Is it a Kohler Enameled Cast Iron sink? Did your last one get marks in it (before you used the mat)?

I'm asking because I've had 2 of the Kohler Enameled Cast Iron sinks, and I find them to be the most totally bulletproof, workhorse things in the house.

I've been hard o these sinks, and any marks comp up with a quick scouring, or, if necessary (but it never seems to be) some bleach.

That said, we just put one in my parents' new home, and my mom uses a grid. She just can't get used to the idea of not protecting it. The grid works well, seems to be easy to clean.

We use a stainless steel rack in our Kohler sink and I really like it, though it does need to be cleaned periodically or it gets grimy. No idea if it protects any differently than a mat, but I like that it's slightly off the floor of the sink so water can run underneath things that are on it. It helps a lot that it's designed for the sink and fits perfectly, though--not sure if you could still get one for a discontinued sink or not.

My old Kohler has no marks on it, and I never got any. So from a distance it looks perfect, but when looking closer it has quite a few of those tiny scratches in the glaze, particularly in the area closer to the drain. As I said, it is 20 years old, so I certainly can't complain, and this is one of the reasons we also decided to just put in the exact same sink.

Madeline you just go as is and don't use anything in your sink to protect it? Do you have any of the teeny scratches I am referring to ?

Artemis, does the rack that is designed for your sink cover the entire floor pretty closely, or does it just kind of fit in the middle and is vaguely the same shape as the sink? I ask because I am thinking I could perhaps find a different newer model with a similar configuration and measurements and use a grid from that.

Hi needinfo,

I agree with Artemis, the idea of water neing able to flow under the grid is nice.

I just put my head in the prep sink :) No teeny scratches--if they're there, they're way too small to see.

FWIW, I replaced my previous Kohler Enameled Cast Iron prep sink, as well as the the main kitchen sink--also Kohler Enameled Cast Iron. This was for aesthetics--went from bisque to white. Both previous sinks were truly in perfect condition. And I'm hard on sinks--I wash cast iron pots, leave coffee grounds and other spills for hours, and don't scrub the sinks as often as I should ;)

Anyway, the new main sink is fireclay. It's held up really well, but I can't be totally laid back about how I treat it like I was with the Kohler!

My Mom loves hers, as well. Like you, though, she's opting for the grid just in case.

We recently replaced our 27 year old Kohler cast iron, and it looked pretty darn good considering we never had a bottom mat or grate in it. Washed all our pots and pans in it as well. We did for years have one of those rubbermaid thinggys the at drape over the center divider, I supposed that helped somewhat, but I agree those sinks are bullet proof and you really don't need to worry about babying it. Glad you found the sink you were looking for!

My kd looked at me like I had two heads when I said I wanted an enameled cast iron sink. I am going with the Kohler Whitehaven apron front sink and I am looking forward to it. I am going to get the stainless grid from the beginning.

Not sure what ur KD was thinking, holly-kay! The enameled cast iron is so hard-working, and the Whitehaven is gorgeous. That's the one we put in my parents' house--bulletproof and looks gorgeous.

Maybe your KD just wasn't familiar with the Kohler line of enameled cast iron? Did she think it should be fireclay? Stainless?

Madeline, he was familiar with the apron front as it was in one of his display models and he actually suggested the apron front. When I said I wanted cast iron there was that momentary look of surprise. He has used Kohler cast iron in the past but he seemed surprised that I wanted the iron sink and not something different (fireclay perhaps?) He included a Kohler apron front sink in the initial drawing, but it wasn't the Whitehaven. I suggested using the Whitehaven model because I wanted the rear drain. He called the next day and said it was actually an even easier sink for the installers to use so I think he was glad that I was a PITA and pushed for it.

I am interested on what to use as well. Many of the responses say they do not use anything. Is there anyone here who has purchased grids for the bottom of their sinks that are not the ones specifically made for their particular model? If so, where did you get them?

For needinfo, the rack for our sink covers the floor completely, but is on little rubber feet so you could possibly use a smaller one with an appropriately placed drain hole on a larger sink and it wouldn't slide much. Not sure if things would be prone to falling to the sides or under it, though. Does Kohler (or anyone else) make a current sink with a similar basin size?

I love my Kohler cast iron! I've been wondering about whether I need a grid too so it's good to know the enamel wears like iron. I have noticed on a friend's older sink that the interior finish is dull/etched. I don't think you can use things like Soft Scrub.

One thing with mine, the middle of the right side is about 1/4" off the counter. It doesn't lay flush. It was installed with clear caulk so it really shows. Does anyone else's sink do this? He had said it's common.

Bar keeper's friend should be all you need for cleaning it. I looked to order the stainless grid but they are back ordered. I have a 36 inch sink base but i am not sure what size the specs call for as far as the sink goes.

We just inherited an older Kohler cast iron sink and I wanted to buy one of those grids for the bottom. Called Kohler customer service. They were very friendly and very helpful. Told me every Kohler sink has a number underneath. She matched which grid would work on my old sink.

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We got the (very expensive!) grid that is made by Kohler for the Whitehaven sink. So far, so good.

I have a white Kohler sink that's now 23 years old. I started out with a mat, which I ditched after about 2 weeks because it had all kinds of grime caught in it. I wash my pans and pots about 98% of the time in the sink and it has been basically bullet proof. No chips, dents, major scratches. It looks great. I will scrub every now and then with a sponge (green side) and fill with bleach/water. Only noticed lately something that looks like rust on the outside edge

I have an 18 year old Kohler cast iron sink... it has some wear marks on the bottom, but you can't tell unless you are about 8 inches away, head in the basin. I'm actually more worried about protecting my dishes from the sink than the sink from the dishes.

We inherited a Kohler Heartland cast iron sink when we bought the house and I love it. I decided to keep it when we changed out the countertops and I had the undercount sink in our other home and this one has A lot of room inside. When I need to clean it I use Mrs. Meyers llama purpose cleaner, baking soda scrub, or the vinegar scrub. It’s holds up very well. Most of the time I just use Dawn detergent. Good luck! If you are worried Joseph Joseph makes some fun tubs with a drain you can wash or dry your items in but you still have to clean those really well at times.

I use a stainless steel cooling rack for a sink grid. I glur gunned some plastic on the little legs so It doesn’t leave scratches. It’s working fine but I’m searching for a 16x30 grid. Something raised that won’t sit flat In my sink. I wash fruits and veggies and drain dishes on it too, so I must have something water will run freely under. I hope someone posts Information where something like this can be purchased.

New question. I agonized over what kind of sink to get and at my husband's prodding ordered a Ruvati, brushed stainless steel, single bowl sink. My heart aches knowing it will arrive the 25th and there's no keeping stainless from scratching. I truly wanted cast iron but we are installing butcher block counters and using a top mounted sink and we were worried that, over time, the weight of the sink might warp the counter. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

We just had a vintage cast iron sink reglazed. It was pretty beat up after 100+ years as a basement utility sink. I've just about given up trying to find grids that will work to protect the bottoms unless we get the flexible rubber grids and cut out the drain holes ourselves.

Have any of you had success with just BKF on an old reglazed sink?

Great sink! Who did you find to reglaze it? Last time I looked (7 or 8 years ago) there was only one place in the country that did reglazing.

By the way, I have successfully used those flexible silicone grids and cut out the hole myself. Works well. I just stick it in the dishwasher when it gets cruddy. My Oxo one has small feet on the bottom to help lift it off the surface of the sink.

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Silicone-Large/dp/B00OCFCK70

Surprised at all the comments in bullet proof. After a couple months all the shine has come off from using soft scrub, probably too hard. No fix. But started polishing with car wax that helps it look less dull.

@Michelle Akers, is it an enameled cast iron sink? That is surprising if so--our Kohler sink is 11 years old and while it gets grungy in between cleanings, it polishes up beautifully with Bon Ami. The only thing showing any real wear is the drain trim (but that is easily replaceable if we ever decide we care enough about the scratches on it). If yours is only a few months old and showing problems, I would definitely reach out to Kohler and see if there's something else going on.