Is Installing A Mop Sink In Your Home Really Worth It?

If you've ever seen a sink in the hallway of a house, your first thought may have been confusion, followed by curiosity about why it's there. A mop sink is a small sink that usually sits close to the floor. It is not part of a bathroom or mudroom but might be hidden away in a hallway corner or alcove. A relic of older times, the majority of these types of sinks were added in to make cleaning easier for housekeepers. However, they're often not worth purchasing today due to high costs and the inconvenience of installing them.

A sink in the hallway allows for dirty water to be emptied out and fresh water to be put in the mop bucket to speed up the cleaning process. Housekeepers often had a lot of ground to cover in not much time, and this shortcut would have helped immensely. Because of their historical use and the above downsides, it's much more likely that you'll find a mop sink in an older home rather than a newer build. 

Mop sinks are an unlikely sight in modern homes due to housekeepers not being as common anymore and changing interior design trends. Nowadays, you're more likely to see them in commercial places for fast and efficient cleaning. If you want to install a mop sink yourself, the main benefit is its intended purpose: to make cleaning easier. If you don't have a large area downstairs to clean or only have a narrow hallway, this feature won't serve much use. 

Moreover, costs can quickly add up. A modern mop sink (which is essentially a utility sink) will cost anywhere from $50 to $500 depending on the material it's made from, its size, and its style. Don't forget about installation, either. Hiring a plumber starts at approximately $200, and this price could go up depending on any number of factors. A mop sink will also take up a good amount of wall space and could be expensive if additional plumbing needs to be put in. As mentioned, most of the styles manufactured nowadays are made for businesses, meaning they don't have an aesthetic look to them (unless you search for a vintage style, which, again, could be pricey).

If you live in an older house that has a mop sink and don't want to get rid of it but are struggling to think of a productive way to use it, try the following ideas. Firstly, your mop sink could function as a built-in hydration station for your pets. To achieve this, simply make sure any drainage is shut off while your pets have access to the sink and fill it with water. This idea will work best if the sink is low to the ground so your pets can easily access the water you put in for them.

Another good way to utilize a mop sink is as an indoor planter. To achieve this, disconnect the mop sink from any plumbing entirely to prevent soggy plants and an overflow of water. Then, simply add either real or fake plants to the sink. You could add flowers, though they would have to be the kind that thrive in pots and small spaces (as would any plants). Putting plants in unusual places always looks cool, and you could tie in the design with the rest of your hallway by choosing pots in similar colors.