If there’s one area where I’ve resisted natural cleaning methods, it has to be my kitchen sink. In my mind, I a dirty sink NEEDS chemical abrasive things to get truly clean. There’s no way that some gentle natural cleaner would get rid of all the stains. So while switching to a zero waste, natural all purpose cleaner of just vinegar and water in a spray bottle was easy, I stubbornly clung to my remaining can of AJAX powder cleaner. I wasn’t going to buy a new can of AJAX, but I sure was going to stretch that one can as far as it could go. And then, I ran out.

I reluctantly looked up natural sink and tub cleaners and it seemed like everyone recommended plain old baking soda. I took my glass jar of baking soda out of the pantry (I buy mine in bulk at Berkeley Bowl), and sprinkled a little on the bottom of my sink. I let it sit for a few minutes and then squirted some castile soap over it for good measure. Then, I took my scrub brush and got to work.

I WAS IMPRESSED. With just two ingredients my sink was bright and sparkly clean, I didn’t even have to scrub hard. Dare I say it cleaned as good as AJAX, maybe even better! And, no more nasty chemicals in the bottom of my sink touching dishes, kitchen brushes and cutlery. I was always a little horrified that the AJAX residue was directly touching things I was putting into my mouth. Look at these before and after photos:

So here it is, 2-ingredient zero waste and all natural sink (and tub) cleaner:

2-Ingredient DIY Zero Waste Sink Cleaner

WHAT YOU NEED

• Baking soda
• Castile soap, or other dish soap
• Scrub brush

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wet your sink
2. Generously sprinkle bottom and sides of sink with baking soda
3. Let it sit for 10 minutes
4. Squirt castile soap around sink
5. Use a scrub brush to remove residue
6. Rinse and admire your clean sink!