When it comes to keeping my home clean, I'd like to think I'm on the ball. But there's one spot that can go months without a proper scrub — the kitchen sink. Constant dishwashing means food stains frequently build up on the draining board, while unsightly watermarks creep down the sides of the sink. And don't even get me started on the tap — that's another area that rarely sees a cleaning cloth. This weekend, I decided enough was enough, and put two budget cleaning sprays head-to-head to find out which came out on top.
The Contenders
I popped down to my local Home Bargains to pick up the goods. Going in completely blind and selecting two products I'd never tried before, I chose the Pink Stuff multi-purpose cleaning spray and the Elbow Grease All Purpose Degreaser. Both are very wallet-friendly, with the Pink Stuff spray setting you back just 99p, while the Elbow Grease option was slightly dearer at £1.19.
To properly put each one through its paces, I used one spray on the draining board and the other on the sink and tap. Both were looking worse-for-wear after going uncleaned for longer than I'd care to admit, so I knew both sprays would need to pull their weight to shift the grime.
Elbow Grease Performance
First up, I decided to try the Elbow Grease spray on my sink basin and tap. I'd always assumed living in Scotland meant hard water wasn't much of a concern, but the stainless steel coated in chalky white marks told a different story. The spray is essentially a degreaser, boldly marketed as the 'only cleaner you'll ever need' on the bottle. It specifically states it can cut through grease on kitchen surfaces, so expectations were high.
It's straightforward enough to use too. Simply spray it over the affected area and wipe clean, though the bottle does note that stubborn spots may require a second application. At first, it appeared to perform well. The spray had a pleasant lemony fragrance, and after spraying and buffing it away the watermarks had vanished and the sink gleamed once more.
However, returning to the kitchen roughly 15 minutes later revealed that some of the marks had begun to reappear, and it was noticeably still fairly grimy. As mentioned, the bottle does advise that repeat applications may be necessary for stubborn marks. The stains didn't look too severe, so a second attempt seemed unnecessary at first, but going through the process again did manage to shift most of the blemishes. That said, it performed brilliantly on the tap, which was sparkling after just a single application.
Pink Stuff Performance
Turning to the Pink Stuff spray, which was put to the test on the draining board. Previously, I'd tried the Pink Stuff paste on my hob, with impressive results - though this was the first time trying out the spray, which had come highly recommended. According to the bottle: "Our versatile multi-purpose cleaning spray for hard surfaces is tough on stains, penetrates and removes grease and grime, leaving shiny clean results."
Using this product couldn't be simpler - just spritz, leave for a couple of seconds, then wipe with a damp cloth before finishing off with a dry one. With marks scattered across the draining board, including in the grooves, I fully expected to need several attempts. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the stains lifted away immediately, requiring virtually no scrubbing whatsoever. The spray has a wonderful scent too, which is always a plus.
The surface looked noticeably shinier after buffing away the product, which was impressive, but the real test was whether it would maintain that cleanliness shortly afterwards. I left it for the same amount of time, to keep the comparison fair. Upon returning, there was absolutely no competition - the draining board had kept its gleam, completely free of streaks.
Verdict
While both sprays clearly have their benefits, the Pink Stuff option would be my recommendation for achieving a spotlessly clean sink - and it's the more affordable choice too.
