Nothing is more frustrating when you’re washing dishes than finally clearing out the sink only to find that the sink itself is now completely filthy. Some sinks make this type of cleaning much harder than others, which can lead to some serious health concerns and threaten the lifespan of your sink. Read on to find out what you should look for in a new kitchen sink when it comes to making cleaning it easier.
Materials Used
This is definitely going to be the biggest thing that affects how easy it is for you to clean your sink. Some materials are very porous, which means that they have tiny microscopic holes in them that can soak up grease and colors from foods and other liquids and hold on to them. It might end up causing some unsightly stains, or it could create a buildup of germs and bacteria. Either way, it’s going to make cleaning a serious pain.
Stainless steel sinks are excellent at fighting off stains and don’t hold on to food debris, which makes it much easier to keep your kitchen sink sanitary. If you decide to buy a sink made out of a different material, look for one that specifically states that it is made out of a nonporous substance.
Special Coating
Most of the time, you’re going to encounter details about special coatings to prevent stains or scratches on metal sinks. This is because metal is much easier to treat with these processes, and it’s able to keep the effects of the treatments for a very long time. Some other types of sinks can also have special coatings, but they may not last the entire life of the sink.
You might see manufacturers refer to a satin finishing process that helps prevents scratches, which is also important in keeping your sink clean because scratches can quickly become reservoirs for germs. In metal sinks, scratches can also start to rust over time when exposed to water, which will definitely make your sink hard to clean and potentially even break.
Rounded Corners
This is one aspect of kitchen sinks I never even thought about until I started all of my researching, but it totally makes sense. A sink with rounded corners on the inside is going to be easier to clean than one with tight corners because you can easily wipe them out with a brush, sponge, or even a paper towel. Tight corners can hold on to food, which can cause staining and even mold growth if it’s not removed.
About the Drain
Some models of sinks are also making changes to the draining process to help make it easier to keep them clean. For example, a large single bowl sink might put the drain at the back to reduce splashing that would cause food particles to fly up and around the sink area. It might also put a bit of a slope on the bottom of the sink leading into the drain to help the water drain more easily. When water pools up on the bottom of the sink, it encourages the growth of bacteria that can make your dishes even dirtier, or make you sick if you aren’t careful.
One Last Piece of Advice
If you really care about keeping your sink clean, and making the whole process of cleaning it easier, make sure to check what kinds of cleaners you can use with the sink. Some cleaners are very harsh and abrasive, which might seem like a good idea for cleaning but can actually damage the sink and compromise its designed ability to fight stains or prevent rusting.
