You should take extra care when cleaning your sink. Every inch of your bathroom must be scrubbed, cleaned, and deodorized. You may think your bathroom is clean from the inside out. But, you might have forgotten one important feature of every sink: The sink overflow hole.
Most people don't know about the sink overflow hole. You may not have considered this feature important or purposeful. It is possible that you have not noticed it. This is false. The overflow hole acts as a drain when the water level in the sink approaches its maximum capacity.
What is a Bathroom Sink overflow Hole?
The sink overflow is usually located under the faucet to prevent water from spilling onto the floor when the sink is full. The sink overflow hole is typically placed just a few inches below the sink's full capacity. Also, the bathroom sink overflow hole introduces air into the sewer line. This creates a suction that allows water to drain faster.
The sink can quickly overflow and splash all over your bathroom without an overflow valve. This is because the water drains faster than the faucet. Without an overflow drainage system, sewage from clogged pipes could also seep into your floors.
TIP: Many sinks come with caps or stoppers that cover the overflow holes. This allows the homeowner to fill the sink as necessary.
The Major Causes of Dirt
The overflow hole is often overlooked and is not well cleaned. Overflow holes can become clogged with dirt and mold, eventually leading to grime. The overflow hole is often left unattended, so debris can stick to its walls or sides and become dry and crusty. Many bacteria can be found in the overflow hole, which could pose a threat to your health.
A dirty overflow hole can be caused by general dust particles, organic material, food, or other materials that get into the sink, as well as oils that have congealed over time from lotions and conditioners.
Overflow holes are also home to mold. Mold and mildew colonies thrive in the warm, dark, humid environment of an overflow hole. These organisms can cause allergies or make you sick if you inhale their pollen.
How to clean a soiled bathroom sink overflow hole
The bathroom sink overflow hole is located in a moist environment and can produce mold and mildew, which can cause musty odors. You may also experience foul odors from organic material such as food waste and congealed oils from lotions and conditioners.
You should clean the overflow hole regularly, just like you would any other bathroom fixture. This will prevent unpleasant odors from escaping from your sink. To remove mold colonies and loosen grime buildup around the overflow, make sure you scrub it clean. You will need to clean the overflow hole with a few household staples.
What you will need:
White Vinegar, not Apple Cider, can stain the sink.
Baking soda
Boiling water or warm water
To withstand extreme temperatures, Silicone or Metal Funnel
Flexible Pipe Tube Brush or Drain Brush
Clean the Overflow Hole
You can pour 1 cup of baking soda in the overflow hole using a silicone funnel or a metal funnel. Continue to pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the overflow hole. Do not stir as it will cause a fizzy reaction.
This fizzy reaction has acidic properties that lift dirt from surfaces and make them easier to scrub.
The solution can also be used to deodorize your drainage system, eliminating any foul odors.
Allow the ingredients to sit for about 15-20 minutes. Then, you can use a pipe tube toothbrush to clean any areas of the sink that are accessible.
Add a steady flow of boiling, hot water. If your sink is made of ceramic, stone, or porcelain, skip this step as the boiling water could cause damage to your sink.
You can repeat the process as many times as necessary to remove all traces of odors from the sink.
Allow the boiling water to cool down just enough to warm the resin and plastic sinks before pouring it into the sink overflow.
Before you start, make sure to check the instructions of the manufacturer if your sink has a stopper or cap. To clean the cap completely, make sure you brush it.
To remove any mold growth from the stopper, use the same baking soda/vinegar solution.
Rinse thoroughly and let the cap dry before putting it back on the overflow hole.
If your plastic stopper is made of plastic, do not boil water.
A clean sink is a clean bathroom
Sinks are much more maintenance-free than toilets and require almost no cleaning. A sink can become just as filthy as other bathroom features due to its constant use and exposure to moisture. Although regular cleaning of the surface is a good idea, homeowners need to take extra care with the maintenance of their septic systems.
