which are used according to the instructions on the package. This group includes several professional compositions:

Special products for composite stone sinks, for example, Schumanite, Cillit Bang universal spray, Akemi cleaner;

Chlorine-containing compounds effectively wash away plaque, grease and dirt, beetroot, coffee, tea stains, and also have a disinfectant effect, killing fungi and microbes - Belizna, Domestos;

Dishwashing liquid is used for daily care and to prevent stains, especially if the composition contains natural ingredients. Soap cleans the stone without leaving a waxy film on the surface. A soap solution removes coffee, tea, and wine stains;

Melamine sponges perfectly remove lime and salt stains and rust stains from stone sinks in the kitchen thanks to the small crystalline particles in their structure. No aids are needed during operation. To clean the kitchen sink, rub it with a sponge, let the surface dry, and rinse it 2-3 times with warm water. Apply a few drops of vegetable oil to a cotton pad, rub the bowl of the kitchen sink until shiny, leave for 7-10 minutes, wipe with a dry cloth made of natural fibers;

To clean stubborn dirt from a stone sink in the kitchen, use chlorine lime. To do this, fill the sink with water, add 2 tablespoons of powder, stir, and leave for half an hour. Then the liquid is drained, everything is thoroughly washed and dried;

For white and light stone kitchen sinks, bleach is suitable, which removes dark stains from tea, coffee, beets and other colored juices. Remove all excess from the bowl, close the drain, fill with hot water, add 2-3 cups of white, leave for about an hour, open the drain hole, wipe the surface dry.

On a note! To clean a stone sink in the kitchen, household chemicals in the form of gels or creams with a gentle effect on the surface are suitable. The well-known Comet and Pemolux powders can also be used, bringing them to a mushy state so as not to scratch the coating.

What not to use for cleaning

To keep artificial stone in proper form, do not use:

acidic substances;
solvents;
products containing acetone;
gels for cleaning metal or ovens;
methylene chlorine.

Also, do not install a silicone plug in the sink, which will quickly corrode the paint. The use of abrasives, hard brushes or metal sponges is not allowed for cleaning.

Getting rid of limescale

A vinegar solution and cleaners for composite stone are what will help get rid of limescale.

Special preparations

When working with a stone sink, the cleaning actions are precise and fast. A cleaning agent is applied to the wet surface. It must be left for a few minutes to take effect. Afterwards it is washed off with running water.

Vinegar solution

Cleaning method:

The sponge is soaked with a small amount of vinegar.
Problem areas are treated within 2-3 minutes.
The surface is washed with plenty of water.
Everything is wiped dry.

The sink is additionally wiped with a soft cloth.

How to remove dirt

Depending on the nature of the dirt, you can use different cleaning options.

Limescale

Non-aggressive chlorine-containing substances work well against limescale. Insert the plug into the sink and fill it as much as possible with water. Add chlorine to the liquid and leave the solution for 15-20 minutes. At the final stage, thoroughly rinse the entire surface of the sink and wipe with a dry cloth.

yellowness

A chlorine-containing or vinegar solution will help remove yellow deposits on a light-colored artificial stone sink.

Stains

To remove fresh and old stains, the best means are:

carbonated drink;
vinegar solution;
baking soda;
special chemicals.

Apply the product of your choice to the stains and scrub with a sponge. After using any of the methods, rinse the surface with running water and wipe with a dry soft cloth.

Rust

Fresh lemon or soda works well in the fight against rust. After applying the product to the surface, scrub the stained areas with a brush, and then rinse off the cleaning composition with water.

How to clean stubborn stains from a kitchen sink

After prolonged use, dirt remains on the surface of a stone sink in the kitchen, which is difficult to clean. It seems that the appearance of the sink is ruined, but there are recipes that will help cope with the problems:

You can remove white limescale from a stone sink in the kitchen using household chemicals for composite surfaces. The bowl is treated with a wet sponge, a cleaning agent is applied, no additional exposure is necessary. After a few minutes, the liquid is washed off;

Rust can be easily washed off with regular soda. It is recommended to take clear drinks. The liquid is heated, poured into the bowl, left for 10-15 minutes, then begin scrubbing; in difficult cases, the procedure is repeated several times. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide will help clean a stone kitchen sink from rust. The components are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the contaminated area. When mixed, a chemical reaction occurs that is responsible for cleaning the surface;

Alkaline solutions will help remove traces of tea and coffee from a stone sink in the kitchen. Instead of intensively rubbing the surface, the contaminated areas are smeared with lemon juice, left for 2 hours and treated with a clean, dry cloth.

Features of reading a sink made of white and black stone

You should choose a cleaning agent for a white or black stone sink depending on the type of dirt.

A dark sink is primarily covered in limescale from hard water. A melemine sponge or toothpaste will do a great job with such stains.

The main problem with light-colored stone sinks is the appearance of dark stains from liquids or products. A chlorine-containing product or fresh lemon will help clean and whiten the surface of the sink.

Types of stone shells

Today, there are two types of stone sinks on the plumbing market:

Acrylic stone, such as Corian from DuPont, and its analogues: Samsung has Staron, LG has Hi Macs, domestic manufacturer Polygran and Polystone from China. This material consists of a combination of acrylic resins, stone chips and dye. When producing mixtures, the composition is heated to high temperatures. Depending on the fillers and dyes used, you can achieve a “stone” look for every taste and color. It has excellent environmental qualities, does not absorb moisture and fat, and is resistant to aggressive liquids and acids. With proper care, the item can last for many years. However, it is possible to integrate an acrylic sink with a countertop only made of the same material.

Granite. It consists of 80 percent natural stone chips and 20 percent binder polymer, including acrylic. Quality is determined by the amount of granite or marble in the composition of this product. It differs from acrylic sinks in appearance and has a grainy color. More durable, does not scratch, is not afraid of high temperatures. You can place hot dishes on a granite or marble sink without a special stand, and also cut food without using a cutting board. Such a sink can be built into a countertop made of any material.

What leads to loss of appearance

Artificial stone, like any other material, deteriorates over time. This is caused by various mechanical influences, violations of use and care, and even the influence of hard water. To avoid damage to your artificial stone sink, follow the prescribed operating rules, treat its surface with care and carry out regular cleaning.

Harm from high temperatures and strong shocks

In addition to persistent dirt, rust and limescale, the durability of the material can be affected by high temperatures, temperature changes or mechanical damage.

To prevent damage:

do not cut food on the coating;
try not to hit the surface;
do not pour boiling water into the sink;
do not allow hot and cold liquids to alternately come into contact with the sink;
Do not place hot cookware on the product that has just been removed from the stove.

If you follow the prescribed instructions for use with an artificial stone sink and remove dirt in a timely manner, the sink will last for many years.

Care and preventive measures

To prevent serious contamination and damage, use these helpful tips:

limescale appears on composites all the time. It becomes noticeable on dark sinks. Remove it regularly so that you don’t have any difficulties cleaning it later;
On light-colored items, stains appear quickly. Fruit and vegetable juices, tea and coffee always leave dark marks that need to be removed in time. If this is not done, dirt will begin to eat into the surface and stains will appear on it;
If your kitchen or bathroom faucet is dripping, the sink bowl will quickly become rusty. Install high-quality faucets and promptly replace old plumbing fixtures with new ones;
Sometimes you can't do without a hot pot in the sink. The composite “tolerates” such treatment, but if it becomes regular, it will lead to premature wear of the surface;
Do not cut meat or vegetables in the sink. This will help avoid deep scratches.

Caring for an artificial stone sink

Any product made of artificial stone will look presentable if you regularly clean its surface and remove minor scratches.

How often to clean the sink

A sink made of artificial stone needs timely care, therefore:

After each contact with water, wipe the surface with a dry soft cloth;
If coffee, tea or soda is poured into the sink, immediately wash it off with water;
Once a week, thoroughly clean the sink using suitable chemicals or improvised means;
Remove scratches from the surface as they appear;
Once every 2-3 weeks, treat the sink with a solution containing chlorine.

How to restore a fresh look to your sink and eliminate surface scratches

The material is quite strong and durable, but sometimes loses its presentable appearance due to mechanical damage. If the defects are serious, the best option is to seek professional help.

If small scratches appear on the surface of the product, there is a chance to remove them yourself.

Action plan:

Before repairing the surface, purchase fine and coarse sandpaper, glue or putty for composite materials, and a special polishing paste from a hardware store.
At the first stage, sand all scratches.
Next, fill all the gaps with a composite repair agent.
Then apply polish to problem areas.

Please note that small scratches must be smoothed out with fine-grit sandpaper. Large cracks are first cleaned with coarse-grained sandpaper and then sanded with fine-grained sandpaper.

How to extend the life of a sink

To ensure that an artificial stone sink lasts a long time, clean the product in a timely manner and treat the surface with care. Additional preventive measures will help prevent the appearance of persistent and ingrained contaminants:

Clean the sink regularly with a limescale remover, as it appears regularly;
food and various liquids leave stains that become embedded in the coating over time, so immediately clean the surface of such contaminants;
To prevent rust from appearing on the sink, ensure that the taps and mixers are in good working order;
try not to expose the surface to high temperatures and mechanical damage.

By following simple measures to prevent contamination, you will not need to put a lot of effort into thorough cleaning, and at the same time, the product will retain its original appearance.

How to repair serious damage

Cleaning with caustic substances can cause chemical burns to the surface of the sink. If you throw heavy and sharp objects (cleavers, knives) into it, unevenness and chips occur. Dirt and grease constantly get into the chips. Serious damage can become a source of unpleasant odors. The damaged surface is restored by grinding or milling. Both methods require skills, and a person without experience will not be able to cope with such a task.

If you see a few small scratches on the sink bowl, remove them with medium-grit sandpaper. After treating the surface, sand it with a piece of felt. You can use Scotch Brite instead of sandpaper. This is an abrasive that you apply baking soda to.

Large scratches are rubbed with sandpaper with a grit of P120, small ones with abrasive 180, 220 or 320. When leveling deep defects, the treatment is carried out in several stages. Finish sanding with fine-grained sandpaper (No. 400 or 600). After treatment, the surface is sanded. If you know how to use a sander, you will quickly remove all small scratches.

After removing scratches, the sink is coated with a detergent containing ammonia. If there is no such composition, any fine abrasive powder will do. It is left in the bowl for 10 minutes and washed off with water. After this, the surface is dried as usual.

If there are cracks, you will need a putty designed for working with composite materials. The damaged area is cleaned and dried, then puttied. Sanding is done only after the mixture has completely hardened. If a small piece accidentally breaks off from the sink, it is glued back or the defect is eliminated using an acrylic mixture. Acrylic is a durable substance and can be painted any color. Even if a piece of the sink is not lost, it is better to use an acrylic mixture: after it hardens, the defect will become almost invisible.

Advantages and disadvantages of artificial stone sinks

Products made from artificial stone look stylish and presentable. In addition to its attractive appearance, the material has many advantages:

a huge range of shapes and colors: from classic black or beige to non-standard green or blue;
the coating does not retain fungus, mold and other organic microelements;
possibility of restoration;
long service life with proper care and use.

However, artificial stone also has disadvantages:

high cost compared to analogues made of stainless steel or plastic;
heavy weight of products;
low heat resistance;
intolerance to some aggressive detergents.

A sink made of artificial stone is a stylish and practical solution for the kitchen or bathroom. With proper use and regular care, such a product will last a long time.

Removing scratches

Sooner or later, even with careful use, scratches will form on the surface. This mainly applies to acrylic sinks; granite sinks are much stronger. How to restore the original appearance?

Paste GOI

You can try polishing small scratches with GOI paste. To do this, we use a drill with an attachment. You can also polish it by manually applying the paste to a soft cloth.

Sandpaper

In cases with large scratches or other deep damage, you can use sandpaper of various grain sizes, preferably moisture-resistant. First, we take fine-grained sandpaper for primary sanding—from 200 to 125 microns, and finish with a zero grade of 80-40 microns. When processing with sandpaper, you need to wet the surface with water, this will achieve a more delicate sanding. Ideally, after sanding, you need to polish with GOI paste or use a colorless car polish.

Emergency measures using sandpaper will be needed not only because of scratches. Absolutely unpredictable situations may arise: Someone threw a cigarette butt into a stone sink, or decided to burn paper in it. This also happens, especially when using outdoor sinks.

Special household chemicals

There are many cleaning products on the household chemicals market that can renew things.

Сillit Bang . Anti -stain detergents
Sanfor+ white. For light-colored sinks
BIOSOL Na6 Specially for granite stone sinks
Akrilan premium from Baga
Ceramite from bugs based on chlorine.
Akem i Several different cleaners. From mild soap to intense cleanser.
Shumanit cleaner for granite stone.
Prosept Cooky spray