Stone sink. Part 2 – choice and maintenance tips.

As we noted in the first part of this article, a sink made of natural stone or manufactured stone has the potential to be an essential element in the interior of the bathroom or kitchen. If you have already looked at the different options for stone, the advantages and disadvantages of this type of sink and decided to get one, let’s pay attention to the choice and subsequent maintenance of the stone sink.

Choosing a stone sink 

Choosing a sink made of natural stone, you get a really unique product. Drawings and textures of natural materials are never repeated. Let’s see what to pay attention to in order to choose the best option that will please us for decades. 

Choosing a stone sink for the bathroom 

One of the most important factors when choosing a bathroom stone sink is the size of the room. For small rooms, it is good to choose a corner sink. If the room is large enough, you can afford freedom of choice. Keep in mind that while oval sinks do look more spectacular, rectangular sinks are easier to install and have a larger usable area. When the size of the bathroom allows, you can choose a sink with two compartments. For families with many children, this is an undeniable convenience. 

If you choose a stone of light shades, this will help create a delicate and elegant interior. A dark sink will bring style and dynamics to the interior. A motley pattern will hide water and soap splashes well. 

Choosing a stone sink for the kitchen 

Here too, the size of the room is important, but in any case it is good to choose the largest possible sink that you can fit in it without looking grotesque. It will just be more comfortable than the smaller one. 

If you have to choose between a sink that is part of the countertop or a separate one, choose the separate one. This will make it much, much easier to replace it if you need to. 

Usually in the kitchen you have more freedom in choosing the colors and patterns of the sink. 

Stone sinks maintenance

If, with all this in mind, you have decided to get a stone sink, it is good to keep a few things in mind in order to enjoy it as long as possible and without problems. 

Although sinks made of manufactured stone or of natural stone are really durable and resistant to various chemical and mechanical impacts, they may still suffer if you use excessively aggressive chemicals and abrasives. 

As already mentioned, it is necessary to protect the sink made of natural stone from a very sharp change in temperature so that it does not crack. Manufactured stone sinks must be protected from excessively high temperatures. In both options, it is imperative to prevent falls and impacts with heavy solid objects. 

Stone sinks must be also protected from the effects of acids and alkalis. It is also not a good idea to cut fruits, vegetables and other food on the surface of the sink. Stains from wine and natural juices must be washed off immediately, otherwise, they will penetrate deep into the stone and leave permanent stains. Always wash away dirt and grease from the sink in a timely manner.

If the surface is not too dirty, it is enough to wipe it with a simple sponge and dishwashing liquid. If there is plaque or scale from hard water on the stone, you can use a special descaling agent. Leave it on for about half an hour and rinse thoroughly. Mustard powder is suitable for daily care. It has a gentle cleaning effect combined with a slight abrasive effect. It removes almost all kinds of stains and dirt. 

You can get rid of coffee and tea stains by soaking them briefly in lemon juice and rinsing thoroughly. You can replace lemon juice with citric acid, which is used to prepare various sweets and dishes. 

Chlorine bleaches will not harm the stone, but they should not be used more than twice a month. You can apply the composition either with a spray gun or directly into a sink filled with water. The bleach should be left to act for 6-8 hours, after which the sink should be rinsed and wiped dry. 

To disinfect the stone sink, you can use the agents provided for the purpose by adding them to the sink filled with water. Leave the solution on for 20-30 minutes and rinse thoroughly, then dry well. 

Stubborn dirt is removed with abrasives, just do not use products with coarse and large particles. The product should not be rubbed in very hard. You can even use your toothpaste. It is better not to use metal brushes and mesh sponges. They can make micro-scratches on the stone surface, in which dirt and bacteria will accumulate. 

Manufacturers of stone sinks usually also offer special products that are designed to maintain their good appearance and to restore the original gloss and shine of the surface of the sink. Such products are available for both natural stone and manufactured stone.