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I cleaned my sink with Pink Stuff and Elbow Grease one made it look brand new

The two sprays were put head-to-head on their kitchen sink here's which budget cleaner came out on top and removed months of dirt.

[Pink stuff and elbow grease spray]

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Out of the two sprays, there was a clear winner(Image: Nicola Roy)

When it comes to keeping my home clean, I like to think I'm fairly on top of things. But there's one area that can go months without a good clean - the kitchen sink.

Endless dishwashing means food residue regularly builds up on the draining board, while unsightly watermarks gradually appear down the sink's sides. And don't even mention the tap - that's another zone that rarely sees a cleaning cloth.

Recently, I decided enough was enough, and pitted two budget cleaning sprays against each other to discover which performed best.

I nipped down to my local Home Bargains to grab the products. Going in completely blind and choosing two items I'd never tested before, I selected the Pink Stuff multi-purpose cleaning spray and the Elbow Grease All Purpose Degreaser.

[Dirty sink]

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My whole sink was looking in need of a clean(Image: Nicola Roy)

Both are incredibly budget-friendly, with the Pink Stuff spray costing just 99p, while the Elbow Grease option was slightly pricier at 1.19.

To thoroughly test each one, I applied one spray to the draining board and the other to the sink and tap. Both were looking shabby after remaining uncleaned for longer than I'd like to admit, so I knew both sprays would need to work hard to eliminate the dirt.

Elbow Grease

First up, I opted to test the Elbow Grease spray on my sink basin and tap. I'd always presumed living in Scotland meant hard water wasn't particularly problematic, but the stainless steel covered in chalky white deposits suggested otherwise.

The spray is essentially a degreaser, boldly marketed as the 'only cleaner you'll ever need' on the bottle. It specifically says it can cut through grease on kitchen surfaces, so expectations were high.

It's simple enough to use as well. Just spritz it over the affected area and wipe clean, though the bottle does note that stubborn spots may require a second application.

[Clean sink]

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The spray worked fine, but I was expecting better(Image: Nicola Roy)

Initially, it seemed to do the job well. The spray carried a pleasant lemony scent, and after applying and buffing it away, the watermarks had disappeared and the sink was gleaming once more.

However, heading back into the kitchen around 15 minutes later revealed that some of the marks had started to return, and it was noticeably still a bit grimy.

As previously mentioned, the bottle does advise that repeat applications may be needed for particularly stubborn marks. The stains didn't appear too severe, so a second attempt initially seemed unnecessary, but going through the process again did manage to shift the majority of the blemishes.

That said, it worked brilliantly on the tap, which was left sparkling after just a single use.

Pink Stuff

Moving on to the Pink Stuff spray, which was put to the test on the draining board. Previously, the Pink Stuff paste had been tried on the hob with impressive results though this was the first time testing 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 is straightforward - simply spritz, leave for a couple of seconds, then wipe with a damp cloth before finishing with a dry one. With marks spread across the draining board, including within the grooves, I fully expected needing multiple attempts.

[Clean draining board]

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On the other hand, the Pink Stuff spray worked instantly(Image: Nicola Roy)

I was pleasantly taken aback, however, to discover the stains lifted away instantly, requiring next to no scrubbing at all. The spray also boasts a lovely fragrance, which is always a welcome bonus.

The surface appeared noticeably more gleaming after buffing away the product, which was impressive, but the real question was whether it could sustain that cleanliness shortly afterwards. I left it for the same duration, to keep the comparison on equal terms.

On returning, there was no contest - the draining board had retained its shine, entirely free of streaks. While both sprays clearly offer their own benefits, the Pink Stuff option would be my top pick for achieving a spotlessly clean sink - and it happens to be the more budget-friendly choice as well.

[Nicola Roy]

Nicola Roy

Nicola is a multimedia content creator for the Under 35 Spare Time team. She previously worked as a senior journalist for the same team within the Content Hub, a Trends Writer at the Daily Record covering all things Scotland, and a commercial Content Writer at Reach publications throughout the UK, working with clients to deliver paid-for campaigns that shone a light on local businesses, charities and innovation. Now, specialising in the U35 demographic, she creates engaging written and video content across multiple Reach PLC sites and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Nicola's expertise ranges from the latest cooking hacks to viral cleaning techniques, taste tests, UK travel and gardening. If you think you have a story on lifestyle, food, cleaning or life hacks, get in touch by emailing: Nicola.Roy@reachplc.com

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