Avoid This Sink Color If You're Wanting A Low-Maintenance Home

Wouldn't it be great if your home cleaned itself? Maybe in the 22nd century. For now, your best option is to consider hiring a cleaning service or creating a short daily cleaning routine that will keep you on track without taking hours of your day. One of the easiest areas to mess up quickly is the kitchen sink. Frequent use, along with easily splattered substances and stubborn food remnants, can leave a freshly scrubbed sink looking dingy by the end of the day. But choosing the right material can make a huge difference in hiding the grunge until you have the chance to clean it again. Additionally, choosing the wrong color can leave you feeling like you can never keep it clean. Just like cars and T-shirts, if you get a white sink, you're almost asking for a constant cleaning challenge.

But it's not just the color that is the issue. Choosing a porous material for your sink, like stone, can lead to staining that goes deeper than just a surface splatter. Certain stones, like marble and granite, can lose their seals over time and end up absorbing stains, making them much more difficult to clean than non-porous materials like stainless steel or ceramic. If you wish to stick with a white sink, coated iron or fireclay can be a great option, as these materials are resistant to staining, scratching, and heat.

Regardless of the material, a white sink is going to be difficult to keep looking clean. So, to make it a bit easier on yourself, you may want to consider something that won't rat you out for every little speck. This comes down mainly to color. While granite is generally more porous, it can also be a good option if you choose something multicolored, as this will help camouflage any drips, drops, and splatters.

If you want a more affordable option, stainless steel is the way to go. While it doesn't have the camouflaging effect that busy granite does, it is very resistant to stains, scratches, and other wear, and it's easy to get clean quickly with a simple scrub and rinse. It's rust-resistant, ensuring long-term durability, and heat-resistant, so you don't have to worry about damage from hot pans or boiling water. The only thing stainless steel is particularly susceptible to is water staining — particularly if you have hard water. But you won't need toxic chemicals to do the trick — vinegar, baking soda, and olive oil are all great options for getting your stainless steel spotless once more. Plus, there are some low-maintenance tips and tricks to keep your stainless steel sink looking bright, shiny, and new as the day you installed it.