How to Clean Sink Mats
Placed underneath your dish drying rack or in the bottom of your sink, a sink mat keeps your counter dry and free from water damage after washing dishes and protects your sink from getting marked up. Eventually, dirt, water and mildew build up on the sink mat, leaving an unsightly and smelly mess. There's no need to throw the mat away and replace it with a new one. Follow a few simple steps and your sink mat will be clean and odor-free again.
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Sprinkle powdered cleaner with bleach onto the surface of the sink mat. Straight bleach is too harsh for the rubber, as it causes it to eventually dry and crack.
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Scrub both sides of the sink mat with a dampened cleaning cloth to remove dirt, mold and mildew. Add more cleaner if necessary to remove all the grime. Rinse off your cleaning cloth in the sink from time to time, so you're not spreading the dirt around.
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Rinse both sides of the sink mat, in the sink, with cool water. Check to see if any dirt or mildew remains. If it does, you can repeat the process of cleaning it with additional cleaner until the sink mat is free of dirt and mildew.
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Wipe the sink mat with a dry towel and then let air-dry.
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Prevent your sink mat from drying and cracking by rubbing a little baby oil into the rubber. Let the mat sit for an hour, then wash it off with dish soap and water so any baby oil not absorbed into the rubber doesn't get on your dishes.
References
Tips
- Prevent mildew or mold build-up on your sink mat by always propping it up after use so it can dry thoroughly on both sides.
Warnings
- Some people have mold allergies. Prevent allergic reactions by keeping your sink mat clean.
Writer Bio
Mary Ylisela is a former teacher with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and mathematics. She has been a writer since 1996, specializing in business, fitness and education. Prior to teaching, Ylisela worked as a certified fitness instructor and a small-business owner.
Photo Credits
- washing dishes image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
- woman washing dishes in the kitchen image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
- different colored washcloths face cloths on yellow background image by Steve Johnson from Fotolia.com
- water in a sink image by terex from Fotolia.com
- bottle of oil image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
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