Renovating a Sink

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 87, 21 February 1941, Page 45

Renovating a Sink

Dear Aunt Daisy, I wonder if you could assist me through The Listener in this little matter, as you have helped many of us in these minor problems? Our sink has been spoilt inside. by strong caustic soda solutions being poured through it often, to keep the drain healthy. Consequently about halfway up the surface is worn off and presents a dull slack appearance. Can you please tell me what we could do to improve it? Perhaps there is some preparation you can suggest which is waterproof.-" Pamela" (Pongaroa).

The only way to renew the smooth and shiny surface of your sink would be to paint it over with a good bath enamel. Most of the big paint firms manufacture one, which is not to be confused with ordinary enatnel, for it is specially prepared to withstand hot water. The process is quite easy-first be sure to clean off every scrap of grease, using turpentine, then put on two coats of " undercoating." and finally two coats of the Bath Enamel. When the last coat is thoroughly dry fill the sink first with cold water (NOT hot), and let it stand a little. The same method is used in reenamelling baths, which often lose their shiny surface after years of wrong treatment. I think you can get coloured Bath Enamel, too, to tone with the rest of the kitchen. I would advise using a little rubber mat at the bottom of the sink when washing up the dishes, to prevent any chipping off of the original enamel. as it is not quite as permanent or hard as the original enamel or porcelain finish, which is baked on in huge ovens at a very high temperature. CAUSTIC NOT FOR SINKS: This mistake of using caustic soda to keep sinks and sink-pipes clean is often made. It is much better to use ordinary washing soda, for caustic combines with the grease to form a hard soapy substance which blocks the drain instead of clearing it. A lump of washing soda placed over the plug-hole after washing up, and the hot tap run over it for a minute, to dissolve it, will be found excellent, but (Continued on next page)

(Continued from previous page) the almost universal use nowadays of a well known household cleanser (whose trade name I cannot give here), with which most people rub round sinks or baths after use, obviates the necessity of the soda, for it effectively cleans the pipe, too, as the water runs down it. Chloride of lime is another good thing for keeping the pipe clean, and a little dropped into it, and hot water trickled through, is a good practice. Kerosene is another good thing to use for a partially blocked sink-let some boiling water run in first, then a cupful of kerosene, and then more boiling water. As a preventative, many people pour a cupful of kerosene down the pipe the last thing at

night about once a month, and then flood with hot water the next morning. In any case, my plumber assured me, do not use caustic soda in your sink, but ordinary washing soda is very good indeed.