A Subway 3.0 double washbasin with silver-coloured taps in a bathroom with blue walls.

Cleaning the overflow on the washbasin

Reading Time: 5 minutes | Article from 11.7.2024

To prevent the water from overflowing, you should clean the sink overflow. You can find out how to do this here.

What is a washbasin overflow?How to clean your sink overflow Tips for preventing overflow blockages Further cleaning tips for your bathroom

At a glance

Dirt in the washbasin overflow can cause unpleasant odours.
Use household remedies to remove dirt.
As a preventative measure, you can use simple cleaning methods on a regular basis.

A white Subway 3.0 washbasin with a chrome tap.

What is the overflow on the washbasin?

The so-called overflow is the small hole on the back wall of the washbasin. The overflow also includes the cavity behind the washbasin. Excess water drains through this hole and ends up in the drain. This prevents the bathroom from flooding if you leave the tap unattended or forget to turn off the water. 

How to get your sink clean

If you want to clean the sink hole, household remedies are often the first choice. We tell you which household remedies are particularly suitable and what you can do to deal with stubborn blockages.

Clean the overflow with shaving foam

Shaving foam is an easy way to clean the hole in the sink. If you want to clean the overflow on the sink and use shaving foam, proceed as follows: Spray plenty of foam directly into the hole and leave it to work for a few minutes. Then rinse off the shaving foam with water. We recommend rinsing the water directly into the overflow. Finally, you can remove any visible dirt from the outside with a toothbrush.

Clear blockages in the sink overflow with baking soda

Another household remedy that you can use to clean the overflow hole on the sink is household baking soda. To clean the sink overflow, you will need baking soda, vinegar, a funnel and a bottle brush or toothbrush. Pour two tablespoons of baking soda into the overflow using the funnel and then add a small cup of household vinegar. Leave the mixture to work for ten to 20 minutes and then clean the surfaces with the brush. Rinse with plenty of cold water to remove any residue.

Clean the sink overflow with baking soda & vinegar in record time

In addition to baking powder, baking soda is also suitable for cleaning the drain at the overflow. You can proceed exactly as described above and simply replace the baking powder with baking soda. If you want to clean the overflow without baking soda but with vinegar, you will need an old, lint-free cloth. Soak it in household vinegar and stick it deep into the overflow hole. You should of course be able to pull it out again. Leave the vinegar to work for an hour, then remove the cloth and rinse with water. Attention: Ventilate well!

A white Subway 3.0 vanity washbasin in a bathroom with green walls.

A woman and a child washing a yellow wellington boot in a Subway 3.0 washbasin.

Keep the drain overflow clean as a preventative measure

The easiest way to prevent soiling and blockages is to make cleaning the sink overflow part of your regular routine. You can do this with simple household remedies. Another tip is not to dispose of any foreign objects via the hole in the sink. This includes fingernails, hair, cotton buds and much more.

More cleaning tips for your bathroom!

Would you like to know the best way to remove urine scale or clean your mixer tap? Villeroy & Boch has put together the most important tips for you.

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