Rusty dishwasher? Get rid of it with a concoction of baking soda and lemon

illustration photo: Gemini AI

Brilio.net – The sink is the main “war” area in the kitchen. Starting from washing piles of dirty dishes to cleaning food before cooking, everything is done here. Because of its crucial function, sinks are very susceptible to food residue which, if left untreated, can trigger mold.

Another problem that often arises is rust stains. Since most sinks are made of metal, constant exposure to water can trigger corrosion. This rust is known to be very stubborn; Even if you brush as hard as you can, it sometimes still leaves dull marks that make the kitchen look dirty.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to buy expensive chemical cleaning fluids. A YouTube user, Anty Kamalia, shared a kitchen secret for making your sink shine like new again without having to spend any effort brushing it.

Two Secret Sink Saving Ingredients

The ingredients you need are very simple and most likely you already have them in your kitchen:

1. Baking Soda (Baking Soda)
2. Lemon Slices

The combination of these two ingredients creates a natural reaction that can soften the rust layer without damaging the metal surface of the sink.

Steps to Clean Rust in the Sink

photo: YouTube/Anty Kamalia channel

Follow these practical steps for maximum results:

1. Sprinkle Baking Soda: Make sure the surface of the sink is dry or slightly damp, then sprinkle baking soda evenly, focusing on the rusty areas.

2. Give It a Squeeze of Lemon: Take a lemon wedge, squeeze the juice right over the baking soda. Use the lemon peel as a tool to spread the liquid evenly over the area.

3. Light Scrub: Rub gently using the inside of the lemon peel, then let it sit for approximately 2 hours so that the ingredients work to destroy the rust bonds.

4. Final Stage (Sanding & Rinse): After letting it sit, rub the rusty area using fine sandpaper so that the remaining rust is completely removed. Finally, rinse with running water until clean.

photo: YouTube/Anty Kamalia channel

The result? The sink that was dull and full of brown stains will shine again. You will see a very contrasting difference, even the sink can look like new again.

photo: YouTube/Anty Kamalia channel

Sink Cleaning FAQ

1. Won’t sandpaper scratch the surface of the sink?

Use sandpaper with a high degree of fineness (fine grid). Rub in a direction and slowly only on the rusty part to minimize scratches on the stainless steel.

2. Can lemon be replaced with lime or vinegar?

Can. Limes have a similar acidity level to lemons. White vinegar can also be an alternative, although the lemon scent is much fresher for the kitchen area.

3. How often can this trick be done?

You can do this every time you see rust spots appearing. For routine maintenance, simply sprinkle baking soda once a week to keep the sink smooth and free of mold.

4. Why do you have to wait 2 hours?

This waiting time is necessary so that the citric acid from the lemon and the mild abrasive properties of the baking soda can react chemically to loosen the corrosion that is firmly attached to the iron.

5. How to prevent rust from coming back after cleaning?

The best way is to always wipe the sink dry after use. Don’t let water stagnate or place wet metal utensils for too long on the sink surface.

(brl/tin)