JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
The knee-banging is real—sometimes I feel like I’m doing a weird dance just to rinse dishes. For the sponges, here’s my go-to: after every use, I squeeze out as much water as possible and stand them upright in a little wire rack (not plastic, since those seem to trap more moisture). If you’ve got space, try mounting a small rail above the sink for air flow. It’s not foolproof, but it helps slow down the slime factor. And yeah, I toss mine in the dishwasher every few days... probably overkill, but hey, less funk.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
Totally get where you’re coming from—installing a new sink seems like it should be straightforward, but it’s always more awkward than expected. I remember banging my knees for weeks before I figured out the right stance. The sponge thing is a constant battle, too. Your wire rack idea is solid; I’ve tried those silicone mats but they just get gross faster. Honestly, if you’re keeping the funk down, you’re already winning.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
I swear, the first time I swapped out a kitchen sink, I thought it would be a quick afternoon project. Ended up crawling around under the counter for hours, trying to decipher the world’s most cryptic plumbing instructions. Whoever designs those clips and brackets must have a wicked sense of humor. And don’t even get me started on the caulk—mine looked like a toddler did it.
Funny you mention the wire rack vs. silicone mat thing. I’ve tried both, too. The silicone mats always seem like a good idea until they start smelling weird and collecting gunk in all those little grooves. The wire racks are easier to rinse off, but then you’re left with those little rubber feet that somehow always disappear or get gross themselves. It’s like there’s no perfect solution unless you want to go full restaurant-style and just have an industrial sink with nothing in it.
I will say, though, after all the hassle, there’s something oddly satisfying about having a new sink that actually fits your space and doesn’t leak (well... fingers crossed). I ended up splurging on one of those deep farmhouse sinks last time around—looks great but now I need longer arms just to reach the bottom. Not sure if that was an upgrade or just another way to make dish duty more complicated.
Anyway, if you’ve managed to keep things clean and organized for more than a week, you’re already ahead of where I usually end up. The struggle is real but at least there’s shiny new hardware at the end of it... until someone inevitably scratches it with a pan.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
I get what you’re saying about the silicone mats, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with them than wire racks. Here’s my workaround: I toss the mat in the dishwasher once a week—keeps it from getting funky. As for those wire rack feet, I swear they’re designed to vanish. One thing I’d challenge though—deep farmhouse sinks are awesome for big pots, but if you’re finding it hard to reach the bottom, have you tried one of those telescoping dish brushes? Not perfect, but it saves your back a bit. Just my two cents.
As for those wire rack feet, I swear they’re designed to vanish.
Right? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve fished around for those little rubber feet. I actually switched to a silicone mat after one too many “ouch” moments stepping on a rogue foot. Deep sinks are a love-hate thing for me—great for hiding dirty dishes, but my arms always end up soaked. Those telescoping brushes help, but I still end up with water halfway up my sleeves sometimes.
