The simple twist of a spoon could reveal why your kitchen sink looks spotless… but doesn’t always smell great.
Former Bake Off winner turned green cleaning guru Nancy Birtwhistle shared her latest tip on Instagram with her 714,000 followers this week and left many who saw it horrified.
Titled ‘Stinky Sink’, the clip saw The Lincolnshire baker, who won the 2014 series of The Great British Bake Off, showing off her brilliant “white and shiny” ceramic sink and stainless steel stopper.
He explained that some pong had been floating down the drain and proceeded to use a spoon to see if he could find out why.
Bake Off 2014 winner Nancy Birtwhistle regularly shares her home cleaning hacks on her Instagram page; and this week she revealed how spotless-looking kitchen sinks could harbor hidden “dirt.”
Highlighting two notches in the nut at the bottom of the sink, the cleaning genius inserted the end of the scoop into them and twisted them until the bottom of the sink came loose.
What was underneath was a thick layer of dirt and grime, and Nancy told viewers, “This is disgusting.”
Before cleaning out the “gunk,” he advised those who plan to try cleaning their own drains to first use a bucket placed under the sink to catch the debris.
The baking star then used her own homemade Basic Magic non-acidic cleaner to return the bottom of the sink to its former glory.
Those who tuned in to the show admitted they were traumatized by the thought of what could be lurking millimeters from their own sinks.
Birthwhistle’s sink before taking a spoonful and unearthing a horrible surprise.
Using a spoon, the Lincolnshire baker unscrewed the base of her sink and removed the screw for a closer look.
Sinking Under: Nancy Found the Source of the Smell Right Under the Sink
After placing a bucket under the sink, he set about removing the smelly mess.
One person wrote: ‘If this is yours I better buy the full PPE before inspecting mine!’
Another joked: “I just did this and I feel like I’ve opened the damn chamber of secrets.”
However, others offered a warning before taking a spoonful, saying that some sinks are structured differently and that disconnecting the base could dislodge the silicone sealant placed underneath to keep it airtight.
Birthwhistle has gained a cult following with her planet-friendly hacks, which include cleaning clothes with English ivy, using baking soda to replace dishwasher tablets, and shining oven racks by leaving them on wet grass.