While 304 grade steel is the most common type of steel used in home appliances, 316 is typically found in commercial grade kitchens. 316 grade also contains these elements, but it benefits from the addition of around 2% molybdenum, which increases the material’s anti-corrosive properties, meaning it can withstand more exposure from chloride and saline exposure: in short, it too is more durable. 304 grade is your classic 18/8 stainless, meaning it’s made of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Most household products that are made of stainless steel are either 304 or 316 grade. The next thing to be aware of when sink shopping is the steel’s grade. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel, while steel with a higher gauge will be more likely to dent or become damaged, though often you’ll find that as the gauge gets lower, the price of the sink increases, as does its durability. Stainless steel’s thickness is measured by gauge, and home sinks generally come in gauges between 16 and 22. The first to consider is the steel’s gauge. Often when shopping for steel appliances, consumers will find a lot of terms and numbers to consider. Ultimately, the choice is an aesthetic one, but choosing a sink with softer angles may lead to less time spent scrubbing out gunk, and your future self may thank you. It’s also much easier to clean than a zero-radius style, while still providing sharper angles than a standard radius. It is, however, more difficult to clean, and can lead to build-up in the corners.Ī sink with a standard radius will have softer, rounded corners, this is what we traditionally think of when we think “kitchen sink.” A more recent trend in sink radius is the half-inch radius, which offers a compromise between sharp angles and rounded bottom. Since this style of sink has no curve to it, it actually has a higher overall capacity, and lends a modern, sharp look. Want a sink with sharp 90-degree interior corners, shaped like a rigid box? Choose a zero-radius sink. In sink-speak, the radius is actually the curve of the sink’s interior angles. If you’re like me, you’re thinking, I want a rectangular sink, not a round one, so why do I care about its radius? If you’re considering a new sink, one factor to think about for aesthetic and long-term maintenance reasons is the radius. Consider the sink’s radius before buying and cleaning a stainless steel sinkĭoes your sink have soft or sharp angles? But, before we explain the best practices for maintaining your sink, there are a couple things to consider when selecting one.
And, by regularly cleaning your stainless steel sink, you can ensure that it will not only last, but sparkle like the day it was installed for years to come. (The material does come in a variety of finishes, however, from matte and satin finishes to an ultra-shiny mirror finish that is, unfortunately, more prone to visible scratches.)Ĭaring for a stainless steel sink couldn’t be simpler with the right tools.
And, if you’re customizing your kitchen design, its industrial look may not be for everyone, since stainless steel only comes in one color: stainless steel.
The cons? While the material won’t stain as the name promises, improper care or negligence can lead to rust and scratches. (Who among us hasn’t mourned the loss of a wine glass that landed in the basin with a little too much force? R.I.P. The pros of using stainless steel include its durability, its affordability, overall heat resistance, and the fact that it’s less likely to chip or break your dishes and glassware compared to harder materials like cast iron or porcelain. For most homeowners, the benefits of choosing a stainless steel sink for the kitchen far outweigh the drawbacks.
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