If you’re having problems with your water being too hard, it might be time to invest in the best kitchen sinks for hard water. Here’s our top 10.
Hard water can cause a wide range of issues in your home, from stained dishes to clogged drains.
Kitchen sinks designed for hard water generally have sloped sides that prevent water from accumulating in a particular space.
Many sinks also have a built-in filter for hard water. Some sinks have a special coating that discourages mineral build-up.
So if you’re looking for a way to improve your water quality and simplify your life, a kitchen sink for hard water is the perfect solution.
Top Kitchen Sinks For Hard Water
10 Best Kitchen Sinks for Hard Water:
1. Kraus 33-inch Farmhouse Apron Single Bowl Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- NoiseDefend Soundproofing Technology
- Wear-Resistant Finish
- Specially Made High-Quality Stainless Steel
- Incredibly Durable
- Rust Resistant
The Kraus 33-inch kitchen sink has a square design and is made with incredibly durable T304 heavy-duty stainless steel in a TRU16 gauge which is 1.5mm thick. The steel is incredibly strong and can easily resist any type of hard water or other stains.
The sink can easily last up to 20 years, and its clean commercial-grade wear-resistant finish on it can help resist rust, corrosion, and more. Along with that, the sink comes with NoiseDefend soundproofing technology.
The sink features thick pads covering most of the sink with a non-toxic undercoating for even more insulation. And overall, it’ll make your sink sound much quieter.
That’s not all, it even comes with completely free accessories such as a protective stainless steel bottom grid, a cutout template, and a 3-piece basket straining set.
It’s extremely affordable for those who have hard water in the kitchen compared to other sinks too, so it’s definitely worth going for.
Pros:
- Resists rust and corrosion
- Super easy to clean
- Resistant to dents and chips
- Incredibly easy to install
- Fast customer service
Cons:
- Debris can accumulate after some time
- It can get scratches.
2. Ruvati Verona Apron-front Workstation Single Bowl Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Specially Designed Stain-Resistant Large Bowls
- Built-in Ledges
- SoundGuard & NoiseDefend Undercoating
- Center Rear Drain
- Durable Stainless Steel
Most workstation kitchen sinks will be congested or just won’t be good enough to do all your tasks at once. But Ruvati Verona has come up with an excellent compact design for a workstation sink while still having tons of features.
The point of a workstation sink is to do everything you normally do on your kitchen counters, such as chopping vegetables and drying food items, all in one sink, which has done that perfectly.
It comes with all 4 essential accessories such as a hardwood cutting board to cut any vegetable or meat you want, a high-quality drying rack, a colander, and a full basket straining kit, including a drain cover.
You can use all of these comfortably without ever feeling like you don’t have enough space with this sink, and the bowl is extremely big, making things even easier. It has built-in ledges, too.
Along with that, the SoundGuard and NoiseDefend undercoating allow you to reduce condensation and minimize noise as much as possible. The sloped bottom allows no water to be stuck either, and you have slightly curved corners to make everything much easier to clean.
It uses heavy-duty, durable 16-gauge stainless steel too, so cleaning this will be a breeze. In addition, the center-reared drain allows everything to drain quicker and easier.
Pros:
- 36” wide space to work with
- Includes a full assembly and installation guide
- Drainage is quick, easy, and consistent
- Includes a commercial-grade brushed finish
- Fast Customer Service
Cons:
- Possibilities of getting scratched often
- Can catch rust.
3. Sarlai 16 Gauge Stainless Steel Deep Single Bowl Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Rust-Resistant Material
- 16-Gauge Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Material
- Sound Insulation Effect On Back Layer
- Anti-Condensation Features
- Scratch-Resistant Steel
If you live alone or don’t need to use your kitchen sink regularly, it’s a better option. And for that, this kitchen sink is perfect. It’s only 30” wide, but it’s made with extremely resistant high-quality stainless steel.
Along with that, cleaning can’t get any easier with this sink. It has a NANO PVD layer around the entire sink, and it’ll make cleaning as easy as wiping water from a leaf, and the material is completely resistant to scratches and rust.
The sink itself consists of everything you might need, such as a chopping board, a drying rack, and a basket-straining kit. These are all big enough to comfortably work but compact enough so you can use the sink itself.
There are several modes to work with too, and you can easily switch between a cutting board or a separate sink mode.
Another good feature is when you need to use your cutting board but have dishes that you don’t need to wash at that time. You can get the chopping board to cover the whole sink instead of one little corner.
Pros:
- Several modes to work with
- 3-month free money-back guarantee
- Convenient easy-to-access ledges
- No vibrations
- Completely resistant to scratches, rust, and hard water stains
Cons:
- Installation can be a bit difficult
- The cutting board can get warped
4. BLANCO Anthracite 33.5″ X 22″ SILGRANIT Super Single Drop-In Hard Water Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Resistant Granite Composite Material
- Incredible Resistant Technology For Stains & Scratches
- Fully Resistant To Dents & Chips
- Antimicrobial Design
- Self-rimming style
Undermount sinks are installed directly onto the countertop instead of making a hole in the wall, and this BLANCO Anthracite hard water protective sink can be the perfect choice for an undermount sink as it’s compact but has tons of features.
These sinks are mostly always pretty basic and are made out of stainless steel, but this one is made out of an incredibly resistant granite composite material. Since this material is so durable, it’s completely resistant to hard water, stains and scratches.
But that’s not all. The material is resistant to heat and to dents and chips. Resistance isn’t the only good thing, though, since it has an antimicrobial design allowing even more safety.
You can install the sink both as an undermount and a drop-in, and the installation is incredibly easy. It also comes with optional accessories you can pick, such as a cutting board.
If anything goes wrong, you can just call customer support overall being excellent for an undermount sink.
Pros:
- Super easy to install
- Can be installed as a drop-in
- Resistant to heat, scratches, stains, chips, and dents.
- Hygienic and food-friendly
- Can last for 20-30 years
Cons:
- Can get cracked
- The base may darken even without stains
5. ZUHNE Stainless Steel 30-Inch Apron Front Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Suitable As Undermount, Flush, and Built-up
- Resistant Design
- Noise Cancelling Technology
- Great Thermal Insulation
- Rust-proof stainless steel material
The farmhouse sink can be installed as undermount, flush up, or built up. The sink is not only versatile but comes with tons of features making your overall experience much better.
So if you’re looking for a versatile sink that can help you with hard water problems, this sink is for you. The material used for it is high-quality 16-gauge stainless steel, and it’s resistant to rust and stains. There isn’t a possibility to get heavy dents either.
The kitchen sink is also made with a special noise cancellation technology that can cancel noise and vibrations up to 2.5 times better than a regular sink. It’s designed with curved corners too, so it’ll be much easier to clean than most other sinks.
Along with that, the drains can drain water incredibly fast, and the sink has better thermal insulation than most other ones. There’s also condensation technology to prevent any further damage.
Zuhne is a trusted company too, so you won’t have any issues with customer support. The steel used for the sink is thick too, and it uses 40% more steel than a standard apron sink.
Buying it will include extra accessories such as a scratch protector grid, drain strainer, sponge holder, and a colander set.
Pros:
- Incredibly quiet
- Great thermal insulation
- Completely rustproof and stain proof
- Super easy to maintain
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Not completely resistant to dents
- It can’t be top-mounted
6. Kraus KGD-412B 31.5 Inch Black Quarza Granite Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- 80% Natural Quartz Material
- Supports Undermount & Drop-in Installations
- Hygienic Non-porous Material
- Extremely Durable & Resistant To Stains & Scratches
- Advanced Fast Draining Technology
Granite composite sinks will usually be expensive, but not with this one. It’s 31.5” wide but has tons of features and is excellent for anyone on a lower budget.
The material is completely antimicrobial on this, meaning it’s incredibly hygienic, and you won’t ever have to worry about it getting dirty.
Dirt, grime, or other stains don’t stand a chance either since they can be as easy to remove as one swipe.
It’s made using 80% natural quartz, too, so you can get the look and feel of using a real stone for your sink, even for a low price. You can also install the sink as both an undermount and a drop-in without worrying about the countertop.
The corners might look square, but they’re gently rounded too to make cleaning even easier. It can withstand over 650 degrees Fahrenheit of heat and is entirely resistant to other stains, dirt, or dents.
There’s a slightly sloped bottom too, so drainage will be extremely fast. The soundproofing technology also allows it to be quiet, and the natural material suppresses most sounds anyway. Overall, it’s an excellent pick for a low budget.
Pros:
- Incredibly stable and sturdy
- Easy to install
- Can last for 20+ years
- Extremely easy to clean
- Fast and easy draining
Cons:
- Corners can crack easily
- Shipping service can be poor
7. Lordear 33 Inch Matte Black Stainless Steel Double Bowl Sink with hard water protection
Highlighted Features:
- X-shaped Diversion Water Design
- High-quality Accessories
- Incredibly Strong & Resistant Stainless Steel
- Strong Bottom Rinse Grid
Fast draining double bowl sinks are getting relatively rare nowadays since single oversized bowls seem to be much easier to clean and maintain. However, if you need both bowls to work efficiently, this kitchen sink is possibly the best option you have.
Double bowl sinks are meant for multitasking capabilities, and this one masters that. You can do all your regular kitchen activities that use your sink extremely fast here since the sink is made in an X-shaped diversion allowing the water to flow to the drain from all four corners.
Along with that, it’s even sloped slightly to help prevent any excessive stuck water from being caught in the drain. The drainage system is extremely fast too, so you won’t have to worry about your water getting stuck in the sink.
This black kitchen sink uses a matte black stainless steel material on it, which looks slick and modern. The material is completely resistant to stains and hard water, and the corners are slightly curved to make cleaning much easier.
You won’t have to worry about getting scratches or rust either, since the steel bottom rinse grid is fantastic and durable, and you can dry your dishes there too. It also comes with other accessories such as a stainless steel drain, a debris strainer, and a roll-up rack.
Pros:
- Sturdy and stable
- Great for multitasking
- Won’t catch rust
- Resistant to heat
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Can get bent easily
- Can get a dark color over time
8. KRAUS 16 Gauge Undermount Single Bowl Enameled Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Durable T304 Stainless Steel
- Glossy Porcelain Enamel Coating
- NoiseDefend Technology
- Scratch & Stain Resistant
- Lightweight Design
The Kraus kitchen sink uses extremely high-quality T304 stainless steel, and scratching this sink is extremely difficult. The durable material resists stains from hard water too.
It also comes with the well-known NoiseDefend soundproofing technology making everything quieter. The sink is 31 inches wide and is extremely spacious, and the bowl is deep, so you won’t have to worry about not having enough space.
It’s an undermount sink, and the rubber padding absorbs all sorts of noises and vibrations. The bottom is gently sloped too for easier draining. However, this slope has a very specific angle, so your glassware won’t tip over on it.
The corners are slightly curved, so you won’t notice a difference far away, but they’ll make cleaning much more convenient, and it’ll be a breeze.
The enamel finish allows it to withstand 1500 degrees Fahrenheit of heat too, and it’s resistant to dents and chips.
Pros:
- Super easy to install
- Incredible heat resistance and durability
- Excellent enamel coating
- Lightweight design
- Great value for money
Cons:
- The enamel coating is thin
- Can get hard to clean if the stains dry
9. DELTA Everest 33-inch Granite Composite Undermount Single Bowl Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- WorkFlow Ledge
- Wood-grain Surface Cutting Board
- Anti Splatter Design
- Naturally Sound Absorbent
- Color-Stable Material
If you’re looking for an excellent premium and compact undermount kitchen sink, this DELTA Everest 33-inch Granite Composite hard water protective sink is for you. It’s made using a high-quality granite composite and is extremely reliable and has tons of features.
The 32” undermount kitchen sink is no joke, and it comes with almost everything you could need. This includes an easy-to-clean and durable cutting board, built-in slots for drying, utensil holders, a roll-up drying rack with a silicone coating, a silicone mat, and a matching drain assembly with a strainer.
Although it’s a compact workstation sink and the bowl is large, it’s designed specifically to prevent splattering.
Along with that, the drain is almost instant and you don’t have to worry about your water getting clogged or stuck in the sink.
The highly resistant granite composite used on this can resist all sorts of things such as hard water, heat, dust, stains, dents, and more. It’s a naturally sound-absorbing material too, so you’ll get fewer vibrations and noise while you’re in your kitchen.
Along with that, the material is entirely color stable, meaning you won’t ever have to worry about the color fading over time. It’s antimicrobial and the curved edges will make it extremely easy to clean.
Pros:
- Color-Stable material
- More workstation accessories than a regular sink
- Incredibly durable
- Super easy to install
- Premium quality accessories
Cons:
- Doesn’t have the best strainer
- Might not always fit if you have a big garbage disposal
10. KRAUS Kore Workstation 33-inch Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
Highlighted Features:
- Integrated Ledge
- TRU16 Stainless Steel Material
- Easy Straining
- NoiseDefend Noiseproofing
- Highly resistant to stains
The material used in this KRAUS Kore Workstation sink is 16-gauge durable stainless steel.
This is one of the few sinks that come with a 16-gauge TRU16 stainless steel, the thickest and most durable steel on the market. It’s the best option you can possibly get for kitchen sinks that don’t scratch, and it’ll have the best durability against hard water, scratches, stains, and dents.
The workstation accessories include a roll-up drying rack, a bamboo cutting board, a dish grid, a drain cover, and a strainer. Although bamboo wood might sound like a bad idea, it’s incredibly durable and is super easy to clean.
It has a single large bowl that’s around 9” deep, and there’s an offset drain in it, allowing fast draining. The kitchen sink is fully insulated with NoiseDefend soundproofing, and it will reduce vibrations or noise.
Pros:
- Uses the thickest stainless steel in the market
- Easy to install
- Incredible versatility
- Convenient ledge placement
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Can catch rust
- Won’t work well with quartz countertops
Things To Consider Before Buying a Kitchen Sink For Hard Water
Bowl Size
There are mainly three different sizes when it comes to kitchen sinks — single oversized bowls, double bowls, and triple bowls. This, most of the time comes down to personal preference, but otherwise, you usually won’t need anything more than a double bowl.
Hard water doesn’t affect the bowl of your kitchen sink anyway if you use the right material, so you just have to pick the size that suits you the best.
If you need to multitask, you should pick the double bowl, but other than that, a single oversized bowl can work the best and is the easiest to clean.
Sink Material
Not all materials are resistant to hard water, and they can easily get stained or get corroded. But the most common materials that are good for hard water are stainless steel, granite, copper, composite, fireclay, and greystone.
These all look fantastic, so you can just pick any that fits your liking. However, some can be more expensive than others.
So if you’re going for a luxurious look, you can pick greystone, fireclay, granite, or composite, but stainless steel will work the best for most people.
Stainless steel and copper are the cheapest out of them all too, so they’re the most commonly used material.
Sink Type
There are tons of sink types out there, but undermount sinks are the most common ones. This is because they often work the best for kitchens too, especially for hard water.
In a nutshell, undermount sinks are installed with the kitchen countertop instead of being placed in a pre-cut hole inside the countertop.
Since they’re installed like this, there isn’t a rim between the sink and the countertop. This makes it more costly but also better looking. So depending on your preferences, an undermount sink can be excellent.
Faucets
If you live in a cold country or just prefer getting hot water out of your taps, you should definitely consider getting a hot-water faucet. These are installed underneath the cabinet and can provide water up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooking can be much easier with this too since you’ll often need already heated or boiled water for various dishes.
However, hard water tends to accumulate more when you heat them up, so getting a softener with your faucet is highly recommended.
Wide Drainage Sections
One of the most important parts of a sink is the drainage, so you shouldn’t ever cheap out on them. Instead, try to pick a sink with wide draining sections since they make a bigger difference than you might think.
Difference Between Hard Water & Regular Water Use In Kitchen
As mentioned above, hard water is water with more minerals than your regular drinking water. This might sound harmless, but it can contain so many minerals that they’ll be harmful to your kitchen.
Some of the most notable minerals they contain are magnesium, lime, and calcium. This is why they aren’t the best for regular use in your kitchen, since they can easily react with other materials or chemicals.
One of the best examples of this is soap and other cleaning materials. When these come in touch with hard water, they can cause deposits in your sink, clog your drainage pipes, and they can stain your kitchen sink and faucet.
This makes hard water require much more maintenance than regular water when it comes to basic use in the kitchen. The best way to prevent this is by investing in different and more resistant materials for your sink itself.
Hard water stains usually look white or brown, and they’re not easy to get off either. You can also notice deposits on the openings or edges of your faucet, drain, and pipes.
This is the main difference between hard water and regular water in the kitchen. So if you want to prevent these changes or minimize them, get a resistant material for your sink, such as stainless steel or consider using a softener.
How to Deal with Hard Water Problems
Hard water can only create stains over a long period of time in your sinks. Stainless steel prevents your sink from getting hard water stains too, but at some point, you will get a few hard water stains.
So to prevent this, you should use a softener. A softener will remove as many unnecessary minerals as possible from your water, allowing you to have next to no chances of getting hard water stains.
Softeners can be a bit costly, depending on your sink, though. So even if you have a stainless steel sink with a softener, you should learn how to keep it clean from any hard water stains or deposits, especially on the faucets. Here’s a step-by-step guide to removing them from the faucets —
- Soak a clean cloth in vinegar and cover the faucet with it. Make sure to cover the areas with visible hard water deposits well.
- Let the cloth sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Leaving it for an hour will give the best results.
- Take the cloth off and get a non-scratch sponge to prevent scratching your faucet, and scrub the entire faucet. Make sure to rub well on the white/brown hard water stain areas.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with water.
- Repeat these steps if the stains don’t go away instantly, or leave the cloth there for longer.
These are all steps to clean your faucet. A softener will prevent most stains on your kitchen sink itself, but if it doesn’t and you get hard water stains, you can follow the same steps above to keep your sink clean.
Kitchen Sink Material For Hard Water
There are tons of options when it comes to good kitchen sinks, but you might be wondering what kind of sink is best for hard water. The most obvious choice is stainless steel since it’s usually the cheapest option and can work best for more people. But here’s an in-depth list of the best kitchen sink materials:
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel kitchen sinks can last 15-30 years. They’re resistant to scratches and stains and are easy to clean. On top of that, they are usually cheap, too.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is much better than stainless steel, but it does come at a higher price.
However, cast iron kitchen sinks can last for 20-30 years and are much more resistant to hard water than stainless steel. It’s hard to get dents or chips on these sinks too, and they’re easy to clean and are one of the most durable kitchen sink materials.
Quartz Composite
If you’re willing to spend some money, quartz composite sinks can be the best possible option for your kitchen, especially for hard water. They look luxurious, and they can last for 40-50 years!
They’re also resistant to stains, dents, and scratches, and are extremely easy to clean. Along with that, it’s fully antimicrobial, making it perfect for any kitchen.
So overall, stainless steel is the best cheapest option, cast iron is the best mid-range option, and quartz composite is the best material for a sink.
Final Thoughts
Hard water is a common problem in the kitchen. This is why using the best kitchen sink for hard water is so important.
Hopefully, now you have a good idea to choose the right sink for hard water. There are tons of options to pick from, but stainless steel ones can be the most durable and the cheapest.
But as a final note, I’d highly recommend you keep your faucet aerators clean. Although these aren’t visible, they’re the most prone to getting hard water stains, and they can affect the flow of the water.
