Choosing a Stainless Steel Sink: Guest Post by Blanco

As many of my readers know, I’m a big fan of Blanco’s Silgranit II composite sinks and a member of the Blanco Design Council. Last January, the company brought me and four of my design writer colleagues to Germany to tour their factories and visit the Living Kitchen show. Watching their high-quality composite and stainless steel sinks being made was fascinating. So I asked them to share some insights on choosing a stainless steel sink.

This is the happy outcome from that request -- expert insights from Tim Maicher, Blanco’s US-based Director of Marketing, on selecting a new stainless steel sink and taking care of it.

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Not all steel is Surgical Grade Quality: Blanco sinks are made from steel that is considered surgical grade: non-porous, hygienic and rust-free. If you’ve paid thousands of dollars for a countertop, it makes no sense to put a $50 sink in. If the sink rusts, dents or fails structurally, you will need not only a new sink, but a new countertop, too.




Many kitchen designers tell us that the sink is not a place to cut quality because it needs to last as long as the counter. Something to consider when remodeling or planning a kitchen renovation.


Understanding chrome-nickel content: Chrome is the component in stainless steel that gives it luster and durability, while nickel provides hardness and strength. The chrome-nickel content is reflective of the percentages of each element present in stainless steel. The chrome-nickel formulation 18/10 is typically the highest quality and means that such a sink is composed of 18% chrome and 10% nickel.




Cleaning and care of stainless steel: When cleaning and caring for stainless steel sinks, the most valuable tips come from learning what not to do. It is important to keep cleaners such as bleach, scrub pads and steel wool away from your sink. Such abrasive products will dull and tarnish the finish. Your sink should be rinsed thoroughly after every use and wiped dry with a soft and clean cloth to preserve the finish and reduce water spotting and mineral deposits in severe water conditions.




Check under the hood: It’s important to determine if the sink you are buying has a sound-deadening feature. This enhances your enjoyment with the sink, since it reduces unwanted sounds like the garbage disposal growl.






All of the sinks shown are by Blanco and available everywhere the company's sinks are sold.


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For more information on buying a new Blanco sink or faucet, please visit the company's web site.