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Kitchen Sink Care
General Care of Kitchen Sinks
Today, kitchen sink
bowls come in many
different materials.
Although enameled cast
iron remains an
attractive and durable
product, many people
today are choosing bowls
made of stainless steel,
and other solid surface
materials for their
added durability and
stain resistance.
Bowls are available in
Corian, Moenstone,
Swanstone, Surrell, and
others. The important
thing to remember is to
follow the manufacturers
instructions pertaining
to the material of which
your bowl is
constructed. With some
of the solid surface
materials, scratches can
be removed when lightly
sanded because the color
goes throughout the
thickness of the
material.
To prolong the life and
appearance of enameled
cast iron sinks, clean
the bowl immediately
after use. Use a
non-abrasive cleaner.
Constant use of abrasive
cleaners can eventually
wear the finish down,
making it much more
porous and susceptible
to stains. This can also
happen with enameled,
cast iron tubs over a
long period.
Don't allow fruit or
vegetable juices or
cleaning acids to stand
on surface. An
acid-resisting sink will
safely resist lemon,
orange, and other citrus
fruit juices, tomato
juice, mayonnaise, and
other vinegar
preparations if these
are not permitted to
remain more than a few
hours. A regular enamel
finish is not impervious
to acids.
Teas and coffee grounds
will also stain enameled
surfaces, if allowed to
remain very long.
Photographic solutions
are even more harmful to
enamel, and the amateur
photographer should not
be allowed to use the
sink, because a fixture
once damaged in this way
can never be corrected.
When cleaning the sink,
use hot water and soap.
Water and soap are not
as hard on the enameled
finish as strong
cleaning solutions like
washing soda or a gritty
abrasive. If a cleaner
is used, it should be
one that specifically
states that it is non-
abrasive.
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