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My favorite DIY recipe is also my favorite nightly ritual – the Nightly Sink Scrub. If you are new here and haven’t seen this part of my daily routine, here’s how I mix it up. This little recipe will change your evening kitchen routine for the better. The best thing? It works on ANY sink type! Porcelain, stainless steel, acrylic, copper, stone, solid surface – scrub away!
The premise is that every night we reset the kitchen, put the dishes in the dishwasher, wipe up the counters and finally sprinkle a little sink scrub in the sink, add a squirt or two of dish soap and give the sink a good scrub and rinse.
This recipe also works as an all-purpose bathroom scrub – use it on sinks, faucets, tubs and showers. If you have a white sink or tub, add a little Oxygen Whitener to surface with the powder, scrub and rinse.
Gather your Ingredients:
- 2 cups of baking soda
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 10 drops clove essential oil
- castile or dish soap
- container with a lid or a shaker top
- sink safe scrub brush or sponge – look for one like this that you can toss the head in the dishwasher to sanitize as needed.
Mix up and Use:
- put baking soda in your container – I like using a mason jar
- add essential oils to the top of the baking soda
- stir and combine with a table knife
- wet your sink
- sprinkle liberally in your sink
- add a squirt or two of dish or castile soap
- scrub with a sink-safe scrubber
- rinse thoroughly
- dry with a cleaning cloth or air dry
You can grab both the Nightly Sink Scrub and Bathroom Scrub labels here in my shop.
Becky, I love this for my kitchen sink! How do I level it up for an OLD grimy tub?
Add a little Oxygen Whitener!
https://shop.cleanmama.com/collections/laundry/products/oxygen-whitener-lemon
Is this good for the tub as well? I love your DIYs; I follow you on IG and now I’m trying to recreate your solutions to do more eco-friendly home cleaning.
Absolutely!
Is there a specific reason for clove essential oil? Could I substitute another?
Absolutely!
Early last December I started your nightly kitchen clean-up routine, which includes doing the dishes since I don’t have a dishwasher, I am astounded and thrilled to wake up each morning to a clean kitchen., It starts off the day on such an up beat. I have “failed” twice in four months now and it is noticeable to me that cluttered kitchen counters cast a little shadow over the whole day. So, so worth the effort.! Thank you,
Hooray!
You are such a beautiful person! Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Love getting your posts. So many folks have tried stealing from you. But thank goodness they are not around anymore.
But you are! That’s because you are the source!!!
I almost brought your sale last week, but sadly when I got to the purchase agreement I had to choose to agreefor next cycle. And besides I don’t have a printer.
So for now I guess I would just like to thank you for sharing your genius with lucky us!
Thank you for all your inspirations, ideas, and talent! YOU ARE A GEM !
Thank you Kathy 🙂
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Can this be used on granite counter top in bathroom to help scrub off hair product residue?
Yes!
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How long does a batch of this last?
A week or two – it depends on how often you use it.
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Is there a benefit to using either one the two oils or is it just for smell?
It’s for smell but it’s really yummy and definitely worth trying 🙂
Is this suitable for getting rid of the hard water buildup in showers? If so, what would you use to scrub with other than a brush?
yes! White vinegar works well too 🙂
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Hi! I am loving all the recipes and the homekeeping society. Is there any reason I can’t MIX this recipe with the oxygen whitener in the jar? Just checking in case there is a chemical reaction I don’t know about. Thanks!
You can definitely do that!
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How much oxygen Whitener would you add to a recipe for bathroom shower tile and floors. Love your blog. Thanks
*
1 scoop : 4 cups warm water
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Can this be used to scrub the stove top as well? Thank you Becky!!
Yes!
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I have a stinky sink drain…I’ve tried vinegar, baking soda, and lemons and it is still stinky. What to do?
You might need to have a plumber clean it – there might be a blockage.
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What size mason jar would you recommend? Where can I purchase. Thank you so much. Love all your ideas. Made my life easier
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Love this! And the ingredients are what you would have in your cupboard anyway 🙂 🙂
I cannot wait to give it a try.
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Hi Becky
Does it matter what essential oils you use for the nightly sink scrub?
Thanks Bev
Nope!
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I add a little borax to mine! I think lemon basil would be wonderful in this as well! Presently I’m using orange EO. I put mine in an old Parmesan cheese container. It’s what I had on hand.
The men in my house use a manly smelling soap that leaves black, brown or tan residue (walls, floor and under soap dish). I’ve tried Borax, but the best thing I’ve found is equal parts Epsom Salts and dish soap. I mix it in a bucket and use a soft bristle brush to apply. Use microfiber cloths with water to rinse. “Magic”
Thank you, Becky! After cleaning for so many years, your system is helping me overcome the perfectionism/procrastination trap.