Fresh Sinks and Free-Flowing Drains: How to Clean Your Sink and Drain Naturally
Why Your Sink Deserves a Deep Clean Today
The sinks in our kitchens and laundry are hard working. If you don't have a reliable way to clean your sink, they can get pretty grimy - especially down the plug hole. When you think about all the jobs our sinks help with - washing dirt of vegetables, emptying the mop water, washing the dishes, cleaning up after a sick child, soaking laundry, chicken juices, emptying the Bissel, washing the cat (?!?).
That's a lot of gross build up right? A good deep clean is a must!
Scientists wondered, just how dirty do our sinks get? Studies show our sinks can be dirtier than our toilet seats. I bet just after reading that list above you probably aren't that surprised. This build up of germy stuff isn't from doing anything particularly bad, it's from normal family-life use, and maybe a bit of irregular cleaning.
To make things just a bit grosser, then throw in a soggy sponge that's been hanging around for too many days. And what the studies show is you might actually have a situation that can make you legitimately sick with gastro. Gross. And preferably avoided!
It doesn't stop with grimy sinks. You might notice your sink is emptying slow and wafting some bad smells your way - these are issues in your sink drain. The best way to keep your drains clear is by avoiding drain clogging baddies like fats and small pieces of food and keeping up with regular drain maintenance.
But don't worry, we've got you covered! Here’s our quick and easy 5-minute routine to keep your sinks and drains clean and odour-free without relying on harsh chemicals.
What's Actually Building Up in Your Drain?
Here's what's going on down there. Every time fats, food scraps, and dirty water down the sink, a small amount clings to the inside walls of your drainpipe. Fats cool and solidify, food particles accumulate, and bacteria and algae start to grow in the warm, moist environment. The result is a layered build-up that slows water flow, traps odours, and creates exactly the kind of conditions bacteria love.
The reason washing soda works so well here is that it's strongly alkaline — it breaks down fatty residues at a chemical level, and its high pH kills the bacteria and algae contributing to the smell. It's not magic. It's just the right tool for the job.
Why Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners?
Chemical drain cleaners are often used and recommended for their quick and effective clog-clearing capabilities, but they come with significant drawbacks. These cleaners typically contain harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide (lye), sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid, which can have serious health, environmental, and plumbing consequences.
1.Health Risks: Chemical drain cleaners can cause severe burns if they come into contact with skin, eyes, or mucous membranes. Inhaling the fumes can lead to respiratory issues, including inflammation of the lungs and upper airways, making it harder or painful to breathe. Long-term exposure can even result in chronic respiratory problems.
2. Environmental Impact: These chemicals can contaminate groundwater and harm aquatic life when they enter water systems. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by these cleaners contribute to air pollution, particularly in urban areas, affecting overall air quality
3. Damage to Plumbing and Septic Systems: Chemical drain cleaners can corrode pipes, especially older metal pipes and PVC. This corrosion can lead to leaks, cracks, or even pipe bursts over time. Additionally, these chemicals can destroy beneficial bacteria in septic systems, disrupting waste breakdown and potentially leading to costly repairs.
4. The washing soda method below gives you a genuinely effective clean to use regularly without the burns, the fumes, or the environmental hit to keep on top of build up in your pipes.
What You'll Need to Deep Clean Your Sink & Drain
- Figgy Home Cleaning Castile Soap
- Washing Soda
- Strong White Vinegar
- Cleaning Paste
- Freshly boiled water + a jug for dissolving the washing soda
- A cloth or scrubbing brush
How to clean your sink & drain naturally in 5 Steps
1. Check the Drain
Start by looking down the drain and pulling out any visible debris. If you have obvious build-up, pick it out of your drain and do a quick wash with some Home Cleaning Castile Soap (gross I know, but totally necessary).
TIP: some newer sinks have drains that the plug fitting can be unscrewed with the plug on its side and used as screwdriver. IF you have a drain that does this then undo the screw and lift off the top plate of the drain. Now carefully clean inside, be mindful that while in most cases the parts are all attached and water proof - some are not. Before running water with parts undone, gently check if the start of the drain is attached to the underside of the sink.
2. Pre-flush with Hot Water
When you clean your drain you need to prime the pipes because you can't reach them to give them a scrub. To do this, boil your kettle, let it sit for a minute, and then pre-flush your drain with most of the hot jug water. This will soften build up like fats and algae. It makes it easier for the washing soda in the next step.
3. Washing Soda is the Key to De-gunking your Drain
Dissolve ¼ cup of washing soda in about 200ml of the just boiled water (use the remaining water from the kettle). Stir to dissolve. Pour this down the drain, then wait about an hour. During this time the washing soda will start stripping and softening grime off the insides of the drain.
Fats are dissolved into washing soda because washing soda is alkaline, which will make fatty residues easier to wash away. Bacteria and algae are also killed by the pH of washing soda - this will help with unblocking and also odour.
4. Let Vinegar Dislodge Drain Grime
Unblocking and clearing your drain has never been so fun! Pour about one cup of undiluted Figgy strong white vinegar down the drain. When the vinegar and washing soda mix it will cause a reaction - the two mixing will cause fizzing which will help to dislodge the softened gunk and grime - because washing soda is a stronger cleaner than baking soda - this will give a better fizzing reaction.
Use a cloth to force the bubbles down and keep them contained in the drainpipe. This will make sure all the action happens where it is most useful.
Now flush the drain with a good amount of hot water from the tap.
5. A good scrub to clean your sink
Next, take a dollop of cleaning paste and scrub the inside of your sink with a damp cloth or scrubbing brush. Make sure to work the paste right up all sides and into the overflow vents if your sink has them. The paste works best when the surface is dry or damp as it can really grip the build-up to scrub it off.
Rinse away with water then wipe out your sink for a perfect shine finish. Figgy eco cloths are super absorbent and great for this task. Enjoy your sparkling sink because you’re done!
8 Tips for Keeping your Sink and Drain Fresh
1. Daily Maintenance
We recommend to clean your sink each day using a squirt of Home Cleaning Castile Soap and give it a scrub or cleaning with our Cleaning Paste
2. Drain flushing
Remembering to occasionally flush your drain with a larger volume of water, or even a jug of hot water occasionally like in the pre-flush above will help to keep gunk and grime down.
3. Deep Clean Monthly
Give your sinks and drains a deep clean every month to keep them in top shape and avoid your drains clogging up.
4. Avoid fats down the drain
This is an almost certain way to clog your drain. When fats that are solid at room temperature are hot and liquid and poured down the drain - the quickly cool and solidify. Instead, let fats solidify in the pan, then scrape out with a fish slice, wrap in paper and put it either in the compost or in the bin.
5. Slow draining drain
head outside and check your gully trap where you sink drain comes out of your house, this can get a build up that slows the flow of water getting out.
6. Use a plug hole strainer
Along with fats - letting food go down the drain is best avoided. Keep peas and corn out of your drain by using a strainer - in modern sinks this is the plug lifted slightly. for older sinks look for a drain strainer at your local hardware shop.
7. Pour very dirty waste water outside
Try to get into the habit of tipping very dirty water either down the toilet or outside on a non-food garden or onto grass. This would include things like mop water and Bissell water.
8. Keeping bacteria at bay
keep up with a daily clean of your sink and changing your dishcloth regularly - especially after wiping up germy things like chicken juice or touching the floor.
FAQs About Cleaning Sinks and Drains Naturally
Is washing soda safe to use in drains regularly?
Yes. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is safe for regular drain maintenance. It's strongly alkaline, which means it breaks down fat and kills bacteria effectively — but it doesn't corrode pipes the way chemical drain cleaners do. Once diluted and flushed through with water, it's also far gentler on the environment than conventional drain products.
Can I use baking soda instead of washing soda?
You can, but it won't be as effective. Washing soda is significantly more alkaline than baking soda, which means it does a better job of breaking down fatty residues and produces a stronger fizzing reaction with the vinegar. Baking soda is fine for light freshening; washing soda is what you want for a real de-gunk.
How do I get rid of the smell coming from my drain?
Drain smells are almost always caused by bacteria and organic build-up inside the pipe. The washing soda step in this method addresses both — the high pH kills bacteria and breaks down the food and fat residues they're feeding on. For ongoing odour prevention, a weekly hot water flush and monthly deep clean will keep things fresh.
Why is my sink draining slowly?
Slow drains are almost always caused by a build-up of fat, food residue, soap scum, or hair inside the drainpipe — or a blockage at your gully trap outside. Run through the 5-step method above, and if the problem persists, check the gully trap before calling a plumber.
Can I use this method on a bathroom sink as well as a kitchen sink?
Yip, absolutely. The washing soda and vinegar method works on any sink drain. Bathroom sinks tend to accumulate hair and soap residue rather than fats, so the drain check in Step 1 is especially important there — pull out any visible hair build-up before you flush.
Is it safe to mix washing soda and vinegar?
Yes. The fizzing reaction between washing soda (alkaline) and vinegar (acidic) is a straightforward acid-base reaction — the result is carbon dioxide bubbles and water. It's completely safe, and that fizzing is exactly what makes it useful for dislodging gunk from drain walls.
How often should I deep clean my sink and drain?
Once a month for the full 5-step clean, with a quick daily wipe-down of the sink surface. If you have a busy household or a heavily used sink, fortnightly deep cleans will help you stay ahead of build-up.
The Takeaway for Deep Cleaning Your Sink & Drain Naturally
A clean sink isn't just about how it looks — it's about what it means for your household. Knowing that your kitchen sink can be one of the germiest spots in the home is the kind of thing that makes you want to take five minutes to sort it properly. And once you have a routine, it really is just five minutes.
A clean sink isn't just about how it looks — it's about what it means for your household. Knowing that your kitchen sink can be one of the germiest spots in the home is the kind of thing that makes you want to take five minutes to sort it properly. And once you have a routine, it really is just five minutes
And If you’ve still have a cleaning buzz after tackling your sinks and drains, give your taps and bench a go. A lovely clean bench is food for the soul, and our Everyday Spray is the perfect sidekick to get this job done!
That's the Figgy way. Simple stuff, done properly, that looks after your whānau and your home.
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