When Buying A Stainless Sink. Do You Know What To Look For?Stainless sinks are by far the most popular kitchen sink. It's popularity is because of the ease of cleaning as well as the vast selection. The price is also a major contributor to it's popularity. Stainless steel doesn't oxidize or rust like normal steel because when the chromium atoms come in contact with the air they combine to form a thin (2-3 atoms thick) protective layer. When it comes to the quality of a stainless sink two factors must be taken into consideration. Thickness, and type. Type 302 stainless is standard but lesser grades of stainless are also available. Thickness is measured in gauge (higher numbers lower thickness), 18-20 gauge is standard with 14-16 in the high end as well as gauges as low as 26 in the lower end. Stainless sinks are noisier compared to other sinks. Sound deadening materials are sprayed on the underside of the mid to high end sinks to lessen the noise. Sound deadening also gives some insulating value to the sink as well. Sink depths in stainless range from 6" to 10". The deeper the sink the thicker the material should be. There are also choices in having two and even three different depths in the same sink. As well as having varying shapes in the same sink. By far the most popular configuration is the stainless steel double bowl kitchen sink. These sinks can also have two different size bowls in the same sink. One can be say 60% of the width and the smaller bowl 40%. Of course there are many more sizes and configurations than this in the stainless steel double bowl kitchen sinks. Durability is great with these sinks. In the lower gauges a dropped pot in the sink will have little impact. A sink with a gauge of 26 would dent easily though. A dent in a sink is very difficult if not impossible to fix. Cleaning is a breeze with stainless sinks. If the sink has a highly polished surface, abrasive cleaners will scratch it make the finish look dull. A stainless steel cleaner will bring back the original finish, but not remove scratches. The costs range from $90 to well over $600. The thicker and higher quality steel, as well as the style and shape, contribute to the cost. These sinks are available in under mount and self rimming. Under mount sinks mount to the underside of the countertop, and because of this a solid surface countertop needs to be used. A self rimming sink mounts on top of the counter and is secured from underneath by tabs that extend out to grab onto the counter's underside. For a self rimming sink any countertop material can be used. Stainless steel sinks offer a wide range of qualities and shapes. It is easy to see why these sinks are so popular. The durability is good and the ease of cleaning is unmatched. When selecting a stainless steel sink keep all of these tips in mind so you can get the best bang for your buck.
Stainless Steel Sink CleanersThe best way to keep your new (or older) sink looking in tip top shape is to clean it occasionally with a cleaner made specifically for stainless steel.You may have heard, or read, that using chlorine bleach to clean stainless sinks is a good way to clean it. WRONG, don't use bleach because it's very damaging to stainless steel. The properties of the chlorine, when used in high concentrations, will pit the stainless. Granted it may take years for this to happen but over time the sink will suffer, and you will eventually have to replace it. If you really want to use bleach to clean and sanitize the sink only use it in very low concentrations. But using a mild dishwashing detergent that is antibacterial will accomplish the same thing, plus it smells much better than bleach. Stainless steel sink cleaners are specially formulated to clean the sink without damaging it. These cleaners can also be used on stainless utensils and appliances. Deep scratches will not be removed from the sink by these cleaners. Deep scratches are almost impossible to remove without damaging the sink. If you decide on a polished sink the scratches will be very noticeable, and less noticeable in a brushed finish sink. Stainless Steel Sink Protectors Will Protect Your InvestmentA stainless steel sink protector is a good idea if you would like to prevent scratches and dents in the bowl area of your sink.Most of these protectors are made from stainless themselves, so they keep with the look of the stainless sink. Also remember to not buy a sink protector that is of a different metal than your sink. The dissimilar metals will react with each other and stains will form. These stains will be impossible to remove. The mat type stainless steel sink protectors are very reasonable in price but do not last as long as the wire stainless types of protectors. So keeping an extra one on hand is a good idea. After all they only cost around $7 each so it won't break the bank Return From Stainless Sinks To Home Page
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