Choosing the Right Taps for your Kitchen

It's no secret that the kitchen is one of the most essential spaces in your home. It's where you cook your meals, prepare your snacks, and it could also be a place for gathering with family and friends. But along with the cooking and preparations also comes the cleaning. To maintain your kitchen, you have to wash and clean your used utensils, plates, and other cooking materials. Otherwise, your whole kitchen will be a mess. And remember, a messy kitchen and messy workplace can sometimes demotivate you and keep you from doing your best. So, it's important to wash and keep your space. Thus, it's important to have kitchen taps that are sturdy, reliable, and can effectively help you clean your cooking space. Otherwise, how would you keep your kitchen functional and clean?

Do kitchen taps really matter?

Yes, it does. Though it seems simple, the shape, design, and material of your water taps matter. This is because it can affect how you use them in your kitchen. Not only that, but the shape of your tap should also match your sink and, more importantly, your kitchen as a whole. If you've been struggling with washing the dishes in your kitchen or feel that your kitchen needs a little makeover, we'll help you out in picking out the right kitchen taps and what factors to consider!

What to Consider when Choosing Kitchen Taps

Material

When it comes to your kitchen, you should never settle for less. After all, how can you make delicious meals and wash utensils and other materials without a proper workspace? Hence, you should consider the material of your kitchen tap to ensure its durability and longevity. Some of the most common materials are bronze, chrome, and nickel.

• If your kitchen has that rustic aesthetic, bronze taps may be the best choice for you. These give off a brownish hue and will easily match rustic interiors.

• Chromes, on the other hand, are the most common materials and are found in many residential and commercial properties. Chrome taps can differ in price, and that can also depend on their design.

• Then next is nickel, which can be with various finishes. It can either be stainless, satin, or brushed.

Style

Another factor that one should consider when choosing kitchen taps is that style. As we mentioned earlier, your kitchen tap's style and shape should also match your kitchen and your sink, as well as how you use it. Here are some of the most common tap styles:

• Single lever - simple and practical, this style only has one lever that is used to control the water flow and temperature. 

• Double-handle lever - another common one; this only has one spout but two handles, one for each temperature. 

• High-spout - as its name suggests, these taps have high spouts, which gives more space between the tap and the sink.

• Pull-out spouts and nozzles - these are taps with removable spouts and can be extended for a few inches. It's good for busy kitchens, like that of restaurants and cafes.

Position

The shape and material of your kitchen tap should also depend on the position of your kitchen sink or the placement of the tap in the sink itself. For example, if your kitchen tap is one of those where it is placed in the corner of a sink, a double-handled lever one may not be the best choice. This is because most double-handed taps are straight, so it doesn't fit the bended corner of the sink. If your kitchen sink is placed near your window kitchen, a high-spout tap may not be the best option, as it not only blocks the view but it can get in the way, especially if your windows open inwards. If you often wash piles of dishes and many food, a low spout tap may limit your movements and cause more trouble than convenience. Thus, one should always consider the overall position before choosing solely due to aesthetic.

Water Pressure

Another considerable factor is the water pressure. You'll know if your kitchen taps have low pressure, then the water flow is slower. There are also those kitchen taps where the hot water has slower pressure than that of the cold water. In these cases, there are special taps that can be adjusted based on your water pressure system. You can always approach your local plumber as well to consult and get the best options.

Function

We mentioned earlier that choosing your tap must go with the design of your kitchen. However, that should not be the sole factor. Another equally important consideration is the function. If you have a larger space and wash a lot of dishes and fruits and vegetables, a detachable nozzle with spray works wonders. On the other hand, if your needs vary, a bendable kitchen faucet may be the option for you. These flexible taps can be bent and adjusted depending on the height you need them. As we mentioned earlier, you can always check with your plumber to identify the best choice for you. Additionally, you can always ask hardware stores and shops!

Caring for your Kitchen Taps

Cleaning your kitchen taps doesn't require much. In fact, you won't have to do it on a daily basis. However, it's a must every now and then so you can maintain its lustre and keep it looking brand new.

• Use a damp cloth and very mild soap when cleaning. This ensures the soap's formula doesn't discolour your faucet. Also, make sure to use a soft cleaning cloth that's non-abrasive, so you don't ruin the finish.

• After cleaning, ensure to wipe off the soap and water you washed your tap with. Again, use a soft cloth when doing this to avoid any scratches on the surface. Drying it properly also keeps it from rusting.

• Mineral and lime deposited in water can be inevitable. So over time, your faucet can gather these deposits. However, it is essential to be gentle when removing these. So, make sure to avoid coarse sponges and avoid forcing them out so as not to damage your faucets. There are also solutions and specialised cleaners that you can use to remove these deposits without damaging your taps. But, one should still take note of whether the substance or solution is safe for your kitchen sinks and taps. For example, you should check if the solution is acidic, as this may be harmful to marble sinks.

Identifying Kitchen Faucet Problems

Other than knowing how to care for your kitchen taps, it is also recommended to be able to identify problems. This is so that you can avoid major damages and expenses.

• Leaks - this is perhaps the most common issue when it comes to taps. They could be caused by the faucets being old, improper installation or a problem with the water pressure. When this happens, it's important to check with your local plumber to avoid any issues with your faucet and your water expenses too.

• Installation - this often happens in DIY projects or rush installations. Unfortunately, rushing the whole installation process can do more damage. And that's not just in your faucet, but on your sink and pipes too.

• Water pressure loss - have you noticed your water pressure slowing down? There could be problems with your plumbing, or there could be mineral deposit build-ups inside the faucet. Depending on your faucet, you can take it apart and check the inside. But if you are not confident in doing so, it's best to leave the experts to check.

• Wear and tear - in a busy kitchen and a busy home, there's no doubt that you will always use your kitchen taps. And with that usage, it will eventually lead to wear and tear. So don't worry if you find that your kitchen taps need replacing, especially if they've been around for a very long time!

Where to Find Quality Kitchen Taps

Kitchen taps are very common household items, so you won't have a hard time finding them! You can simply visit your local mall or your hardware store to find the one you need. Or you can search online and visit vidaXL's collection of faucets for your needs!

Kitchen Faucets

Whether you're looking for classic or extravagant kitchen taps, you're sure to find what you need from our collection. We offer:

• stainless steel faucets

• chrome faucets

• matt black faucets

• pull-out spray faucets

• low-pressure taps

Push Drains

Other than quality kitchen faucets, we also provide push drains for both kitchen and bathroom sinks. Most of our vidaXL push drains come in five different colours, so you can choose whichever fits your fancy and your sink!

Bathroom Faucets

Apart from kitchen faucets, we also have bathroom faucets available to your liking. Our other faucets are also available for bathroom use and are not limited to kitchen use.

Find Bathroom and Kitchen Taps

All in all, choosing a kitchen (or even a bathroom) tap takes a lot of factors. So you have to be very careful in picking one and ensure it suits your needs, your kitchen space, the kind of sink you have, and your budget. Also, caring for your kitchen faucets is easy, if you know how to do so without damaging them. So if you're ready to choose the perfect tap for your kitchen sink, head on over to vidaXL! We have collections available and ready to complete your kitchen sink!