JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
Funny you mention the sink mat—mine turned into a science experiment after a few months. I get the appeal, but honestly, I’d rather deal with a few scratches than that weird slimy feeling. Stainless does seem to hold up fine, and I’ve yet to see a sink actually “ruined” by normal use. Maybe it’s just one of those things companies push to make us feel like we need more stuff? I’ll take a little character over extra cleaning any day.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
I hear you on the sink mat—mine got gross fast, too. I tried one of those “anti-microbial” ones and it still turned into a petri dish. Honestly, I’m not convinced they do much besides add another thing to clean. Stainless steel’s tough enough for most stuff, and a few scratches just make it look lived-in.
Curious if anyone’s actually had a sink get messed up from skipping the mat? I’ve seen some folks worry about dropping heavy pots, but unless you’re tossing cast iron around, it seems like overkill. Maybe I’m missing something, but I’d rather wipe down the sink than deal with that slimy mat again. Anyone ever regret ditching the mat, or is it just one of those “nice to have” things that ends up in the trash?
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
Totally get where you’re coming from. I ditched the mat a while back and honestly haven’t looked back. My stainless sink’s got a few scratches, but nothing wild—just adds some character, if you ask me. Unless you’re dropping stuff from a height, it’s pretty tough. Those mats always seemed more trouble than they’re worth. I’d rather deal with a couple scuffs than that weird slimy buildup any day.
Those mats always seemed more trouble than they’re worth. I’d rather deal with a couple scuffs than that weird slimy buildup any day.
I hear you on the mats—had one for a bit and it just felt like I was cleaning the mat more than the sink itself. But have you ever tried those silicone grids? They’re a bit more luxe and don’t get as gross, at least in my experience. Still, I kind of like a few marks on stainless too... makes it feel lived-in, you know? Did you go for an undermount or drop-in style? I swear the install is half the battle.
Still, I kind of like a few marks on stainless too... makes it feel lived-in, you know?
That’s exactly how I see it. There’s something about a kitchen that looks like it’s actually used—those little scuffs and dings are just part of the story. I tried one of those silicone grids after getting fed up with the old plastic mat, and honestly, it was a step up. Easier to rinse off, didn’t get that weird film as fast, but yeah, still not perfect. Sometimes I wonder if all these accessories are just making things more complicated than they need to be.
The install really is a beast, though. Last time I swapped out a sink (went undermount for the first time), I spent more time fussing with the caulk and making sure everything lined up than anything else. But once it’s in, you forget about the hassle pretty quick. It’s nice to hear someone else admit it’s not always as easy as those DIY videos make it look.
