Kitchen Sink Drainers and Baskets

Drainer baskets, roll mats and colander inserts are the small accessories that make a stainless sink far more useful day to day. They give washed items somewhere to drip, keep the bowl clear and protect the base from scratches. Choosing ones that actually fit your sink is the difference between a tidy bench and a cluttered one.

Matching the basket to the bowl

Sink accessories are sized to the internal dimensions of the bowl, not the overall unit, so measure the opening at the base rather than the rim. An over-the-bowl basket or drying rack needs to clear the tap and any divider; an in-bowl colander should sit on the base without rocking. Check whether your sink was sold with matching inserts, because those will always seat most cleanly.

Types worth considering

A drainer basket is handy for rinsing fruit and vegetables and lifting straight out. A roll mat or drying rack spans the bowl and frees the benchtop for washed dishes. A base grid protects the stainless finish from pots and cutlery and keeps items up out of standing water. Many kitchens end up using two or three of these together depending on the task.

Materials and care

Stainless steel and coated wire resist rust and wipe clean easily, while silicone-edged racks are gentler on both the sink and your glassware. Whatever you choose, lift it out occasionally to clean underneath so grime doesn’t build where the accessory meets the steel.

Compare options in person

Setting up a laundry or kitchen in the Illawarra? You can browse a range of sinks and tubs at Just Bathrooms, a local showroom, and see which accessories suit the bowls on display.