The Germiest Spot in Your Kitchen You’re Probably Forgetting to Clean

There comes a time during dish-washing duty when you have to empty your sink strainer. After a few minutes of catching bits of food scraped off of plates and cups, you probably pause to tap it on the edge of your trash can, eliminating the buildup. Now that it’s empty once again, you can continue washing and rinsing.

But after several nights of this, that strainer has probably gotten pretty grimy. “Sink strainers are notorious for hoarding food debris, grease, and biofilm that can produce odors and even slow drains if not properly maintained,” explains Sofia Martinez, CEO of Sparkly Maid Austin.

So what’s the best way to clean it? We asked professional cleaners to share their methods for getting sparkling clean sink strainers. Here’s what they had to say.

Sprinkle Some Baking Soda

If you have baking soda in your pantry, you can give this method a whirl. Place the strainer in a bowl, then generously sprinkle baking soda over it. Pour hot water into the bowl, submerging the strainer. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the baking soda to soften any gunk. Then, rinse it off and scrub it with dish soap and a toothbrush or bottle brush. (According to Martinez, the latter can reach through the holes better than flat brushes.)

Scrub It with Bar Keepers Friend

If your strainer has visible buildup (or is just plain smelly), Martinez suggests using Bar Keepers Friend. “Unlike most cleansers—which are really just soaps—it’s infused with oxalic acid and targets both mineral deposits and food-based discoloration,” she says.

If the grime is really caked on, she says you can make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend and water. Spread it on the strainer, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it with a brush.

Throw It in the Dishwasher 

If your strainer doesn’t have rubber parts, you can toss it in the dishwasher. Just make sure to place it on the top rack. Alicia Sokolowski, CEO of AspenClean, an all-natural cleaning product and services company, reasons this is the easiest and most hands-off way to get it clean, but Martinez says it shouldn’t be used for more intense buildup.

“This isn’t as good as manual cleaning when it comes to crevice buildup, so for convenience I recommend alternating hand cleaning as well,” Martinez notes.

Make a Vinegar Spray

To prevent situations where you’re continuously scraping layers of food off your strainer, it’s best to keep up with weekly maintenance.

“Of all the dozens I’ve tried in clients’ homes, my preferred approach is one that balances effectiveness with practicality: a weekly cleaning with vinegar spray and a monthly deep cleaning using a paste of baking soda and 3% hydrogen peroxide,” Martinez says. Both methods disinfect, clean, and deodorize without damaging the strainer over time. “I prefer it because it’s food-safe—[the ingredients] are found in nature and most folks have them on hand,” she adds.

In between weekly washes, she recommends rinsing your strainer with hot water for about 30 seconds after washing your dishes. This removes residue before it can congeal, she says and can extend the time in between full-on scrubbings.