You've Been Using The Wrong Kind Of Strainer For Your Kitchen Sink

How many times have you been kitchen sink strainer shopping? Likely not many — it's one of those things that you buy once per home at most and then immediately forget about. But if you just went with whatever was easiest to find (or maybe even whatever was in your place when you moved in), you might be missing out on a better strainer that's cleaner, more functional, and makes more sense for your specific sink needs.

Sink strainers are a small but mighty little tool: They prevent food, packaging, and other debris from going down your drain and into your pipes, which leads to kitchen sink clogs and potentially pricey repairs (not to mention a stinky drain). The most common type is the basket strainer, a simple, removable metal basket with holes that seems to come with every rental kitchen by default. They're super popular and easy to clean.

But because the holes in a basket strainer usually aren't very small, they don't catch fine particles. They also don't let as much water through, so they can cause your sink to slow drain or even leave gross standing water to collect at the bottom of it. Likewise, dumping out the food in a basket strainer can be a disgusting process. Fortunately, other sink strainers are available that quickly eliminate these issues.

Beyond the standard basket strainer, there are a range of other options available. Double cup strainers have one removable cup and another that stays attached to the drain, so they offer double the straining power. Flange strainers feature a rubber rim that creates a seal and prevents water from bypassing the strainer itself. Some strainers attach to the sink, while others can be used as a stopper as well as a strainer.

One type that can make a big difference to your sink, especially if you're frustrated about build-up, is a mesh strainer. These are made of a fine wire mesh or sieve that's able to catch all kinds of debris while also letting more water through. Particles still occasionally get stuck in the mesh, but these strainers are better for your drain overall. If you use one with a rim, it's also easy to dump without touching what's inside.

If you don't want to deal with mesh, you can still get many of the same benefits by opting for any strainer that has more, smaller holes than a regular basket strainer. Some are made from silicone, such as the OXO Good Grips Silicone Sink Strainer, which is helpful because you can flip the strainer inside out to dump it — no need to touch any gross bits. Silicone strainers also tend to be dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.