Rough Linen I kept my old under-mounted stainless steel sink with a new honed black counter (against my designer's advice) and I'm perfectly happy with it: right size, right depth, indestructible, why toss it?

kellystevens I am coveting the Kohler Stages stainless sink with integrated cutting board, prep bowls, and drainboard.

Lindquist and company, Kitchens and Baths We are using stainless steel sinks in the majority of our kitchen projects for many of the reasons posted above. Low maintenance and durability are high on the priority list. The kitchen sink is the most heavily used "appliance" in your kitchen, so make sure it is of good quality. It makes more sense to invest in a good quality sink installed to a basic countertop than to spend thousands of dollars on stone, if budgetary concerns are an issue. We've seen a rising trend in single bowl versions that allow for flexibility in washing large pans, cookie sheets and cutting boards.

Tile-Stones Love the look of stainless steel! So crisp and clean. We have some great mosaic tiles that complement stainless steel for a beautiful kitchen backsplash.

Luciana I have to admit that when the kitchen seller told me the sink I was considering costs £500 (about $800) I asked him if "it washes the dishes and cooks too", as the dishwasher was a bit cheaper and I knew exactly what it can do. Plus the other one and a half sink for our kitchen was about half less expensive. He babbled something about the price of steel, but only now, after reading your article Rachel, I understood the reasons for the cost. Thank you for that.

Anyway, I told him I refuse to buy it on principle - it seemed absurd to me that a piece of boring looking, line-assembled moulded steel would ever justify its high cost. You can imagine my surprise when the kitchen was installed and that shiny piece of rounded metal appeared in the island's corner. Apparently my other half didn't hear my "so does it cook?" speech and signed the unmodified appliances' list. OK, it did come with a cool black semicircle glass cutting board and some two bowls colander contraption, and you press a button to pop the drain lid, and it does feel pretty solid (!!) but I still think is too expensive for what it is. (and as you can see in my un-staged photo, it doesn't even clean itself!)

houscom Luciana - that is a Beautiful kitchen! - congratulations on what you have achieved. The cost of taps and all the gadgets that go with the sink amazes me! Cheers

inkwitch I am not a fan of stainless sinks. I'm not a fan of stainless appliances either. One fingerprint and forget it! I prefer white porcelain sinks (or copper farm sinks, if I'm dreaming!). But I realize that keeping a white sink that color is probably unrealistic, so I will settle for stainless.

Luciana Thanks Houscom! I'm sorry I didn't record some of my 'friendly discussions' with that kitchen seller - he so got on my nerves!! I can't call him a designer, he is not one, he's just a sells guy who learnt a computer design programme and now inflicts his utterly stale and prosaic (but expensive) ideas on his customers! In order to get my island in a grand piano shape, I had to threaten I'd go somewhere else - apparently his computer programme couldn't do free-styling shapes, therefore I was to have a "classical, never out of fashion rectangular island". Uhhhh - I'm still annoyed remembering it all. But he's the only one in our city to sell this particular brand of German kitchen that we wanted (Leich), so we persevered and succeed!!

Ellen McPherson I have a triple bowl stainless steel sink I've had for 18 Yrs., ease of cleaning has always been a big plus for me. I'm planning a new home and the double bowl farmhouse stainless steel sink is calling my name!

Ashley Croft I'm on the hunt for a 24-inch stainless farmhouse sink that's the full depth of the counter, so we won't have to run counter top behind it. Haven't been able to find one so far.

suepetdis No. No. White ceramic everytime

olldbobbi The thing that bugged me about my stainless sink was I could clean it one minute and it would look dirty the next. Then a wonderful Houzzer told me if I wipe it with olive oil after cleaning it would stay clean all day. It does! So I'm sorry I can't remember your name, but thank you! You've saved my cleaning obsessive sanity!

JAN MOYER Love them! Just watch the sharply inside cornered rectangular trend. It IS goo collector, and more difficult to keep sparkling.

olldbobbi Eeew, Jan, good tip!

jansmith where is Bar Keepers Friend sink shiner sold?

josephcairns We put in matching under and over mount sinks in our kitchen and butlers pantry/laundry. They too were expensive and seem to scratch easily. We tend not to use the kitchen sink to minimise the scratching to one sink! Be careful when selecting to avoid very sharp square corners, as they are a nightmare to clean!

collins design jansmith, grocery stores or hardware stores should have it. At least here in New England, it's not hard to find. It's in the regular cleaning products aisle. Ace hardware carries it, as does Walmart. (It's not specifically marketed as a sink cleaner.) It's also terrific for cleaning really baked-on food off AllClad cookware. We also use it on the cooktop of our pro-style range.

olldbobbi Home Depot sells Bar Keepers Friend, that's where I buy it. Is anyone else bothered by the way it smells?

bastump Actually I have a question. What about the stainless sink with the use of garbage disposal? When they are attached to stainless they shake and rattle a lot! Porcelain is better. No one mentioned what is best for a garbage disposal. Who can resolve that issue?

olldbobbi bastump, I have a stainless sink and a garbage disposal and it doesn't shake or rattle! I wonder if it has something to do with the weight of the different sinks?

lnolan53 Baking soda is also a good cleaning agent. Rinse clean, dry and apply a thin coat of olive oil.

gharris8 How easy is it to change a sink? I currently have a cheap udermount SS sink with granite countertops. I would like to upgrade the sink to a better quality.

peggyleven Find out if yours is screwed in or epoxied on. If its glued it's harder o remove.

rimblas We have a Rachiele (http://rachiele.com/) stainless steel sink with a Millennia finish. This is basically a texture pattern that aside from looking great it hides scratches better than a smooth finish. We're very happy with it. You know it's special when all the people that do work on our home/kitchen comment that they really like it.

lorenza5064 rimblas, what is that gizmo in the lower left hand corner of your sink? I am an enthusiast of SS sinks. Such an enthusiast that the search for and acquisition of the new sink was one of the first decisions and purchases I made for the project. In my kitchen reno I am replacing an Elkay top mount double sink with drainboard with a Seamless Sink (check them out, tell Dan that Lorenza sent you) that is a beauty. It is a double bowl with dropped divider and drainboard. It will have drain grids and custom cutting board to fit. The cutting board will be provided after final installation to assure the fit is perfect. Great Thread! Ciao Ciao

ddelora Sorry, I'm going to have to buck the "trend system" and also agree with suepetdis. My mom had a stainless steel sink years ago - what a pain! Nice & shiny at first, then tons of surface scratches from dishes, silverware, pots/pans. Had to use "special" cleanser (don't run out and need to clean the sink) to minimize scratches, which was a joke since normal use caused swirling scratches everywhere.

It had to be wiped out after EVERY use. Even getting a drink of water, rinsing your hands, wetting a dish rag - whatever...water spots everywhere, unless you wipe, wipe, wipe. I note one comment here suggested using oil to aid in keeping it looking better between uses.

My standard white sink is original to my 35 year old house. It's still clean/bright, has 2 very small chips in it, I scrub it with Comet, I don't have to use an oil treatment or specialized cleaners, and don't have to wipe it dry after every use. I laughed when stainless first came out and thought they wouldn't last once the masses found out how much maintenance they needed...yet they're still touted by the designers and sold as "must haves". Thanks, but no thanks.

rimblas @lorenza5064 that is a Magisso cloth holder. Love the thing and it's magnetic (has a powerful magnet on the front and back) We had it on the cast iron sink and now on the stainless. http://www.finnstyle.com/magisso-kitchen-cloth-holder.html It's pricey, but it is a quality item, well design and it doesn't stick out like a plastic cheap suction cup thinggy.

ramatadiallo Lorenza -- What is the brand of the seemless sink you are using? Thanks.

lorenza5064 ramatadiallo, That IS the Brand Name, I know, too simple. Please visit www.seamlesssink.com/kitchensinks. The name derives from the design element that is unique to this sink brand, although it has been knocked off by one of the Big Boys. That element is the elimination of the rim that is typically around the drain opening. Check it out and let me know what you think. If I could figure out how to submit a photo of my sink I would. Will work on that when my tech team returns this evening....

lnolan53 I LOVED my white cast iron sink and found it to be chip resistant and easy to keep clean. Stubborn stains were easy to remove with Bon Ami and sometimes just letting vinegar/water mixture sit in it rejuvenated the sparkle. After enjoying the beauty of that sink for 12 years, we undertook a remodeling project. I wanted to keep the sink, but the designer advised me to go with new. In the interest of future resale (and not my own personal preference), I opted for stainless. We went with a thick gauge and it has been virtually scratch proof. But the water spots do bug me. I use either Bon Ami or baking soda. The olive oil application makes it sparkle.

The biggest concern that I had in replacing the sink was finding one that was not contaminated with toxic metals. I had read articles about cadmium and other carcinogenic metals infiltrating metal products. Elkay (Illinois) has a few sinks still made in the USA. We also made sure that our faucets were not made by countries using cadmium. We went with Hans Grohe, a German manufacturer. Nothing worse than wondering if your tap water is running through a faucet laced with toxic metals.

The stainless Elkay sink we went with measures 32x19 inches, so it is spacious. It is a 40/60 split, but the divider is only 3" high. Not sure at first whether I wanted a divided sink or a larger single sink, I find this to be a good compromise. It offers flexibility in usage.

franfriday I use baby oil to keep my stainless sink looking good, and barkeepers friend. I'd rather have scratches than chips! Each to their own.

dotknot I like SS because I can clean and disinfect it easily. There is a reason it is the choice in hospitals and commercial kitchens. I love the look of ceramic white sinks, but in every rental I have had one and my own dear grandma's sink- they were scratched or chipped and it was near impossible to keep it clean. Weekly scouring of a sink is something I just don't have time for. Once they get stained or some gross slime growing in the tiny cracks- forget it. Sort of like when you have a mug with a chip- they say to toss it because it harbors bacteria growth. I would guess that there are some high quality, more durable ceramic sinks nowadays. What I am curious about is how well do those copper sinks put up with kitchen abuse, and how easy are they to keep clean?

lorenza5064 dotknot, the issue of eliminating bacteria was the driving force behind the Seamless Sink.

ramatadiallo But isn't there still bacteria that collects in the undermount area? Plus the caulk inevitabily starts to wear away. For this reason I am considering an integrated sink-counter (such as corian). But there seems to be less choices there. But I am wondering why that doesn't seem more popular. Am I missing something?

lorenza5064 I would think that there would be little bacterial contamination in the undermount area. Most prep and the messy business that takes place in a sink is in the bottom of the basin. I think a dropped divider would also help keep the "splash" below the undermount seam. Use of the custom cutting board will allow pushing chopping prep waste to be swept into the sink without interfacing with the countertop/sink edge. Perhaps Corian is not more popular due to longevity. I have a large crack forming in my 20+ year corian top at a point where the counter is making a turn.

chaplainlma I love a stainless steel sink. I find it is very easy to keep clean, but I guess I am not obsessive about water marks. I also love that if a glass or china piece slips out of my hand when I'm washing dishes, it won't break on the stainless steel, where as it would have in an enameled cast iron or stone sink.

slh1498 I have a Kohler SS double sink (with integrated cutting board) which is only two years but looks much older. Even having a water softener the sink has gotten very dull. I have tried many solutions to bring it back to life but to no avail. While I love the design of the sink I will definitely consider replacing it.

digsblues I looked and looked before I picked out my stainless steel sink. My designer informed me of how important getting a heavier guage steel is. It cost double what the thinner guage sinks were, but I'm so happy with it. It makes all the difference in the world. The garbage disposal is quiet and doesn't shake the sink, and the finish always looks clean and sparkling. Also the faucet I chose has a built in dish soap dispenser, which I love.

lorenza5064 digsblues, what is that faucet of yours with the soap dispenser?

sandre I wish I had seen this post a week ago. My SS sink was looking a little dull, so I used bleach on it. It did make it brighter. Was I wrong for using bleach?

skux I just got a "free" SS sink with my new countertops and within a week it is showing rust marks and scratches. Is this normal?

digsblues lorenza - Delta Kate Single-Handle Pull-Down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet in Stainless Steel featuring MagnaTite Docking with Soap Dispenser

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100686504?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=delta+kitchen+faucet+with+soap+dispenser&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202620276&N=5yc1v&R=100686504

cmalvick ican one use a stainless stel sink along with other appliances NOT SS?

Golden Interiors Inc Four years ago we remodeled our kitchen completely. The trend at the time was single basin sink or farm sink given that you can wash all your pans and cutting boards easily with one large basin. We have come to realize that this is a huge waste of water and energy to clean this sink regularly over a double basin with one smaller sink for easy tasks and one larger basin for when needed. We have been recommending the Kohler smart divide sink as the solution to this one basin trend. At the time Kohler only had porcelain options with graceful curves and now they have a Stainless Steel option that I just viewed and have different concerns.

Stainless Steel sinks are wonderful for ease of maintenance and longevity. The current design trend for sinks are 90 degree corners or zero radius; it is a newer look, current avante-garde styling - just looking at the design distresses us. Try cleaning these square corners. The sink we selected was a graceful curve design - the cleaning brush travels around the sink easily. The thought of hitting a square edge corner does not sit well nor would we recommend this style to any homeowner.

Our belief is that this trend will be short lived once homeowners start cleaning the zero radius sinks and realize they get stuck at the corners. The kitchen sink is used daily for many tasks and functions. Having to use a single large basin for every task is wasteful of precious water resources and the energy expended to heat the water. Having to clean the sink is a non stop activity - curved corners will make your life much easier. Having prepared meals for the homeless in a church setting with zero radius sinks our belief is these square edged designs should remain in commercial applications and homeowners should consider all aspects of cleaning, water and energy usage before they finalize their selection.

vancouverlori cmalvick - yes, you can use a stainless sink with non-stainless appliances. That was the norm for ages, and nobody will bat an eyelash at it.

As to the concern about large single-bowl sinks taking too much water: dish pans are cheap. I intend to use one for the soapy water when washing dishes, and keep it under the sink to hold dirty dishes between uses. You can get fancy ones that specifically go with your sink (like the Ikea Boholmen ones) or you can just buy them at any hardware or dollar store.

kbianconi Anyone want to suggest ways to spiff up the surface of a vintage stainless sink we plan to put in our new house? There are no dings, but it has seen years of service.

ltsuruda fyi: If you have a stainless steel (ss) counter, then often the metal fabricators who make the counter must make the ss sink, too, since a store-bought ss sink may warp when welded to the counter. Plus the warranty will likely be voided. On the up side, if you have your ss sink custom made, you can pick whatever measurements your cabinet base can support.

digsblues kbianconi - Try getting some Siege 63001 from Amazon. It works on sinks and pans too.

Michele P Thank you for the www.seamlesssink.com tip!!! I just checked it out and the sink I want is a better deal than the Blanco I had picked out. Plus...the seamless design makes me much happier when I'm cleaning up after handling raw chicken.
Also...I did not know about the olive oil tip... I am excited to try that as we have very hard water.

lorenza5064 Which seamless sink model are you selecting? Did you talk to Dan, he is passionate about his product.

Beth Remember all the photos shown are staged to look like new and nice.

Reality is if you cook daily as we do, have children like we do, you will spend a good bit of time cleaning the stainless so it shows no dirt, finger marks, smudges.

And if you get a stainless sink make sure you pay extra and get one that is very well insulated so you don't make a lot of noise when placing items in the sink to be washed etc.

kippendog Can not tell you how many items I have broken in porcelain sinks! SS 16 gauge w/ rounded corners is absoulutly the way to go.

Nancy Reinke All the homes I've lived in as an adult have had ss kitchen sinks, two by choice. We purchased a home that required a complete remodel two years ago and I wanted a farmhouse sink. However, I couldn't justify the $1,000 - $2,000 price tag for a porcelain farmhouse sink, so I opted for a single bowl ss farmhouse sink like the Kraus in the photo. I had installed an high-end Elkay ss sink in a previous remodel my late husband and I completed in the 80's and loved it. Never had a problem with noise, it was easy to clean and disinfect, and wiping it down was never a big deal. My husband cooked and was more fastidious than me (and that says a lot LOL), so the sink always looked great. All this to say when I chose the ss sink this time it never occurred to me that my new husband would be like a bull in a china shop in the kitchen. I mean I love this man like crazy, but he is not the type to wipe down the sink, or be careful with sharp instruments in the sink. So there are scratches on the apron that are there forever. I have friends who installed granite sinks for their durability and they really like them. Sometmes I wish I had scrimped somewhere else and purchased the expensive white farmhouse sink. Just because that's the look I really wanted and maybe my beloved husband would have done less damage on a porcelain sink. But I don't know. Sinks are made to be used, right? In fact, the whole kitchen is supposed to be used and how much can we really do to prevent wear and tear? So maybe we should just get what we love within our budget and just enjoy the dickens out of our kitchens and not worry about it. By the way, someone mentioned wasting water with a single bowl sink, but like the reader who said she uses a dish pan, that's what i do. Works fine.

Arlene Bishop If you live in an area with hard water be prepared to dry your stainless steel sink every time you use it. Alternatively invest in a good limescale removing spray. You have been warned! Lol!

Michele Brindisi To Jan Smith: I buy it at the grocery store.

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel One more advantage, for those who keep kosher: It's the only sink material you can kasher for Pesach by cleaning, then pouring boiling water over it.

psych2020 We have custom built our last two houses and picked black granite sinks both times. No stains, no hard water spots, no scratching. We just moved from an apartment with a SS sink and I was constantly wiping it down. Hope I don't ever have to leave my granite sink again!

vancouverlori @psych2020 - is that one of those Silgranit sinks? I was looking at those at the hardware store and they're pretty comparable price-wise to higher-quality stainless sinks. Plus cooler shape options. (I like the shape of yours!)

Michele P lorenza5064 I picked the double bowl undermount where the bowls are the same size. I have this same sink now in the Blanco Supreme. I haven't talked to anyone yet at seamless sink. I am a couple months out. Very Excited tho!

jldmm I just purchased an 18 gauge stainless steel undermount // I've had a big problem with scratches. Is this normal ?

Rio Brewster I love my stainless sink. I cold never get the white cast iron ones to look completely clean (we dring a lot of coffee) and they were always scratched up around the drain.

I briefly had a black granite sink, but with hard water it was awful to keep looking clean, and if you dropped anything breakable in it, it was gone!

My last three sinks have been double bowl with one very large bowl and one small one. 18 gauge.

The small one is great for cleaning/soaking veggies and the large one is big enough that my biggest frying pan lies flat.

We have a nice garbage disposal that you can barely hear.

My only complaint is that the big sink is too deep.

As a caveat, I will say that I'm not obsessive about how the inside of the sink looks. I just don't get the "I have to wipe it out every time I use it," mindset.

If it has a few water spots or scratches it's not the end of the world, and it takes exactly 10 seconds to wipe down.

4norway Buying a new sink soon, so this is very helpful. Best gauge to buy? Or is it more the brand that makes a difference in qulaity? Thanks.

ltsuruda @4norway, it's all about the gauge. In the USA, the lower the gauge #, the better quality.

Rio Brewster 18 gauge is the standard for home use. American Standard makes great stainless sinks, but I got my last couple at Overstock.com. You can get an 18 gauge stainless sink for less than $200.

sclawson A great homage to an old friend. Thanks for the tips on quality.

brunettebohemian Ugh! Stainless sinks are always spotted and very difficult to clean. Hard water really destroys them. I've had a ss sink in the last 3 houses and I miss white porcelain!

Rio Brewster White porcelain kitchen sinks are actually pretty rare. Usually your white sink is either fireclay or enameled cast iron.

Nancy Reinke @4Norway, the lower the guage the thicker the ss. The lower the guage the less likely it will dent and, if you have a garbage disposal installed, the less likely you'll get the rattling that occurs when you use the disposal, or run water. I have a 16 guage Vigo farmsink and an Insinkerator Pro Disposer. No rattling. I wouldn't go higher than 18 guage when buying a ss sink. Good luck.

Beth Warton I think these sinks r awesome. The sink, the color of the paint, the style of back splash are the only things that can be changed in our kitchen which a monkey could do. Oh well, at least I can cook!

cami19 When we moved into our house, it had a brand new acrylic sink the builder had put in by mistake. He asked me to see if I could live with it. Within a month, it had a stain I could not remove and within another month, it had gotten a crack from an accidentally-dropped dutch oven full of water. Within another month, I'd replaced it with a Kohler stainless steel sink. TEN YEARS later, that sink looks as good as new. Nothing but stainless for me ever again.

wantsideas In the very prelim, as in thinking about more, stages of kitchen remodel. Currently have a white porcelain sink which I have had no issues with. It is a deep double and cleans easily with soft scrub. It is over twenty years old. But Rio Brewster brings up a good point. How do I know it is porcelain or enameled cast iron or fireclay? What is the difference? Whatever it is, it has held up well and sparkles. I grew up with cheap stainless so this was an upgrade at the time.

annoulaxeni I have a triple-bowl Franke (Swiss) and wouldn't be without it. Although the photo doesn't show it, the small middle sink has its own removable SS draining insert (colander-ish) and in either one of the other sinks you can add in a Franke dish drainer which is designed to fit the sink perfectly.

I usually put dishwater in the right sink and clean dishes in the drainer in the left. if I'm doing dishes I can use the middle sink to rinse over. The middle sink has a million other uses, however: if I just want a bit of dishwater ready to do up a few things as I'm cooking, I'll just fill that sink. Or I peel veggies in to it (removing the insert to dump the peelings). Or, I use it to thaw frozen items . . . all of this without taking over the other sinks.

As for the care being fussy -- nonsense! First of all, on any metal the collection of tiny scratches which, yes, they get necessarily, is known as a 'patina' and a patina's a nice thing. I only wipe mine out at the end of a dishwashing session, and it couldn't be easier with a wrung-out microfiber cloth. I clean the sinks before washing dishes, either with fresh dishwater itself, or if I'm in the mood to be a bit fussier, with something like your 'Soft Scrub' (mild abrasive in cream form). To remove scale deposits which I do get around the base of the faucet, I wrap a piece of paper towel around and spray it with a vinegar and water mixture. I leave it for awhile and when I take it off -- like new!

In general vinegar and water will do just fine cleaning the sink, an occasional quick wipe with a mild bleach solution will provide stunning results (but don't over-do it), and otherwise the afore-mentioned Soft Scrub, or a cleanser, or a metal polish, etc., etc. It's just metal, guys!

Mine's now about 15 years old and when SLIGHTLY fussed over, it looks virtually new, and it gets a huge amount of use. Essentially indestructible, in other words.

olldroo Here in Australia, stainless steel sinks are very much the norm and the only item of stainless I could tolerate in my kitchen. Thinking of a vitreous china bowl in my vanities, I could not handle that to wash up in, I'm sure I would break more dishes than I would clean. From all the negative comments here, it is obvious there must be many different grades or finishes or maybe water quality has a big effect too. I have never bothered with wiping it dry every use - it is a sink after all and is in such constant use, it is impossible to keep up with. I clean mine with a product similar to Bon Ami and it always looks great. If it is scratched, well maybe they are so superficial that they all run together and there is no obvious scratching. My sink is 25 years old now and when I renovate the kitchen I hope to reuse it, I love it, the size and shape is perfect for me and I see no reason to replace it.

sekoko lorenza5064 you are so right regarding seamlesssinkcom.com. When I was looking for a new sink for our kitchen remodel I stumbled upon Dan's product right here on Houzz. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was local. Was able to pick up a discontinued model from Dan personally. He has developed a great product. The product is extremely well made. Best part about it was I didn't need to adjust my drain pipe going into my wall since the garbage disposal is mounted directly to the bottom of the sink without any extra parts.

Fresh Eyes For Your Home I love the new stainless steel undermount sink I put in my kitchen. It's a 16 count VIGO sink and it doesn't make much of a statement-it lets my faucet do the talking and the rest of the kitchen elements. I think a soft brush and bar keeper's friend is the right way to clean the sink.

drjosiepc1 I like stainless sinks for their looks, durability and price. They look better with today's appliances and kitchens--and don't stain or break your dishes! Also, you can buy them in a large array of styles and prices. I suggest that you buy the best you can afford.

drjosiepc1 BTW, I love the Kraus double sink for $799.

bpforz We went with a porcelain sink in our remodel but bought all stainless appliances. They are a pain to keep looking pretty! I am afraid to use anything on them. Does anyone have cleaning ideas for stainless appliances???Help!

Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. One more thing to be aware of with stainless sinks is the finish. Some factory finishes, especially "mirror," can be easily scratched. Brushed finishes are best. When cleaning, clean in the direction of the brushing to maintain the finish. The manufacturer should provide you with guidelines on how to best clean their product. We always recommend the thicker gauge sinks, it costs a little more but you will be happier with it for longer.

gramma907 When we built our house, I chose an Elkay "pro line" or chef's line stainless steel sink with the attached drain board. I ADORE this sink. It is oversize, come on people- you do not put everything into your dishwasher! Pots, pans, you name it- you need a HUGE sink. You won't regret it.

hugh62 Enjoyed the posts, particularly about cleaning and I can add using a cut lemon to the list of cleaning agents. But I have a problem hopefully someone can solve. As a part of a basement re-do I purchased a granite countertop for a wet bar that had precut holes for a rectangular sink and faucet. The sink cutout measures 11-1/2" by 17-1/2" with 7/8" radius corners (see below) and I have been looking for a sink to use, thinking that a 12" by 18" drop-in or undermount would be easy to find. Not so, having checked the standard Lowe's & HD, Elkay, Allure, Kohler & Blanco sources. I'll check some of the other sources in the posts. At this point, I'm willing to accept most anything although SS is preferred. For a wet bar, the depth can be shallow, but I'd like to have the drain centered.

digsblues Hugh - I suggest you google the exact size kitchen sink you want. I just bought an uncommon size sink and nearly went crazy looking by vendor. I googled the size and found several that would fit, and ordered on online.

ptorney One bowl deep stainless steel sink is my favorite. No more trying to wash big roasting pans etc in 2 small 2 bowl sinks. Always thought the garbage disposal had to go in the smaller sink. It's in my one bowl LARGE, deep sink!! I will never buy a 2 bowl sink again.

ronzdezines I was hoping to see a wide range of SSSinks here...Very Dis-appointed!

remarkable1 Never heard of Vigo before our kitchen remodel contractor put us in touch with a plumbing 'specialist'. I was afraid it was a brand that fell off the back of a truck, if you know what I mean...and it came very highly recommended by this man, who has been in business forever, carries every brand, etc. He has no vested interest in referring us to something inferior. And now, after seeing a few on here mention that they love their Vigo sink, well, my mind is at ease - the sink is being installed later this week and I am confident we will love it too.
This is the best part about Houzz -- ideas, inspiration and validation!!

lovlulu I had a porcelain sink (and it was porcelain) but my hands got arthritis and I couldn't scrub it hard enough to get off the black marks off so my husband had to do it. It would no sooner be clean than I'd put a pan in it and another black mark! So when we remodeled I bought a Franke (German) stainless sink which I love and it is easy for me to clean. It also has a wire shelf halfway up halfway across that I love!! I don't have to lean over so far. I'm so glad to have a sink I can make look nice. I can clean it easily several ways. I've tried baby oil to keep it clean too. I grew up with a stainless steel sink my mother had in the 40s and 50s. Only one I ever saw in any house then. All my appliances now are white and I like the look of a stainless sink with them. It is undermounted.

ptorney Love Franks sinks. I have had 2 Different Franke sinks in my kitchen over 25 years. The wire shelf is great as well. I guess the best advice to someone who purchases a SS sink is to know before hand how to keep them clean, what you should use (bar keepers) and then you will avoid using the wrong products which may actually scratch your sink. I am now in the process of doing a new kitchen in Florida. I am using a one bowl, deep SS sink. With so many choices today I think it is personal preference.

Rio Brewster @bpforz

Weiman's stainless cleaner works well on my LG appliances. There's a special cloth I use too. There's also a stainless "polish" that doesn't clean very well, but it does make it shine once it is clean. I generally don't have time for such extra work, so I returned it.

My Fridgidare stainless appliances are much easier to keep clean than the LG ones.

Studio NOO Design Great, these are so nice !

1captivatinginterior First the positive. I love the way these stainless sinks look. The ones shown in this article are so beautiful I am almost tempted. But I have had experiences with stainless sinks and the way they spot from water drives me crazy. I end up wiping them dry several times a day. When it is your only kitchen sink and you use it fifty times a day or so it gets really annoying. Am I the only one with this problem?

Beth 1captivatinginterior wrote 'I have had experiences with stainless sinks and the way they spot from water drives me crazy. I end up wiping them dry several times a day. When it is your only kitchen sink and you use it fifty times a day or so it gets really annoying. Am I the the only one with this problem?'

No. Maybe its the gauge of the stainless steel? I took the time to look at stainless steel sinks because of the topic here on Houzz and discovered the less expensive stainless steel sinks dont seem to stay as clean and nice as the more expensive ones and its due to the thickness and finish of the stainless steel.

lorenza5064 I think that the perception of water spotting in a ss sink might be summed up as "water spots are in the eye of the beholder". Perhaps your water is particularly hard or you are particularly particular. Whatever the reason for frustration, it seems that one is either a proponent of ss or not. I love the "workmanlike" look of a ss sink, the forgiveness when a plate or glass is dropped as well as when a cast iron pot is dropped. I drive my kitchen hard and ss is the only material I would consider for a sink. I am particular about keeping the counters clean and "buff", but my undermount sink always looks good to me without polishing or drying between uses.

Beth A friend wanted a stainless steel sink so bad but couldnt afford the thicker well insulated ones which when you place items in the sink they dont make a lot of noise. But he did find a nice looking less expensive one at a local Habitat For Humanity store and then took some spray on foam and insulated the underside once he installed the sink, which made the sink hold the hot water for dishes longer and did away with the loudness when he placed items in the sink when it was empty. Win win.

ltsuruda I like to use a Williams Sonoma microfiber cleaning cloth designed for stainless steel. Like the one specially designed for glass, it works really well without cleaner. Since it's microfiber, it dries quickly and so is quick to wash and dry. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/microfiber-cleaning-cloth/?pkey=e|kitchen%2Btowels|9|best|0|1|24||9&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-

Dura Supreme Cabinetry Including stainless steel or brushed metal cabinets into your kitchen design can balance out and incorporate your stainless steel appliances into the overall kitchen design.

Quoteworld Thanks for the info! Found a great site online providing free quotes for kitchen services like kitchen sinks, kitchen designs. I am planning to get quotes from there.

thom01801 Olive oil or vegetable oil great tip for keeping your SS sink looking like it is right out of the showroom, after cleaning, a little bit of vegatable oil rubbed in with a paper towel will give it that brand new look.

Golden Interiors Inc hugh62 - try
http://www.houzersink.com/product_files/specs/CS-1407.pdf
we recommend Houszer all the time - good quality - great pricing