Keeping the kitchen sink tidy can help to encourage similar tidiness throughout food-preparation zones, it has been claimed. Writing for Lifehacker, Jason Fitzpatrick noted that kitchen sink areas can easily foster bacteria and offered four steps to keep basins cleaner. Firstly, empty the kitchen sink of all the pots and pans, he said, before putting the plug in and filling it with water and bleach. Wearing dish gloves during the plug removal and the subsequent steps is highly recommended to protect your skin, Mr Fitzpatrick advised. Once this has been rinsed several times, he commented, scrub the kitchen sink with a green scouring pad if it is stainless steel or a lighter duty material if made from something softer. Homeowners were finally advised to dry kitchen sink areas with a dishtowel to remove any water spots.People whose kitchen sinks are beyond repair may consider buying a new one, with interior designer George Bond recommending a swap as a cost-effective upgrade, the Journal reported last month.