Hopefully, all these sink posts will prove to you that I’m trying hard to like the granite composite sink. I’m having an open mind. This afternoon I climbed in the cabinet and looked under the sink and found the model number and all the info and then found the exact sink online that I currently have. It’s this one.
My Sink
I’ve moaned and complained about not liking this sink but I think I don’t like it because it doesn’t shine. It isn’t supposed to shine. I like for my sink to shine! Other than being dullish and grayer than I think it should be, my sink looks brand new. No scratches, no scrapes, no stains (but it is black, or it was black). The sink is a Franke brand and it’s a bit confusing about where it’s made. I thought they were all made in the USA but my tag clearly says “Made in the UK”.
I have five weeks to think about the sink and honestly, I should like this sink because it has performed perfectly, despite at least two years of the amount of use and abuse I dish out. But . . it doesn’t shine . . not meant to shine . . and never will really shine.
The tag on the sink says it was manufactured in May, 2007. Honestly, I thought my house was built in 2006 so either it was built in 2006 and they changed out the sink but I doubt they did that because this was the deer camp and they probably weren’t here that much. They built the bigger house that was part of the same ranch in probably 2008 so it may be that they put the same sink in there and decided they liked it so much, they bought one for the camp. I have no idea how it worked but the bottom line is, my sink was manufactured about 6-1/2 years ago.
This is what my sink looks like as clean as it gets.
My Sink
It’s dully and gray! Do you kinda see why I don’t like it? I read online about how to clean it. Maybe it’s hard water buildup but we have a water softener. What I read said to rub it down with vinegar and then dry it and then polish it with baby oil.
I have no baby oil but I have coconut oil so I rubbed the left side with coconut oil.
Left Side
I rubbed the right side with Renaissance wax.
Right side
The side rubbed with the coconut oil looks better but it’s just not acceptable for me.
Sink
It looks better but I still don’t think I’m going to change my mind about preferring the stainless steel.
Gwen says
That does not look appealing to me. I’m all for a shiny finish that is easy to clean. The only thing I would change about my stainless one is improved insulation.
Claudia Wade says
Judy
I have a granite composite sink very similar to yours. I love mine and I have never cleaned mine with anything other than clean hot detergent water usinga soft sponge, like what you would dishes or pots and pans with.
For your sink to look as bad as it does in the picture, I think at some point your sink was cleaned improperly, probably frequently, with something like Comet cleanser or some other abrasive cleanser. Once treated like that, it is covered with tiny scratches that will always look dull and dingy.
You really must be gentle with granite composite sinks, like you would be with a very expensive pot or pan. Mine always looks brand new and spot free, but as you say, not shiny.
That said, since you really seem to want a stainless sink that you can scrub and polish, I think you should go for stainless.
JudyL says
I don’t think there was every much cooking done in my kitchen before we got here so I’m thinking it may be more of a hard water buildup. The sides and around the faucets .. everywhere looks the same. Mine is a grayish black . . slate it’s called so it’s not really black but even with the amount of cleaning and polishing I did tonight, it looks better but not good enough for me to want another one.
Judy H says
I have a stainless sink, and if I ever get the opportunity to change it, the only thing I’d change is the front. A double stainless sink with an apron front would be my first choice! I love those!
JudyL says
I’m kinda thinking about that too. I love the apron but I definitely want a double sink with the full divider.
Judy H says
They definitely make them – you just may have to order it…. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished kitchen!
barbara says
i agree, it does look dull. the only thing i don’t like about a stainless sink is the noise, but i love the shine, like you do. there are nice configurations to choose from for double sinks. i have one large and deep sink on one side and one smaller and regular depth on the other. i can wash my giant pressure canner in the big one and/or soak small things in the smaller section. i find it very handy. i also went with a tall faucet so i could get tall pots underneath. i’m very happy with my combo. maybe something to think about?
Pat Converse says
Yup, looks dull and you shouldn’t have to rub a sink with baby oil to make it presentable! I’d go with the stainless.
Teresa says
My granite composite sink looks loads better than that and it is about the same age. I think mine is probably close to the same color. I suspect yours is not top of the line and mine probably is. When I built my house, I didn’t skimp on much. If you want pictures of mine, email me and I will send them. I can also find out what mine is, with a bit of digging in my files. I am not one to clean my sink much, so stainless would not be my first choice. I need something that doesn’t show that I haven’t cleaned it a hundred times a day. I know it sounds like I have icky food and gross stuff in the sink, but really it isn’t. it is just that it is so easy to clean. Just like Claudia, I only use regular dish detergent or perhaps some of that kitchen counter spray and it is beautiful. It doesn’t shine, like you said, it is not meant to, but it is not dull, either. We have hard, rusty water, with a water softener, though. I do not see any issues with my sink at all.
Judy Laquidara says
Mine is a $415 sink so it obviously isn’t top of the line but nothing I buy will be. I saw stainless sinks for over $2,500 and I’m just not paying that much — top of the line or not.
No, I don’t need pictures. I don’t like mine and won’t buy another one.
chris says
That is one depressing sink!! You’ve done well to live with it for as long as you have.
Anita Sweeney says
Hi Judy
Just wanted to say how much I love your blog. The amount that you fit into your day amazes me! You also make me smile. I like your sense of humour.
I have a stainless steel sink at home and while it doesn’t always shine(!), it’s pretty indestructible, and does clean up pretty well if I take the time to do it. We’ve just come back from holiday where we had a sink similar to yours. I hated it! I know it’s not plastic but I was worried about putting hot pots into it, and it just never felt clean, despite being pretty new, I think.
Good luck with your decision making. I say – if you’ve hated your current sink, don’t be talked into having another one!!
Anita, Melbourne, Oz.
Susan says
I’m with you. A sink doesn’t look clean unless it shines!
Sharon says
Sinks should shine! I wonder if it’s because we grew up with stainless steel sinks that we feel that way?
Diana in RR, TX says
I will have to ask the guys designing our kitchen what they know and think about the granite composite sinks. They have been doing this for a long time and should have some feed back. I am interested to see what they say. I still plan on going with a decent stainless tho.
Jan O says
I’m with you on the stainless steel sink, Judy. I wouldn’t have any other.
Gail Fines says
I switched out a perfectly fine stainless steel sink a couple of years ago because it had two bowls of the same size and not enough depth. I like a small bowl for the dishwasher and a big one on the other side to hold all my cookie sheets, etc. The sink is something you use every day-in your case, during canning season especially, more than once every day. It should be something that suits your needs and doesn’t leave you cranky! I’ve never regretted the change I made, I did have to order my sink but it only took a few days to get here. Go with what you really want.
Melody says
Thanks for sharing with us. I hate stainless and loved composite when I had it. The house we live in now has stainless. Having said that, you should get what you want. It is yours and you are the one using it and cleaning. Excited for you and your kitchen facelift. 🙂
Pat Hathaway says
I agree–I don’t like your sink either. What were they thinking!
When bought our house it came with one of those molded countertops and sinks–I have no idea what it is made of, but it doesn’t shine either. It is supposed to be white but stains horrible. I have no idea if the sink can be removed without replacing the countertops too.I love the countertops but I wished they shined a little. We have horribly bad water and it leaves drops and puddles that cloud up if you don’t wipe it off immediately.
I miss my stainless sinks too. Even hard water came off them easier than the food stains on this white stuff. I’m envious that you can remove your sink without tearing up the whole kitchen. Hope you are able to find something you can love.
Diann says
I love stainless steel the best. There’s a spray bottle of stainless steal wipe/cleaner that I buy at Bed, Bath, Beyond but it’s everywhere I think that keeps everything shiny all the time. I wipe it down w/ that about once a week.
Diann says
oops…stainless STEEL cleaner. HA
Claudia Wade says
Who would have thought that we women are so passionate about our kitchen sinks!
Deb says
Judy, if you prefer a stainless sink – go for it! You use the kitchen you should get what you want. My only suggestion would be to get one deep part (you’ll love it for filling or cleaning big pots). I really miss that with my new house.
Rebecca in SoCal says
Pictures of your current sink make the words “black hole” come to mind.
Whether you go with copper or stainless, enjoy picking out one right for YOU!
Chris says
I forgot to say that I agree with the person(s) (was there more than one?) who mentioned the sign with a small sink on the left and a huge deep one on the right. I have one like that and wouldn’t be without it! Love that canners, roaster pans, etc., all fit. Ditto to mixer bowls, etc., which result from baking extravaganzas. The first one I had like this came with a house we bought and I thought, what is this?!? But then I fell in love with it.
Chris says
Ack!! Not sign–sink!!
Deb says
Me again. I’ve had stainless at my first townhouse, house and now. Just the standard one bowl in the townhouse and a two bowl in the other two. My last house had a ‘farmhouse’ sink in cream with a smaller one on one side and a nice deep one for the other. As much as I didn’t like the staining that happened with the last sink I did love the big deep sink. If it was in stainless I would have been in heaven!
Susan ~ Patchkat says
I can understand why you’re not happy with your sink. I am like you….shiny is the word. I’m a stainless steel gal from wayyyyy back.
myrna sossner says
OK, I cheated … I have not read all the comments on the sink issue … but here are my 2cents! When we bought our home about 30 years ago, there was a divided aluminum sink with wall mounted faucets. It was not new, but it took a shine pretty good do we have kept it! It still takes a shine pretty good. I would not ever consider replacing it. The grout needs replacing around the edges but that is my only complaint. Judy, follow your heart/head… get a new sink.
myrna sossner says
OH! I meant stainless … not aluminum…(:
Sarah says
I have a similar sink, but it’s off-white and I have a terrible time keeping it stain-free. On the plus side, it absorbs the shock so no broken dishes.
I agree with comment number 7 as to sink size. So many times I’ve wished I had one deep sink for washing large pots.