A kitchen without a sink is like making an omelet without eggs. The sink is an important part of every kitchen and should be seen in that light. Proper maintenance is therefore important as doing otherwise can lead to a wide range of issues, including:
- Stain & Discoloration
- Rust & Corrosion
- Bacterial Growth & Contamination
- Clogs & Drain Blockage
- Decreased Lifespan
- Leaks and other forms of Water Damage
- Foul Odors
- Increased Repair Costs
- Water Spots & Mineral Buildup
- Scratches & Surface Damage
- Reduced Functionality
- Diminishing Aesthetic Appeal
By and large, these adverse implications affect the well-being of occupants, as well as the kitchen’s aesthetics and functionality. For insights on some of the mistakes leading up to these issues, you can visit: https://www.thekitchn.com/.
In the spirit of avoiding these issues, this article discusses some expert maintenance tips. Read on to find out about them.
Keeping Your Kraus Undermount Sink in Top Condition
For starters, undermount single-bowl kitchen sinks by Kraus are among the best around. Be that as it may, even the best deserves to be treated properly, which implies the need to properly maintain these sinks. Having established this, below are some expert tips for ensuring this:
1) Daily Cleaning
Quite a lot of activities go on in the kitchen sink. Some of the activities include:
- Dish Washing
- Food Preparation
- Water Disposal
- Soaking
- Handwashing
- Draining & Cleaning of Non-Food Products
- Baby & Pet Care
- Waste Food Disposal
All of these activities leave varying degrees of stains/dirt. As a result, daily cleaning is a necessity. By the way, daily cleaning entails:
Thorough Rinsing
This is aimed at washing off food particles and/or any other forms of debris. Doing this goes a long way in leaving the surface scratch & stain-free. Furthermore, water temperature can be the difference between a thoroughly rinsed sink or otherwise, which is why using warm water is preferable.
Use of Ideal Cleansing Products
Activities that could go on in kitchen sinks leave varying degrees of stains, which is why more than just warm water rinsing may be required in some cases. For example, while warm water rinsing may just be fine after draining & cleaning non-food products, a more thorough approach is required after waste food disposal.
When the need arises, you should be mindful of the kind of cleansing products used. Against this backdrop, options made using harsh chemicals should be avoided. The rule of thumb here is opting for non-abrasive cleaners.
Furthermore, you should use a soft cloth/sponge for grime/grease removal. This is instead of steel wool.
Drying
Your daily cleaning task is not completed until you have a completely dried sink. Doing this is especially important for preventing the formation of mineral deposits or water spots, at the very least. Bearing this in mind, a towel should be used for properly drying the surface.
By the way, some mild cleaning solutions are great for preventing and removing water spots. For example, there is the baking soda solution that involves the use of:
- Baking Soda/Sodium Bicarbonate
- Clean Warm Water
- Dry Towel
- Non-Abrasive Sponge
Of course, there is an ideal way to put all of these to use. You can click here for more insight into this.
2) Prevent Scratches
Remember that part of this article that mentioned how kitchen sinks by Kraus are among the best around? Well, there are clear reasons for that.
One such is how some of the products come with something known as a sink grid. Essentially, this is something that protects the sink’s bottom from scratches caused by pans, pots, and even utensils.
Using it is important and users who do not have it should seriously consider purchasing it. Caution is also of the essence when handling heavy items in or around the sink. The goal here is to prevent damaging or denting the sink.
3) Deep Cleaning
The emphasis here is on “deep cleaning” as what was discussed earlier was regular cleaning. Deep cleaning is something that should happen on a monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly basis, depending on how often the sink is used and to what extent it is used.
Special, effective, yet mild cleaning solutions should be used for this kind of cleaning. For example, baking soda and vinegar can be used, and here is how:
- Start by soaking your non-abrasive sponge in white vinegar.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the sink surface.
- Take out the white vinegar-soaked sponge and scrub the sink surface with it.
This is effective for removing stubborn stains that do not damage to the sink’s finish. Furthermore, it serves as a disinfectant, which is important for the kitchen. You can end it all by rubbing half a lemon, which helps with neutralizing odors and ensuring that the sink smells fresh.
4) Seal Inspection & Maintenance
There is a silicone seal that prevents leaks from the countertop to the undermount. This seal is important and should be treated as such. Anything capable of causing damage to this seal should therefore be avoided.
Furthermore, it has to be regularly inspected to ensure that it is intact. The slightest sight of gaps or cracks should be addressed. The reapplication of silicone should fix this issue. However, early detection is in your best interest before any/much damage is caused.
5) Prevent Stains
The whole point of regular and deep cleaning (as discussed above) is for stain prevention. Be that as it may, it is not a license to use the sink anyhow since it would eventually be cleaned. Acting in this manner is more like deciding to be exposed to pathogens since there are medications for effective treatment.
In light of this, foods, and liquids capable of causing stains and/or discoloration of the sink’s surface should be avoided. Tomato sauce, wine, and coffee are just to mention a few. Furthermore, you should be fond of rinsing the sink after use.
Conclusion
The maintenance tips discussed here are more effective with quality kitchen sinks. This is why options such as an undermount single bowl kitchen sink by Kraus come highly recommended. However, even such needs to be well maintained.
To this end, the tips discussed here should be put to good use. Overall, this contributes to improved kitchen aesthetics & functionality, as well as improved wellbeing of occupants.
