The laundry room is transitioning from a utilitarian space to a designer one, as are bathrooms, hallways, and closets. Washers and dryers are designed to offer all the modern conveniences, but manufacturers haven’t overlooked the value of a stylish exterior. The same goes for laundries. While these sinks used to be an unattractive item that added another source of washing to the boring laundry room, these sinks have become a functional accessory that works hard but can still look great.
Laundry sinks are designed to handle a few messy tasks, like pre-soaking mud-soaked clothes (or pets) or stashing really dirty clothes away until you can put them through the washer. These sturdy containers are also used to clean things that can’t go in the washing machine, like dirty machine parts, paint rollers, and garden tools. The deep sink is a great place to fill a mop bucket so you can keep your kitchen sink clean.
Laundry sinks make sense for any home, but just like the many uses for them, you also have plenty of options. Here are some things to consider when shopping for laundry sinks.
Size
With sinks, bigger is always better. After all, the only reason you’re buying the oversized sink is to have an extra water container that can handle larger tasks. These sinks come in different sizes, shapes, and depths. The average laundry sink is between 22 and 25 inches deep and can hold about 22 gallons. You can get a commercial-size laundry sink, like Whitehaus Noah’s or Elkay Pursuit, up to 36 inches wide. If you’re short on space, Kohler Park Falls are just 17 ½” x 15 ¼” and 12 ½” deep. Park Falls come in 18 colors to match your laundry room decor (yes, did you ever imagine you would ?use “laundry room” and “decoration” together?).
Your sink may also have a softer side. If you have many sinks, consider adding a sink just for this function. The Hydro Systems Delicate Acrylic Touch features a deep sink with a washboard or gently sloping interior and drying rack. You can even add an optional forced air aeration system to whip up millions of agitating bubbles to wash those delicate items.
Style
Laundry sinks are designed in three styles: freestanding, built-in, and wall-mounted.
- Standing the sinks stand on four legs. These all-in-one units are easy to install and require no cabinets. The Foremost Everest Laundry Tub adds style to this type of sink. The freestanding design features the sink built into an attractive cabinet and topped with a porcelain countertop, so your sink looks more like a bathroom vanity than a bathtub.
- Enter a moment Sinks are designed to be installed in a cabinet, such as a kitchen or bathroom sink. The sink can be mounted under or with its own rim, depending on your preferences. Stand-alone clothes sinks are seamless, while the self-rim style has a small rim at the top. Kohler is known as a leader in creative fixtures and offers stylish options for undermount sinks, like the stainless steel Kohler Undertone or the round Tandem, which comes in 17 colors, including brilliant Iron Cobalt blue. The easy-to-use tandem also includes a soaking tray, clothes tray and lower sink shelf to give you mobile work areas for soaking, spot treating and other laundry tasks.
- wall mounted the sinks are attached to the wall so you can install them at the height you want and add more storage space underneath. You need to add some wall brackets to secure the wall mounted sink. This style also includes a backsplash, which enhances the look of the sink.
material
Forget the old plastic tub in your mom’s laundry room. Today’s laundry sinks come in a variety of attractive and durable materials, including stainless steel, cast iron, stone, porcelain, toughened plastic, and even glass. While appearance is important, the sink must be durable. Remember that you’re likely to use harsh chemicals in this sink, like bleach and turpentine, so look for a sink that’s tough enough to handle all the jobs you need. Look for a sink that resists scratches, burns, and stains.
Laundry sinks are a welcome addition to any laundry room. With new designs available, you can add valuable features without compromising your quest for style.