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How To Install A Kitchen Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

The kitchen sink is an essential element of any household. Food is prepared, dishes are washed, flower vases are filled, and food is disposed of in the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink can be installed above the counter, below the counter, or even as a seamless part of the counter itself.

How to install a Kitchen Sink: Step-by-Step

1. Buy a sink that will fit the existing opening. (You can buy a sink that’s slightly bigger than the opening, but it may be difficult to enlarge the hole.) Buy the rest of the supplies you’ll need and get everything ready to go. If you’re replacing a cast-iron sink, be sure to have some extra muscle on hand to help manage the weight.

2. Clear out the sink cabinet and crawl in there with a flashlight. Locate the clips that secure the sink and its rim to the countertop. Remove them and disconnect the supply and drain plumbing.

3. With your helper holding the sink from above, push up on the old sink from underneath. You may have to run a putty knife around the perimeter to loosen the old caulk seal. With the old sink removed, test-fit the new one.

4. Prepare the new sink by installing the faucet according to the manufacturer’s directions. Two common sink installation mistakes are, one, forgetting to clean the new sink thoroughly before installing and, two, forgetting to install the new faucet before installing the new sink.

Factory-fresh stainless steel sinks smell awful, so it’s best to scrub them down outdoors. And it’s a lot easier to install the faucet before you install the sink, for at this stage, the mounting nuts are more accessible. While you’re at it, install all accessories too, including sprayer and detergent dispenser mounts.

5. When installing the faucet and sprayer bases, apply a ribbon of plumber’s putty first.

6. Apply caulk under the sink rim and seat it in the opening.

7. Install the drain and tail pipe, seating it in caulk or using the supplied gasket—whichever method is recommended by the manufacturer.

8. Install the new clips, then reconnect the supply lines and drain pipes. If using flexible supply hoses (recommended), don’t reuse the old ones. The rubber gasket that seals the connection may have hardened over the years and may not seat properly to the new faucet’s tailpieces.

9. Finally, turn on the water and run it for several minutes. Check for leaks at all connections, especially at the tubing, around the drain, and around the trap.

How To Unclog A Kitchen Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 4:13 PM How do you unclog a kitchen sink , How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Drain 0 Comments

A clogged kitchen sink can be a nightmare in the kitchen. Here are professional tips on how to unclog a kitchen sink. The following steps show how to unclog a kitchen sink by starting with the easiest method and progressing to a more involved process for difficult stoppages.

Using one or all of these methods should be enough to clear the majority of kitchen sink stoppages.

Plunger

The first step to clearing a clogged kitchen sink is to use a plunger. A clogged kitchen sink drain can often be cleared with a common household plunger. The key to clearing a sink clog with a plunger is knowing how to use the plunger correctly. Try clearing the stoppage by plunging both sides of the kitchen sink.

Although using a plunger may appear to be self-explanatory it is possible to use it incorrectly. If you learn the correct way to use a plunger it can become a very effective tool. A plunger, used correctly, can clear many of the most common drain stoppages in the home.

Note: Using the right plunger for the job is a good way to ensure that you can clear the stoppage. It’s a good idea to have a plunger for each type of drain handy.

Remove The Trap

When you have a stubborn kitchen sink clog that cannot be cleared with a plunger the next step is to remove the trap. The shape of the trap serves an important purpose, but it can easily become clogged with debris washed down the sink drain. Removing the drain trap will give you direct access to the clog making it easy to clear it out.

If the clog is not at the trap itself you can visually inspect the surrounding pipe. With the trap removed you look inside the pipe that sits before and after the trap to determine if the clog is somewhere you can see. If you can see the clog it is easy to clear it out. If you cannot see the clog, then the blockage is further down the drain pipe.

Drain Snake

When a kitchen sink clog cannot be cleared by using a plunger or by removing the trap the next thing to do is to snake the drain. While there are various drain machines to choose from the best option for a kitchen sink drain is the mini-rooter or medium drain machine.

Most people do not own drain snakes since they are not inexpensive to purchase and they are not used often enough in the average household to make the purchase worthwhile. Fortunately drain machines can be rented by the day and the rental fee is usually quite affordable.

Note: In a pinch you can try using a top snake to clear a clogged kitchen sink drain. Usually a top snake is not a good option for a kitchen sink stoppage because the cable is not very long. A top snake may be all you need if the clog is not too far down the drainpipe and it is not too compacted.

Drain Cleaner

If clogs are a common occurrence for your kitchen sink it may be a good idea to use a mild drain cleaner on a regular basis. When you notice that the kitchen sink is draining slowly using a drain cleaner may prevent a complete blockage. This simple preventive measure can save you time and frustration down the road. A mild household cleaner is all you need to help keep the drain pipes clean.

How to Avoid Clogs in the Future

1. Don’t ever pour grease down your garbage disposal. Seriously, do everything you can to avoid letting grease get in your pipes. Pour used cooking grease into cans and dispose of in the garbage. Then wipe pans with paper towels before washing.

2. Be gentle on your garbage disposal. Don’t use it as a trash can. Scrape plates into the garbage before rinsing or washing.

3. Never put starchy or fibrous items in the garbage disposal. Avoid: potato peels, pasta, rice, banana peals, coffee, egg shells

4. Clean your pipes with baking soda regularly to prevent buildup. Pour 1cup baking soda into drain, use a spatula to force it in there if you need to.

5. Use the baking soda/vinegar method on a regular basis to clean pipes. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into drain, use a spatula to force it in there if you need to. Pour 1cup vinegar down the drain and quickly cover the drain with a drain cover to force the vinegar and baking side to the clog. Hold it in place until the fizzing stops. Uncover and flush drain with boiling water.

Hopefully these were useful tips on how to unclog a kitchen sink!

How To Make A Stainless Steel Sink Shine | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 1:36 PM How to Clean Stainless Steel Sinks and Make Them Sparkle , How to make your stainless steel sink sparkle & shine 0 Comments

Stainless Steel sinks always seem to deceive you. Their name suggests a sink that will take care of itself, but that’s rarely the case. Take clean to a whole new level when you have a few extra seconds to give your sink a bit of TLC.

Clean with baking soda and water

To clean your stainless steel sink, just mix a paste of baking soda and water. Scratches may also be removed with a very fine steel wool. Simply give the entire sink a gentle once over and it will obliterate and hairline scratches. Simply wash the residue away and continue with the rest of your cleaning.

Remove water spots with vinegar

To remove water spots, simply dip your sponge in white vinegar and they should rub right off. Rubbing alcohol also works to remove rust if your sink is suffering from a case of the “crusties.”

Use cream of tartar for stubborn stains

If stubborn stains seem to be ailing you (thanks to the last tenant), use a mixture of 3 parts cream of tartar to 1 part hydrogen peroxide and buff it over a stain with a cloth. Let the mixture sit and allow to dry before wiping away with a wet cloth or sponge.

Polish with all-purpose flour

To add an extra kick to your sink, you can polish it with none other than All-Purpose Flour. Toss a few tablespoons of flour into the sink and rub it (some pressure is needed, but nothing that should cause a sweat to break out) around with a soft cloth.

Another method is to use club soda. Simply put the stopper in the drain and pour in some of the bubbly beverage. Buff it around with a cloth, drying to prevent water spots when done.

Shine with baby oil

To give your sink that extra burst of shine, you can apply a few drops of baby oil to a paper towel and buff it around.

It’s a perfect trick to keep things spic and span!

How To Clean Stains In Stainless Steel Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 1:25 PM how to clean stainless steel sink rust stains , how to remove chemical stains from stainless steel sink 0 Comments

The metal known as stainless steel is a steel alloy that contains a minimum of 10.5 percent chromium, measured by mass. The chromium lends the steel a degree of corrosion resistance (corrosion, or rust is the most common form of staining on steel). The degree of corrosion protection increases with the percentage of chromium in the alloy.

Rather than oxidizing and discoloring when exposed to air or water, the chromium reacts to form a thin protective coating to the sink or other appliance. Although this protective layer can be scrubbed away, the protective film quickly reforms, which is why stainless steel surfaces are almost indestructible in a kitchen.

The fact that this alloy doesn't corrode and rust, along with the fact that it is self-healing when the protective film is scrubbed away, is why this material is known as stainless steel.

How to clean stains in stainless steel sink

Cleaning stainless steel can sometimes seem tricky since this shiny material can be scratched fairly easily. This is less problematic with a matte-finish surface, like that found on some sinks, but shiny stainless steel requires some care in order to remove stains without scratching the finish. Fortunately, stainless steel is a very resilient material that responds well to several different cleaning techniques.

First, examine your stainless steel surface and determine if it has a "grain" pattern. While the metal itself is solid, the process by which the manufacturer polished the surface may leave it with faint directional scratches. Whenever you scrub at a stainless steel surface—even if using so-called "non-scratch" pads—you should rub at the stains in the same direction as whatever grain is already present on the surface.

Here are four methods you can try for removing stains from stainless steel. Run through these solutions in order, as they are listed in order of how likely they are to damage the surface, with safest solutions first.

Steam Cleaning

Many stains will be lifted from stainless steel by the action of steam vapors.

1. Heat water to boiling in a kettle with a spout that will allow you to pour it.

2. Place a paper towel or microfiber towel over the stained surface.

3. Pour enough of the boiling water onto the paper towel to wet it. Allow it to steam to work for five to 10 minutes.

4. Once the surface has cooled, rub the surface with the paper towel, moving with the direction of the grain. If this doesn't remove the stain, try the next solution.

Baking Soda and Dish Soap

Baking soda mixed with liquid dish soap can make a good paste to gently rub out stains. Baking soda is a very fine abrasive that is unlikely to seriously scratch the stainless steel surface.

1. Apply the mixture of baking soda and liquid dish soap to a microfiber cloth or another soft cloth, then rub at the stain, moving back and forth in the same directions as the grain in the metal.

2. After scrubbing, rinse the stainless steel surface thoroughly, and towel it dry.

3. Examine the surface. If this hasn't removed the stain, try the next technique.

Vinegar

The next thing to try is vinegar.

1. Pour a little white vinegar or apple cider vinegar onto the stained surface.

2. Let it sit for a few minutes; the gentle acid in the vinegar may lift out the stains.

3. Rub the stained with a soft cloth, following the grain of the steel.

4. Rinse thoroughly, and dry the surface with a clean towel.

5. Examine the stained area; if discoloration still is present, move on to the last solution.

Stainless Steel Cleaner

As a last resort, if the stains still don't budge, try a stainless steel cleaner and polisher. Barkeeper's Friend is one such powder formula that can clean without excessive scratching. Be sure to follow the directions, rinse thoroughly, and towel dry.

Tips for Preventing Stains on Stainless Steel

Rather than removing stains, you can also take some preventive measures to avoid the problem in the first place. Here are some tips to help you prevent stains on stainless steel:

1. Never use bleach or anything containing chlorine on stainless steel. Avoid spraying a chlorine bleach product nearby or allowing bleach to drip onto stainless steel surfaces.

2. Don't use oven cleaners around stainless steel. When using oven cleaners, shield stainless steel surfaces from exposure.

3. Don't use standard abrasive cleaners on stainless steel, and prevent them from even contacting the metal.

4. Never use steel wool, wire brushes, or other abrasive cleaning tools on stainless steel. Non-scratch vinyl scrubbing pads can be used.

How To Remove Rust From Stainless Steel Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 1:10 PM How to Get Rust Off Stainless Steel , How to Remove Rust from Stainless Steel 0 Comments

Stainless steel kitchen sinks are beautiful and durable additions to the modern kitchen. Though no material is perfect, stainless steel comes in close for kitchens. However, the stainless finish is important to protect so that it will last for many years to come. Oftentimes preventing rust or removing rust from the sink is as simple as not allowing harm to the finish and preventing other rusting metals from becoming a problem.

How to remove rust from stainless steel sink:

Follow these instructions to remove it.

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 2 cups of water.

2. Rub the baking soda solution on the rust stain using a toothbrush. Baking soda is non-abrasive and will gently lift the rust stain from the stainless steel. It also will not damage the grain of the stainless steel.

3. Rinse and wipe the spot with wet paper towel. You will see the rust on the paper towel.

BEFORE

How-to-remove-rust-from-stainless-steel-sink

AFTER

Here are some general tips about removing rust from stainless steel:

1. Never use strong abrasive scouring powders, as they will scratch the surface and remove the finish.

2. Never use steel wool, as it will scratch the surface.

3. Try out any abrasive powder in a corner of the utensil, where it will not be so noticeable, and see if scratches the surface.

How To Polish Stainless Steel Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 12:56 PM How to Polish a Stainless Steel Sink With Flour , How to polish stainless steel sink 0 Comments

There are many ways to polish a stainless steel sink — including with vinegar, olive oil, or a special cleaner — but the craziest (and cheapest!) all-natural cleaner we've discovered is flour.

No one seems to have a good explanation as to why flour is such a wonderful polisher, but we're not complaining. Life hacks — especially ones like this flour trick that only require materials we already have at home — can truly be a godsend for those problem areas in your home.

And while you don't need to polish a stainless steel sink every weekend, this knowledge will come in handy the next time you're having guests over and you want your kitchen to look its best.

How to Polish a Stainless Steel Sink With Flour

In addition to a bit of flour, you'll also need some dish soap and a few rags, so go ahead and grab those. All set? Here's how to polish a stainless steel sink with flour in five easy steps.

Step 1: Give your sink a good cleaning with dish soap and a rag. Make sure you're thorough with your cleaning; giving yourself a clean base to start with makes every other step easier.

Step 2: Dry the sink with a clean rag. This step is super important: If you try to pour flour into a wet sink, you'll find yourself with sticky goop and an even bigger mess than before. Don't forget the sides and the drain, too!

Step 3: Pour 1/4 cup flour into the sink. You should have a relatively thick dusting of flour, but don't let it pile up too high.

Step 4: Buff the sink with the flour using a clean rag or paper towel. Polish like you're polishing a car, and don't skimp! The top of the sink, the handles, the drain, and any nooks and crannies where dirt can hide need your attention. You'll notice food bits will start to lift, and the sink will start to shine underneath the flour.

Step 5: Wipe out the flour with your rag — don't rinse it down the drain, as this may clog your pipes — and then stand back and enjoy your handiwork. Giving your stainless steel sink a thorough polish once a month should be enough to get to that built-on food and dirt your sponge won't loosen.

Once you try this kitchen hack, you'll wonder how you ever finished this chore before. After months (or years even) of staring at a sink that looks grimy no matter how many times you clean it, rejoice, because you've finally found a foolproof method for polishing stainless steel!

How To Remove Scratches From Stainless Steel Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 11:09 AM best way to remove scratches from stainless steel , how to get rid of scratches on stainless steel 0 Comments

Stainless steel sinks tend to get the brunt of the beating in the kitchen. The sink is the place that collects the dirt, the dirty dishes and the silverware. It is subjected to hot food, hot liquids and cold food or liquids. From time to time, an occasional slip may cause a pot and pan to fall right into the kitchen sink surface. With all the wear and tear, your stainless steel sink is sure to get a scratch or two.

Here is what you should do to deal with those scratches.

Step 1 - Rinse and Clean

First, rinse your stainless steel sink with a good amount of warm water. Then, fill the stainless steel sink with warm soapy water. Add in a soft cloth and wash the sink thoroughly, scrubbing any areas that have been subjected to grime and dirt. Then, pull out the stopper and empty the sink tub. Run the water from the tap and rinse the tub completely. Use your soft cloth or pull out a fresh sponge to work on any areas that were missed with the warm soapy water.

Step 2 - Dry Sink

Dry the sink completely using a soft towel. Use a towel that will not leave or drop any lint particles into the basin of the stainless steel sink.

Step 3 - Light Things Up

Make sure your kitchen is well lit. If the area over your sink is dark and dull, bring in a table lamp from your living room and remove the shade. This will give you a well lit area to work with. It will help you identify all of the little scratches in your stainless steel sink.

Step 4 - Apply Stainless Steel Cleaner

Next, apply a small amount of stainless steel cleaner to your sponge. Choose a lightly abrasive sponge. You can use any product that is found in your local grocery store or home improvement center. Make sure it has been rated as a stainless steel cleaner. Work the cream or the liquid cleaner into the scratches on your stainless steel sink.

Use your sponge so that you are working with the grain of your sink, rather than against the grain. As you apply the solution, periodically wipe the surface clean and rinse it with water. Towel dry well. Check to see that the scratch is beginning to fade or disappear. You can stop this process as soon as you are visually satisfied with the results.

Step 5 - Wash and Dry the Sink

After you have completed fixing the scratches from your stainless steel sink, wash the tub thoroughly with a small amount of warm soapy water. Use a new sponge (non-abrasive) and clean it well. Dry the sink surface completely using a new soft towel

Tips:

When washing the stainless steel sink, always wash along the grain of the stainless

steel

When drying the stainless steel sink, always use the towel with the grain

How To Clean Stainless Steel Sink | The Best Kitchen Products

Angela Stern 11:49 AM clean stainless kitchen steel sink , clean stainless steel sink 0 Comments

You need to know how to clean a stainless steel kitchen sink, because yours is going to get dirty. Especially if you cook often (or do a lot of DIY projects involving messy paint and glue), your sink is likely coated in a layer of collected grime. And like most cleaning projects, the longer you let it linger, the more difficult the task becomes.

To keep your sink sparkling, the first step is to learn how to clean your stainless steel sink using basic supplies you likely already have on hand, and then setting a goal to give your sink a regular scrub down about once a month.

When you ditch the harsh chemical cleaners (and the trip to the store), this unpopular cleaning task becomes much more tolerable. Add in the cleaning power of elbow grease, and who knows, vigorously scrubbing your kitchen sink could become the most therapeutic thing you do all week.

What You'll Need:

Sponge or microfiber cloth

Baking soda

Lemon (optional)

White vinegar

Olive oil (optional)

Step-by-Step: The Best Way to Clean a Stainless Steel Sink

1. Start by removing any food scraps from the basin and clean out the drain. Rinse down the basin, using your sink's spray hose if it has one.

2. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the entire surface of your sink so it's coated in a thin layer. Be sure to cover the walls of the sink as well.

3. Using a soft sponge or cloth, start to buff the sink with the baking soda, working in the direction of the grain of the stainless steel. The baking soda acts as a mildly abrasive scrubbing agent that won't scratch delicate stainless steel.

4. If you have a lemon on hand, slice it in half. Squeeze one half of the lemon over the baking soda. Then, using the other lemon half, rub the cut side over the baking soda, following the same circular buffing motion as above. The lemon will help deodorize the sink, while the baking soda polishes the stainless steel surface.

5. When you're done scrubbing (and have released all of your feelings into cleaning), pour white vinegar over the baking soda, which will create a chemical reaction with lots of fizzing. Don't worry, the fizzing means cleaning is happening! Pour just enough white vinegar to dissolve the baking soda, so there's no risk of it clogging your drain on the way down. Rinse the sink thoroughly.

6. You can stop here, but if you really want to make your sink shine (and impress your guests), dry the stainless steel, then pour a small drop of olive oil onto a cloth or paper towel and rub the stainless steel, again working in the direction of the grain. Wipe off any excess oil and admire your beautiful, gleaming kitchen sink.