A few questions! Sink Grid, Garbage Disposal/Pullout, Tapmaster

14 years ago

1. Sink grids, what do you use them for? They seem quite popular here but I've never actually seen one before

2. Garbage Disposal, we grew up without one, I've never actually seen one in use. Again they seem popular here, does everyone who has one love it? If not, why not? What's the downside?

3. Is it wise to put two 15" trash pullouts under the sink? One for garbage, one for small recycling (no boxes). It's a space that can be difficult to use efficiently unless used for garbage but but it also makes it difficult for anyone to access the trash if someones at the sink?

4. Is there any downside to a neutral/flush undermounted sink? I'm one of those people that loves to just sweep crumbs into the sink but little bits always get caught around the edge. To me undermount sounds marvelous :)

5. Why does everyone love plugmold so much? You can still see it unless you're tall and if you have appliances that are always plugged in (tea kettle, coffee pot, toaster, radio, telephone, etc..) instead of hiding your outlets behind the appliances, you have unsightly wires going up your backsplash? Am I missing something?

6. Tapmaster, if you have it, can you use your sink like a regular sink just by keeping it in the "locked on" position all the time? And then revert to the tapmaster function only when you want to? If so, is there any downside to having it installed?

thanks!

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Comments (6)

sue_b
14 years ago
1. Sink grids -- I have one on each side of my Blanco 1 3/4 bowl sink. My husband hates them because food gets caught on them and you have to pick them up to wipe out the sink. I think they are supposed to prevent scratches and I like to put drying handwashed items on them to drip dry. I'm used to them now and I put them in the dishwasher to get clean every now and then. If you don't they get very gunked up on the legs. You can skip it. I ordered all the Blanco accessories (colander and sink shelf) and I don't use any except the grids.

2. Garbage Disposal - I use it to catch food pieces and solids off rinsing dishes and then run it when I'm done, once. The sink never gets clogged.

3. I believe pullouts will not fit under a sink due to pipes. Best place for me for trash and recycling pullout is to my right when I'm facing the sink, dishwasher to my left. Under the sink is a pull out for holding dishwaher soap, stainless steel cleaner, trashbags, etc.

4. I like my undermounted sink because I can push wiped up water and spilled crumbs in to it easily.

5. I like the plugmold for the hand mixer, coffee grinder, blender, things I don't have on the counter. For the toaster I don't see/don't mind the cord and it's not noticeable.

6. Yes for a Tapmaster you can you use your sink like a regular sink just by keeping it in the "locked on" position all the time and controlling the faucet with the handle. It isn't often a visitor needs to use our kitchen sink but when they do they don't know how. I like it but I'm used to it and of course anyone could live happily without it.
qwibbled
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks! Regarding the trash pullout under the sink, I didn't think it was possible until I saw this photo, and this person even has a garbage disposal in there!

By the way does anyone know what kind of countertop this is? These photos are from a user on this forum (Morton5) but I can't figure out how to send a private message on these forums.
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jeri
14 years ago
My 2 cents :-)

1. I donÂt have sink grids but would like to. When I drain a pot, it would be nice to have the colander off the bottom of the sink. I also think it would help prevent scratches.

2. Always had a garbage disposal and would not want to be without a powerful one. My last house had a single basin sink, but this one has a double and the disposal is only on one side. I sure wish it was on both sides!

3. My last house was designed with two 15" trash pullouts under the sink. Because it was designed that way, it was easy to install the pipes out of the way. We had the disposal in the middle of the sink Â no problem. IMO, trash belongs under the sink. I know that not everyone agrees with me but it has always had me scratching my head wondering why. I did not want to give up base cabinet space for trash and there is plenty of space below the sink that would otherwise be wasted. The house we moved to can not accommodate the trash under the sink because of the pipes Â but when we remodel, we will remedy this.

Also Â my cans were the tall kitchen trash cans you can buy at Target. They could be removed and placed anywhere in the kitchen that I needed them to be. So if I had someone helping me peel potatoes for example, I simply moved the trash can to the chair where that person was sitting.

I really think this is the *best* setup. There is also plenty of room for the other under sink items such as gloves, sponges, dishwasher & dish soaps, etc. And, all of these things are easy to access because they are in pullouts.

4. We did undermount and will probably do that again for the reasons you gave.

5. I donÂt have plugmold so it is possible that I would not like it but I doubt it. You say you can see it? I find that hard to believe if you have a light rail and light Â which I would have. There are many times that I would like to use an appliance in a particular location but canÂt because of where the plug is located. Plugmold would be wonderful IMO. As discussed here before, if you know you will have appliances always plugged in and you know where those appliances will live, the best of both worlds would be to put a regular plug at that location.

6. I donÂt have a Tapmaster and though I am seriously intrigued, IÂm not sure we will ever get one. IÂve watched how I do things and it is not a problem for me to turn the faucet on with hands full of gunk Â I have the lever type faucet. I can see where turn knobs might be a problem.
jeri
14 years ago
Qwibbled Â I didnÂt see your post until after I posted mine. Morton5 did a fabulous IKEA kitchen Â one of my favs. Our last kitchen was also IKEA and our pullouts look just like MortonÂs Â though his may not be a 30" base Â those may be 12" pullouts. He also installed a compact disposal in that sink Â but I want you to know we have the full size in ours and it works just fine if you plan well.

MortonÂs kitchen is in the Finished Kitchen Blog and if you have not spent anytime there, you should! He states that his counter is Madura Gold granite.

If you have more questions for Morton, you can always start a new thread "Shout Out to Morton5" and then post your questions. IÂm sure he will see that. :-)
rosiew
14 years ago
I have a 7"deep x about 13" wide, 15" tall plastic trashcan under one side of my sink. It nudges against the disposal. Use grocery bags, stretched over the small handles. It was taller originally. I just measured and cut it down, maybe two inches. When I take the bags out, I can then give the top a strong knot and place in a bin in the garage. Maybe this will help some of you with limited space - no other space other than out in plain sight in my kitchen.

Rosie
lisaslists2000
14 years ago
I was going to say everything that Sue_B said. Also, Morton5 is on the forum and will prob get back to you pretty soon about your question.
Lisa

A few questions! Sink Grid, Garbage Disposal/Pullout, Tapmaster

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sue_b

qwibbled
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A few questions! Sink Grid, Garbage Disposal/Pullout, Tapmaster

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sue_b

qwibbledOriginal Author

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qwibbled
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