How to Clean a Kitchen or Bathroom Sink with Bleach

Hand wearing green rubber glove wiping stainless steel kitchen sink with yellow microfiber cloth.

It’s easy to use Clorox™ Bleach to clean porcelain and stainless steel sinks in the kitchen or bathroom. Use as directed to safely rinse bleach down the sink drain.

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By Mary Gagliardi

When it’s time to clean your sink, the right bleach and water solution makes it easy. It’s as simple as mixing up the solution, wiping it on, waiting for the bleach to work, then rinsing it off. You can even mix up the bleach solution right in the sink where you will be using it. And because Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach is safe for septic systems, you can clean and disinfect all your sinks with confidence. 

If you want a germ-killing cleaning solution with the convenience of a ready-to-use spray, try Clorox™ Clean-Up™ Cleaner + Bleach. Just remove excess dirt, and spray Clean-Up™ Cleaner 4–6 inches from the surface until thoroughly wet. Let stand for 30 seconds, then rinse or wipe clean. The trusted disinfecting power you need, all in a convenient spray.

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How to clean your sink with bleach

Follow these simple steps and make it easy to use Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach to clean and disinfect kitchen and bathroom sinks.

For use on hard, nonporous surfaces. Do not use on aluminum, chipped or cracked enamel, copper, brass, silver or unsealed wood, marble, tile or granite.

What you need

Steps to clean a sink with bleach

  1. Rinse the sink

    Use clean water to rinse all the surfaces in the sink, including the fixtures.

    Water pouring into and down the drain of stainless steel sink.

  2. Plug the drain

    Pull up on the stopper or install the drain cover. For combination strainer/covers, close the strainer so no water flows through.

    Tip

    If your drain cover is missing, you can make one using plastic wrap and a saucer. Lay a large square of plastic wrap over the drain, then set the saucer over the plastic wrap to seal the drain.

    Stainless steel drain cover in a wet kitchen sink.

  3. Mix the bleach and water solution

    Use the measuring cup to add 1 gallon of cool water to the sink, then add 1/3 cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach.

    Tip

    You can mix the solution in a plastic bucket if you prefer. This is a good option when cleaning multiple sinks at the same time.

    Close-up of a white bottle pouring out clear liquid, and stream of water from upper right.

  4. Wipe sink surfaces

    Use the scrubber sponge to wipe the sink bowl and the fixtures with the bleach and water solution. Re-wipe as needed to keep surfaces wet for 6 minutes to disinfect.

    Hand with light green rubber glove cleaning stainless steel kitchen sink with soapy yellow sponge.

  5. Drain and rinse

    Remove the drain cover and allow the bleach solution to drain away. Rinse the sponge with clean water before using it to wipe the sink and fixtures with clean water.

    Water pouring into and down the drain of stainless steel sink.

  6. Air dry

    Skip drying with a towel and instead let surfaces air dry.

    open window ventilation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this solution to clean countertops at the same time?

Yes, as long as your countertop is made of a bleach-safe material like sealed granite or glazed ceramic tile. Don’t use the solution on marble countertops or porous tile.

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How to Clean Countertops with Bleach

Is it safe to put bleach in a kitchen sink?

Yes, as long as the sink is made of a material that is safe for bleach like porcelain, sealed granite or stainless steel. If your sink is made of marble or copper, check the use and care guide provided by the manufacturer to see what cleaning products are recommended.

Is bleach safe for septic systems?

Yes — you can safely use Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach even if your home has a septic system. Because bleach breaks down rapidly into salt and water in the presence of organic matter, bleach degrades very quickly in a septic system.

Can I use Clorox™ Clean-Up™ Cleaner + Bleach?

Yes, Clorox™ Clean-Up™ Cleaner + Bleach is great for cleaning most hard, nonporous surfaces when used as directed. Start by removing excess dirt, then spray Clean-Up™ Cleaner 4–6 inches from the surface until thoroughly wet. Let stand for 30 seconds, then rinse or wipe clean.