The Proper Care of Sinks

Southland Times, Issue 21729, 15 June 1932, Page 5

The Proper Care of Sinks

Most housewives take a particular pride in having their kitchen sink and bathroom equipment look “spick and spani Whether these furnishings disport themselves in white, ivory, green or some other tint, they need ’the right kind of care, just as the furniture or woodwork of a home needs its special treatment. Too much energy in the use of gritty scouring powders, however, may prove more of a detriment than a help. Housewives, it is claimed, took remarkable care of enamelled’iron sinks when they first came into the home replacing the old wooden ones with metal linings. The glossy white surface was so precious that it was cleaned with meticulous care. But to-day, perhaps because of the speed of the age, this scrupulous attention has been slackened, it is reported. This may be the cause for scratched-up sinks and rough surface bathroom fixtures. Surfaces of enamelled plumbing are much like the surfaces of glass. A glass show case in a shop, for instance, will most generally keep its glossy finish on the sides, but its top soon shows signs of scratches from the commodities which pass back and forth across its surface. The dust, sometimes containing fine sand, which accumulates on the top of the case is ground into the glass when article after article is passed across the counter, making it dull and cloudy. This illustrates what happens when a powder containing a too gritty abrasive is used when scouring the sink. Myriads of fine scratches are the result, and although it would take years to wear through the enamel surface to the iron base, the scratches themselves mar the appearance of the equipment and give a rough surface which is in itself more difficult to keep clean.

The old adage about the ounce of prevention is quite applicable when meals are being prepared about the sink. If the housewife or maid will keep food cleaned up from the sink as she goes along, instead of allowing it to dry and stick to the drain board or other parts, she will have much less trouble in cleaning the equipment later. To see that fruit juices spilled on the sink are not allowed to remain is an important precaution. If left alone they will eat their way into the enamel, making ugly spots, because the lustre and shine

have been destroyed. Specially are citrous foods harmful, such as oranges, lemons and limes. Even raspberries, currants and gooseberries will leave a stain. The safest way is the simple process of sweeping a tumblerful of water across the juice spilled on the drain board before it has a chance to eat into the surface. If this habit of immediately disposing of all juices splashed on the sink were established, fewer blemishes would appear. Preserving time is specially hard on the kitchen plumbing. Leaving the preserving spoon covered with the sticky jam on the sink means unnecessary labour later. After the sticky jam is gummed on, the first temptation is to remove it with a gritty powder but this scouring does the enamel no good. It is better to pour hot water over it until the sticky mass it loosened. But the best way of all is to prevent the necessity for scouring by washing the food off at once.

Gravy, syrup, sticky puddings, mud from vegetables, if allowed to dry make much work, and either call for a vigorous scouring which is injurious to the sink or require much time in the use of hot water to dissolve the food until it comes off easily. Plumbers advise the use of soap and water with a bristle brush as the best means of keeping kitchen and bathroom equipment clean without scratching it. Kerosene at times, they say, will be useful because it loosens grease. If kerosene is used, it should be followed immediately by hot water, which eliminates the unpleasant odour. If a little household ammonia is added to soapy water, it will not only cut the grease but will leave a fresh and clean odour.

Too much cannot be said about taking care of plumbing fixtures when they are being installed in a new house. If these tubs and sinks and lavatories are carelessly moved into place they may be scratched and chipped, for though they may have an iron base, their surface cannot stand unlimited abuse. It is well to be around when the workmen are installing these fixtures and see that no plaster, paint, paste, or cleaning acid comes in contact with the enamel. Each piece should be thoroughly covered with old sheets, canvas or heavy paper to protect it until all of the interior finishings are complete. Although acid-resisting enamel which is offered now by most producers is, as its name implies, resistant to fruit and vegetable acids in most cases, nevertheless it is not guaranteed against cleaning acids, and often cleaning acids used by tile setters ,or other craftsmen can do a tremendous amount of damage to new plumbing. Taps, too, need proper care. Many times a tap looks dull when it is really not soiled but only smeared with soapy water from the hand that turned it. Just as a mirror or glass tumbler, though clean, will look very cloudy if not rinsed in hot water and thoroughly dried with a dry cloth, so metal taps will shine with an extra lustre if they are thoroughly washed with hot water and soap, and then, rubbed dry with a soft dry cloth.

Much of the trouble with tap leaks is caused by carelessness in shutting off the tap. Most taps in use to-day are of the compression type, in which the water is shut off when a rubber or composition washer is pressed against the metal seat of the tap. If a tap leaks, it may need a new washer or the seat may be worn out. In some taps the seat is an integral part and the value of the tap is destroyed when the seat is cut. Others have various types of renewable seats. The best prevention of trouble is to keep all taps completely shut off when not in use, because the consistent trickling of water on the washer and the seat eventually will wear a channel through both.

The part of the plumbing not so visible is nevertheless just as important and calls for just as careful attention. Drain pipes need not get stopped up or be slow-running. Regular use of drain pipe cleaner in the sink, lavatory, bathtub and laundry tub is recommended by plumbing contractors. No particles should be allowed to go down these pipes which are neither soluble in water nor easily divided into small particles by water. Newspaper scraps, withered flowers, rags, hair, matches and such things, plumbers say, should never be allowed to go through drain pipes, as they might easily cause a stoppage.