What is the small sink next to the big sink for?

Author: Johnny Dooley PhD  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Often a second sink is a smaller fixture used as a prep sink or for a beverage bar and it improves the way people work in a kitchen. This kitchen features two undermount stainless steel sinks with matching faucets. A smaller prep sink was added to the island for convenience to wash vegetables and thaw foods.

What is the small faucet next to a big faucet?

The extra smaller faucet may be an instant hot water tap. Look for a tank under your second faucet with a cord into an outlet or junction box that helps keep the water hot. You don't have to wait for the hot water to travel all the way from the water heater to your sink.

What is the little thing next to the kitchen sink for?

While you may guess that the valve has something to do with your kitchen sink, mainly because it's right next to it, you'd be incorrect. The valve is actually for the dishwasher and is commonly known as the dishwasher air gap.

What is the smaller side of the sink for?

In some households, you may need more room for one side of the sink. Double bowl sinks with unequal sides have one side that is smaller than the other. Many people choose the smaller side for soaking dishes while they use the larger basin for working in.

What is the second smaller sink for?

The extra space allows a load of things - you can wash up, and drain vegetables in the other sink, you can use the second bowl as an outlet for waste by attaching a waste disposal unit to the drainer. Washing, rinsing, resting, draining, prepping - all can be done in the second sink.

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Why is there a small sink next to the big sink?

Its used for draining off water from hot pots when there's dirty plates in the other, washing hands, rinsing off plates etc when washing up.. Storing washing up bottle and sponge lol the list goes on!

What should the second compartment sink be used for?

Rinse: Use the second sink to rinse the dishes in clean, warm water (minimum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit). Soak: Use the third sink to soak the dishes in a chemical sanitizing solution.

What is the tiny sink for?

Washing and Rinsing Cutlery and Small Items

Smaller items like cutlery, glasses, and small pots can be conveniently washed and rinsed in the tray. This option is particularly beneficial when you have only a few items to wash or want to conserve water.

What is the second part of the sink for?

The primary purpose of double-bowl sinks was to make dishwashing easier: one bowl for soapy water, the other bowl with clean water for rinsing. ... For instance, you can put dirty dishes in one bowl while you use the other for food preparation. It makes garbage disposal easier too.

What is the thing next to my kitchen sink faucet?

How an Air Gap Works. It's exactly as it sounds—a literal gap of air in the line that prevents dirty water backflowing into the fresh water.

What is the half sink used for?

An extra half bowl is perfect for when you just 'need to get to the sink for a second', if someone is already working there. The extra bowl is ideal to drain pasta in whilst the used pots go in the main bowl, keeping your kitchen clutter free at mealtimes.

What does an air gap do?

It creates a separation between the water supply and potentially contaminated water in a sink or other plumbing fixture. The use of an air gap is required by plumbing codes for certain plumbing fixtures, such as dishwashers, to prevent the backflow of potentially contaminated water into the clean water supply.

Why does my sink have two faucets?

Here's why: 💦 Hot and Cold Water: Some prefer separate control for precise temperature. 💦 Filtered Water: One for tap water, the other for filtered water.

What is the hose next to the faucet called?

CONNECTION HOSE

The hose that connects the faucet to the hot or cold water sources.

What is a centerset faucet?

Centerset faucets have three mounting holes. There's space for a connection to each tap and then the mixing connection for the spout in the middle. All faucets with this kind of mounting pattern are measured between the two furthest-spaced openings to get the desired measurement.

Why do people have 2 sinks in the kitchen?

Often a second sink is a smaller fixture used as a prep sink or for a beverage bar and it improves the way people work in a kitchen. This kitchen features two undermount stainless steel sinks with matching faucets. A smaller prep sink was added to the island for convenience to wash vegetables and thaw foods.

Should dish washing sinks be washed?

Regardless for which purposes it has been used, each section of the three-bay sink should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each dishwashing session, and it should also be completely emptied and cleaned every 4 hours. The dishes also should be prepped before they're washed.

Which must be cleaned but not sanitized?

Non-food contact surfaces like walls, ceilings, floors, and doorknobs exteriors still need regular cleaning. However, these surfaces do not need sanitizing–but you should consider creating a regular disinfecting schedule for non-food contact surfaces.

What is the third sink for?

In the third sink, soak rinsed dishes in a chemical sanitizing solution or hot water. Make sure the dishes are completely submerged. If you use a chemical sanitizer, read the directions on the container to know how long the dishes must stay in the solution.

Why is there a small sink next to the toilet in Italy?

The bidet is for washing your nether regions. That means specifically: you can use it to clean your butt, and/or your taint, and/or your genitals.

What is the point of the small sink?

While larger sinks tend to be utilised for cleaning equipment or preparing food, the compact kitchen sink is more often used for hand washing and sanitisation to avoid having to wash hands in areas where food is being prepared.

What is the second sink for?

More Space and Flexibility

A double sink also offers flexibility for different tasks. You can use one side for washing dishes and the other for rinsing vegetables, or use one side for soaking large pots and the other for scrubbing.

What should go in the last sink of a three compartment sink?

The final sink in the 3-sink method is used for sanitizing the dishes. Sanitizing is different from cleaning in sink 1. Cleaning is the process of physically removing germs, dirt, and other impurities from surfaces. Dishes must first be cleaned before they can be sanitized.

What is the purpose of a 2 compartment sink?

Two compartment sinks are best used for food thawing and prep. The separate bowls allow for easy segregation of tasks, such as soaking and rinsing dishes or washing fruit and vegetables. This helps to maintain a clean and organized workspace, increasing efficiency and productivity in the kitchen.

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