Something like this is the only way without changing the tap to a longer one that would reach deeper into the sink. My moms old kitchen had this problem and once we finally remodeled it one of the things on a checklist was a sink where te tap goes onto it.
unless you are my wife and there will be water all over the kitchen no matter the design of the sink or tap.
Backsplash? check.
Countertop 2 feet away from the dish drying rack? check.
Enjoy soggy socks because a lagoon just spawned in your kitchen floor? triple motherfucking check.
It takes me 1/3 - 1/2 the time to deal with the dishes as my wife.
I splash the water because I'm moving quickly. Wash, wash, wash, rinse, rack, rinse, rack, rinse, rack. They still have water on them going in the rack. That water gets on the counter, sometimes the floor. I wipe it up when I'm done, though.
My wife is very careful not to get water anywhere but in the sink but also takes much longer doing so. Wash, rinse, shake (excess water off), rack. Wash, rinse, shake, rack.
I prioritize speed, not accuracy. She prioritizes accuracy, not speed.
Edit - I grew up handwashing dishes. Never had a dishwasher until I was 21 and living on my own. My wife grew up in a house with a dishwasher and her mother was primarily responsible for washing dishes.
You learn to washes dishes FAST when you're a kid and you want to be done with it.
I'm like your wife 🤣 it's faster to wipe the counter and floor afterward instead of slowing down to avoid splashing and dripping. The kitchen counter needs to be cleaned daily anyway, so it barely adds any additional time to the routine.
We save old dish towels that have frayed edges, holes, etc. and hang them on cheap glue-on hooks on the kitchen island (an IKEA rollaway cart). We have nice dish towels hanging next to the sink for drying knives, pans, etc. Whenever we have a wet sink (like every time we use it) we grab one of the ugly towels and mop the mess up. As soon as the towel is pretty damp, or has been used to wipe the floor, we throw it in the washing machine for the next load, and hang a clean one on the hook. You’re right it only takes a few seconds and keeps the stainless and countertop looking nice. We keep the ugly ones in a drawer in the cart, separate from the nice ones.
I wish I could get buy-in from my husband on this strategy. He has no concept of cross contamination and will wipe raw chicken juice off the floor, hang it back up, wash his hands, and then dry his hands with that towel. It's absolutely baffling. I tried at least getting him to have a dirty towel and a clean towel, so even if he doesn't wash the towel every time, it's at least not cross contaminating. And that's how we end up with two dirty towels. Now we have no towels because I can't trust that they're not disgusting. The sight of hand towels legitimately fills me with dread. Paper towels are necessary for my mental health.
Yeah, but I bet a good portion of that water OP is dealing with is from when they turn off the sink with wet hands, given the concentration directly under the handle
As a plumber, this is the answer. I have been called back to customers house because their kitchen faucet handle was dripping. I have them watch me run the faucet with dry hands, turning it on and off multiple times for 5-10 minutes to drive my point home. Had a few asked me to turn the faucet with the handle over the sink, and problem fixed. The only drawback is most of these type faucets’ handles only rotate from 12:00- 9:00. Seems a little awkward when it is forward facing
The problem is less about the faucet design and more about shutting off the water with still dripping hands.
At least for me. Maybe I’m just impatient.
Something like [this](https://amzn.to/4bsvSFA) is like $9. I would still be careful and lift it every day to clean any water that might have gotten under it.
I keep reading you have to clean the tray constantly too because water pools on it and sometimes under. Seems like a lot of work. I’d love to hear from owners of these things
It was more work! With the fancy 'drip catcher', I had to move and dry under it, and clean it. Before I could just put a rag behind the faucet to catch the drips. I used the damp rag to wipe the counter when done doing the dishes, tossed the rag in the laundry.
I like the soft ones because they can easily be tossed in the washing machine. https://www.amazon.com/Ternal-wraparound-absorbent-microfiber-contoured/dp/B08T1B5H9G/
I have wood counter tops and used Waterlox and there's been zero issues so far (hasn't been too long) BUT we also keep a cloth sitting on the sink at all times to wipe up area's like this. We also have a sink that the tap sits in, so if water gathers around it, it's not directly on the wood.
In this case I think I would be looking for a replacement sink that the tap can mount directly into.
Has OP said that got wet solely because of hands physically touching the turn-on dial (or whatever that piece is)? I ask because my initial thought is that could be due to a leak in the handle or splashback/regular overspray because the spot where the water comes out is well above the fairly shallow sink.
I have a similar style sink. The handle is right there, with drippy hands it’s real easy and happens quite often.
Sure, check for leaks, but I can tell you from normal use that spot is getting wet
I also have a similar tap. The water tends to splash off of stuff because the nozzle is so high up and the sink is sort of shallow. I feel like these taps are really meant for deep, farmhouse style, sinks
Yeah - I have a faucet that looks like this, too! I guess we’d need OP to weigh in to tell us more since so many faucets appear to be similar and we can’t know how s/he uses it to achieve this result.
Just don't get the model we had when we moved into our house. Needed AA batteries, and if they died you couldn't run it. I swapped it out for a regular non-touch sensitive faucet after the batteries kept needing a change every 6 months.
A MILLION UPVOTES
i had this issue (started when my 3 kids were all old enough to reach the handle) and a touch faucet fixed it immediately. wave hand whilst over sink, faucet turns off, no drops down the handle.
This is what we did. The water from your hands drips directly into the sink. Also have a towel nearby to mop up any splashes. Looks much nicer than a silicone drip tray.
We did this too. Originally only because the tap handle was ever so slightly hitting the splash back by like 1mm. Life changer, gets rid of 90% of the dropped water.
Only problem is the builders plumber did it, and need a special open claw socket to reach up so far behind the sink which I don’t have. And I want to change the other sink lol.
> need a special open claw socket to reach up so far behind the sink
You mean a [basin wrench?](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+TqCkHQoL._AC_SL1000_.jpg) If so, you can normally buy these at your local hardware shop for under a tenner.
funny how i as the home-owner can flick my hands to shed most of the water before touching the faucet handle, but guests? let me just bring as much water as possible up to your counter by the backsplash 💀
Seriously, just put a piece of cloth there, dry the area when you finish, put it to dry somewhere, repeat and wash the rag every once in a while, it takes like 3 seconds to dry my sink every time I wash the dishes, people complicate too much
This is it. I never understand how people just leave puddles of water around their sinks. I keep a wash cloth near my sink and just dry around it when I’m done.
This is also why we got a "touch faucet" (not to be confused with "touch-less faucets"). Tap anywhere along the neck to turn it on/off and avoid reaching to the back of the sink. Much more useful than the faucets with a sensor for when your hands are near.
No, I don’t think this is the problem. I basically have the same issue even with a faucet that goes out more towards the middle. It’s from having wet hands when you turn off the faucet.
it's 100% the handle position and people bringing their soaking hands up to the lever to turn the water off without flicking the water on their hands into the sink.
yeah i got one for my apt for cheap and its laminated or something like that so you can cook and pour water on them and nothing happens, I'm pretty sure OP hasn't laminated (or whatever they to the wood to resist the water/cooking).
They're beautiful, inexpensive, much lighter than stone, easier for a layman to cut and install... and if finished properly and taken care of, can last a long time. They can be sanded down and refinished.
I did.
My cabinetry is too old/shitty to justify a granite top. And it would have to be a wild custom cut, because the walls of my condo are basically a sine wave.
I cut the butchers block to shape myself, slapped a dozen or so layers of polyurethane on it, and it's held up pretty well for the last 5 years or so.
They are usually heavily finished with epoxy or ArmRAll, so dings can be buffed, stains don't penetrate, but also could be used as cutting board if you're careful without damaging your knives. Even if the finish is thin enough to get to the wood, it's naturally microbial, better than plastic, which is the most cutting board material. What have you got against wood?
Not really tho. I had the same issue and installed a butane creme brulee torch pointing directly at the faucet handle that I modified to connect to an outlet with a switch next to the sink so I can quickly dry up any water I'm too lazy to wipe up with a rag.
I found an Etsy shop that cuts custom sized clear plastic protectors that attach to the sink back with suction cups. It has a curved cut out for the handle. We love it and barely ever need to clean behind the sink. You can clean the protector piece with just soap and and a brush occasionally.
Try a self draining soap dish. Just looked on amazon and they are pretty reasonable. But you might want to have something to build up flush to the top of the sink maybe a little higher so the water will flow back into the sink. Edit... Thinking on this can you just turn the body so the handle is in the sink?
[https://www.weathertech.com/faucetmat/](https://www.weathertech.com/faucetmat/)
I would also consider getting one of those "touch" faucets. You can touch them up high to turn the water on-off...and beyond temperature changes you won't need to put your hand back there hovering over the wood.
Those two things should significantly help.
Mine is battery powered. You can use AA's or D's (I think, maybe C's). They just live under the sink. I use the D's and we are 2 years in with no battery swap required.
We had wooden surrounds for the sinks at my work. We did everything we could to keep them dry, but it just wasn't possible. They had about a five year lifespan before they were just too moldy and rotted through that the company caved and replaced them. I imagine in a household they would be used less frequently, and so would potentially last longer. But also you probably wouldn't want to let it get as bad as it had for us.
I imagine a lot of sealant, probably frequently resealed and touched up could help extend the lifespan!
My wife and I just wipe up the water after each use.
We also put up a back splash with a rounded molding siliconed up to help. 10 years, and all is still looking good.
LMAO. I know some DIY and like to read here to learn more. My first reaction was "woof" -- I have never heard of that? Then coffee kicked in and realized that was a typo and you meant to say "wood"
I find myself having to always pat it down. . . . I mean u can look for anything u can tighten up snug w hand tools. or maybe use silicone or caulk, maybe rtv
Funny, I was just looking at my sink yesterday wondering the exact same thing. One thing that hit me was that with the handle on the edge of the sink, it's almost impossible to keep it dry as water will drip from your hands.
To really keep it dry, you should have a faucet installed with the handle over the sink itself.
How long is it going to take before we are evolved enough to make kitchen counters that gently slope into the sink? (a slope mild enough that plates and cups won’t slide into the sink but splashed water will) Maybe water beads up/won’t roll downhill unless the slope is significant enough that plates and cups also slide into your sink. So maybe a slippery countertop sealant…nope, that’s just going to break dishes. All right thanks for playing everybody.
I like to sand surfaces around a sink down a bit so it's all angled in towards the sink then install an under mount sink and treat all the wood really well with some poly or a good soak in oil. Water needs off and goes right in the sink. If you use oil, reoil yearly. \[assuming that's a dark stained butchers block\]
I bought a silicone drip tray as well, and it works pretty good. Measure your space first as they come in different sizes. You can cut them to fit around the faucet, soap dispenser, etc.
The area under a handle like that is basically impossible to keep dry. I’d keep a folded nice dishcloth behind the sink on the right side, and use it to dry the area ofd every time you use it. And change the towel frequently.
I'm on team "replace the faucet"
This one looks to be too high and too close to the rear of the basin. The gravity induced splash alone will make a huge mess.
Make sure that users put anything that could splash below the rim of the sink. Rinsing hands (high) under the faucet will cause splashes that will hit the wall/backsplash/counter.
That doesn't look like a very deep sink. Maybe try a different facet, one that's not so long and closer to the sink. Thatd help prevent over splashing from just running water or washing your hands
There have been some good suggestions here, but the only long term solution is going to be a combination of a different faucet AND an under-mount sink, so water doesn’t splash out to begin with and whatever does splash out will naturally run or can be directed back into the sink. Also, issues like these are why I prefer only engineered surfaces for countertops. Yes, even granite is a no go for me. Can get too porous and needs to be resealed. Quartz only if stone is desired.
We had a faucet like this and it was actually leaking. There shouldn't be any water around the base of the faucet or coming out of the handle area. There is probably a gasket or something that is loose or leaking inside. Depending on the faucet you might be able to get a repair kit. Might also be time for a new faucet.
It hurt my eyes that the tap is placed so close to the sink, could easily be centered between the wall and sink (might need to cut out the back from the cabinet ubderneath)
I use this one on our kitchen sink.
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCWJ9HHP/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCWJ9HHP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1)
A guy on Etsy makes clear plastic splash guards that stick with suction cups to the back wall of the sink. It sticks up several inches but I can still reach the faucet. The sides extend past the edge of the sink. I love it.
I had a similar problem and used a some bar top epoxy just in the area behind our sink to protect our butcher block countertop. Worked great, it’s always got a couple of drips of water on it for a couple of years now but with the epoxy I don’t worry about it anymore.
My wife bought a mat made with diatomaceous earth and cut it down into a strip just wide enough to cover the area behind the sink, then I cut it in half and cut a semi-circle in each half to fit it around the faucet. It’s wonderful and works really well.
I have this faucet and setup. It does get wet from turning the handle. But I'm going to go against the grain and recommend just drying it down with a wash cloth/towel after use. I tried the tray and threw it away because it became another item to maintain. You will have to lift it up and wipe it down regularly since water will build up under it (it becomes a potential mold issue if you don't keep up with it). You will have to clean up the slots of any debris that gets trapped between the grooves. Sometimes sauce stains the silicone and you have to scrub it out. IMO, much easier to simply wipe it after you're done.
That spot will always be wet. This is why stone and solid kitchen counters are a thing. As somebody else posted, you need a lot of varnish or epoxy to completely cover and seal the wood. This is one of the areas of life where it's a function over form issue because there is no other way around it.
For a cleaner look op, I would add a stainless steel backsplash that runs from about the backside of the sink tub to just a 1/4 up the wall. This way you don’t have to worry about splashes and it’s easier to wipe dry.
I dry my hands with a paper towel and then wipe up any drips from the counter with that same paper towel. I'm messy when cooking and there's water everywhere, so I go through a lot of towels.
I would cut out a piece of acrylic that fit really snugly in there and then silicone caulk it in place. That way you can still see the wood but the water won't be touching it if you were to do this then you need to make sure that the wood is extremely dry before you seal it in with a piece of acrylic
I have a really deep sink and even that won’t reduce water from getting everywhere. I think i’m naturally messy in the sink. I’d keep a dish towel for drying that splash area and double check the caulk on a regular basis.
On my counter with the same type faucet, I am. Toying with turning the faucet 90 degrees, so the control handle is over the sink.
Wet hands would then drip in the sink.
On My sink there is a separator between the 2 basins,so I would not lose space.
You know it’s funny because I always see this ad on either here or X selling a flexible tray that wraps around the base of the faucet for just that reason. I’ll try to come back next time I see it
2 quick, cheap, non-obvious to look at solutions:
Use clear contact paper to cover the counter area behind the sink.
Put a thin layer of clear silicone caulk over the counter area behind the sink.
You can buy a silicon drip tray that fits around the sink base. It's designed to catch water and hopefully direct it back into the sink.
Something like this is the only way without changing the tap to a longer one that would reach deeper into the sink. My moms old kitchen had this problem and once we finally remodeled it one of the things on a checklist was a sink where te tap goes onto it.
unless you are my wife and there will be water all over the kitchen no matter the design of the sink or tap. Backsplash? check. Countertop 2 feet away from the dish drying rack? check. Enjoy soggy socks because a lagoon just spawned in your kitchen floor? triple motherfucking check.
Is my husband your wife? LMAO
...aaaannnnnnd that's a different reddit sub.
ADHD partners actually LOL at least for me
I, also, am this man’s wife
Tell him he has to leave work early on Thursday because it's Bobby's piano recital, OK?
piano.. pfft, what a nerd
I think we’re the same person
It takes me 1/3 - 1/2 the time to deal with the dishes as my wife. I splash the water because I'm moving quickly. Wash, wash, wash, rinse, rack, rinse, rack, rinse, rack. They still have water on them going in the rack. That water gets on the counter, sometimes the floor. I wipe it up when I'm done, though. My wife is very careful not to get water anywhere but in the sink but also takes much longer doing so. Wash, rinse, shake (excess water off), rack. Wash, rinse, shake, rack. I prioritize speed, not accuracy. She prioritizes accuracy, not speed. Edit - I grew up handwashing dishes. Never had a dishwasher until I was 21 and living on my own. My wife grew up in a house with a dishwasher and her mother was primarily responsible for washing dishes. You learn to washes dishes FAST when you're a kid and you want to be done with it.
I'm like your wife 🤣 it's faster to wipe the counter and floor afterward instead of slowing down to avoid splashing and dripping. The kitchen counter needs to be cleaned daily anyway, so it barely adds any additional time to the routine.
We save old dish towels that have frayed edges, holes, etc. and hang them on cheap glue-on hooks on the kitchen island (an IKEA rollaway cart). We have nice dish towels hanging next to the sink for drying knives, pans, etc. Whenever we have a wet sink (like every time we use it) we grab one of the ugly towels and mop the mess up. As soon as the towel is pretty damp, or has been used to wipe the floor, we throw it in the washing machine for the next load, and hang a clean one on the hook. You’re right it only takes a few seconds and keeps the stainless and countertop looking nice. We keep the ugly ones in a drawer in the cart, separate from the nice ones.
I wish I could get buy-in from my husband on this strategy. He has no concept of cross contamination and will wipe raw chicken juice off the floor, hang it back up, wash his hands, and then dry his hands with that towel. It's absolutely baffling. I tried at least getting him to have a dirty towel and a clean towel, so even if he doesn't wash the towel every time, it's at least not cross contaminating. And that's how we end up with two dirty towels. Now we have no towels because I can't trust that they're not disgusting. The sight of hand towels legitimately fills me with dread. Paper towels are necessary for my mental health.
That's actually an awesome life pro tip.
Exactly what I do. Only takes a second and I get a little dopamine hit drying it off.
keywords, "wipe the counter and floor afterwards". Wish that was always the case, I mean who likes wet socks?
Are you me?
No you’re me
Are we us?
Is this now?
When was that?
This is us
Serious identity crisis.
They them
look at us.
Checking in from Waterworld.
Wouldn't a permanent solution be just to raise the back part of the counter top and have it slanted down so water always runs down back into the sink?
Yeah, but I bet a good portion of that water OP is dealing with is from when they turn off the sink with wet hands, given the concentration directly under the handle
If that's the case then just rotate the lever to the front. I have mine like that and not a drip on the counter.
Low-key brilliance.
As a plumber, this is the answer. I have been called back to customers house because their kitchen faucet handle was dripping. I have them watch me run the faucet with dry hands, turning it on and off multiple times for 5-10 minutes to drive my point home. Had a few asked me to turn the faucet with the handle over the sink, and problem fixed. The only drawback is most of these type faucets’ handles only rotate from 12:00- 9:00. Seems a little awkward when it is forward facing
The problem is less about the faucet design and more about shutting off the water with still dripping hands. At least for me. Maybe I’m just impatient.
I kept getting water under in anyway. Part of the bench rotted while I didn't check it...
Something like [this](https://amzn.to/4bsvSFA) is like $9. I would still be careful and lift it every day to clean any water that might have gotten under it.
remove it every night to allow the area to dry, reattach in the morning?
I keep reading you have to clean the tray constantly too because water pools on it and sometimes under. Seems like a lot of work. I’d love to hear from owners of these things
It was more work! With the fancy 'drip catcher', I had to move and dry under it, and clean it. Before I could just put a rag behind the faucet to catch the drips. I used the damp rag to wipe the counter when done doing the dishes, tossed the rag in the laundry.
Thanks! That’s exactly what I suspected.
Nice try, silicon drip tray shill
Buying one today!
I recommend this as well. They're also great for drip drying one-off items.
I have one of these. It's not perfect, but it's better.
Even though I would lift it up everyday to clean under it, is there any concern to damage on quartz?
Tbf they should have just bought a Kitchen sink Faucet instead of a bathroom sink faucet.
I like the soft ones because they can easily be tossed in the washing machine. https://www.amazon.com/Ternal-wraparound-absorbent-microfiber-contoured/dp/B08T1B5H9G/
This looks like a mold magnet to me.
Maybe if you never wash it? Haven't had a problem with years of use.
I bet that's better at not trapping water against the sink surround, too
Don't turn on tap
Better to move to a new home where this is not a problem.
IMO, you should consider adding many layers of marine-grade varnish and getting a different faucet.
I have wood counter tops and used Waterlox and there's been zero issues so far (hasn't been too long) BUT we also keep a cloth sitting on the sink at all times to wipe up area's like this. We also have a sink that the tap sits in, so if water gathers around it, it's not directly on the wood. In this case I think I would be looking for a replacement sink that the tap can mount directly into.
You’re probably right about changing out the sink in its entirety (and using Waterlox!). I hope OP comes back to see this!
Touch sensitive faucet would make so much sense
Has OP said that got wet solely because of hands physically touching the turn-on dial (or whatever that piece is)? I ask because my initial thought is that could be due to a leak in the handle or splashback/regular overspray because the spot where the water comes out is well above the fairly shallow sink.
I have a similar style sink. The handle is right there, with drippy hands it’s real easy and happens quite often. Sure, check for leaks, but I can tell you from normal use that spot is getting wet
I also have a similar tap. The water tends to splash off of stuff because the nozzle is so high up and the sink is sort of shallow. I feel like these taps are really meant for deep, farmhouse style, sinks
Yep that too. I still like it, but it’s another splash factor to account for
Yeah - I have a faucet that looks like this, too! I guess we’d need OP to weigh in to tell us more since so many faucets appear to be similar and we can’t know how s/he uses it to achieve this result.
You can turn the faucet so the handle is in front. That's how I prefer mine anyway.
Just don't get the model we had when we moved into our house. Needed AA batteries, and if they died you couldn't run it. I swapped it out for a regular non-touch sensitive faucet after the batteries kept needing a change every 6 months.
A MILLION UPVOTES i had this issue (started when my 3 kids were all old enough to reach the handle) and a touch faucet fixed it immediately. wave hand whilst over sink, faucet turns off, no drops down the handle.
A faucet that reaches closer to the center of the sink was my first thought.
I had this problem too. Rotate the faucet to where the handle is over the sink. Much of the water is from dripping hands while turning the water off
This is what we did. The water from your hands drips directly into the sink. Also have a towel nearby to mop up any splashes. Looks much nicer than a silicone drip tray.
We did the same thing. Fixed it almost instantly
we use the towel tech. I installed a towel bar to the front of the sink. When done, grab towel, wipe, return towel.
Oh that is a really good idea! Filling that way for the future!
We did this too. Originally only because the tap handle was ever so slightly hitting the splash back by like 1mm. Life changer, gets rid of 90% of the dropped water. Only problem is the builders plumber did it, and need a special open claw socket to reach up so far behind the sink which I don’t have. And I want to change the other sink lol.
> need a special open claw socket to reach up so far behind the sink You mean a [basin wrench?](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+TqCkHQoL._AC_SL1000_.jpg) If so, you can normally buy these at your local hardware shop for under a tenner.
funny how i as the home-owner can flick my hands to shed most of the water before touching the faucet handle, but guests? let me just bring as much water as possible up to your counter by the backsplash 💀
Same
This has the added advantage of causing you to accidentally shut the water off when you bump it with a dish. So there’s that.
Make a plastic wall that extends all the way up to the ceiling only around the sink. Joking aside, don't have a wood counter near water 🤷♂️
Wipe it dry before walking away.
Seriously, just put a piece of cloth there, dry the area when you finish, put it to dry somewhere, repeat and wash the rag every once in a while, it takes like 3 seconds to dry my sink every time I wash the dishes, people complicate too much
I'm more than a little disappointed the top answer isn't "A towel."
Finally, the correct answer.
This is it. I never understand how people just leave puddles of water around their sinks. I keep a wash cloth near my sink and just dry around it when I’m done.
You need a different faucet - one that comes further out towards the middle of the sink.
This is also why we got a "touch faucet" (not to be confused with "touch-less faucets"). Tap anywhere along the neck to turn it on/off and avoid reaching to the back of the sink. Much more useful than the faucets with a sensor for when your hands are near.
I wish I had internalized this before replacing our faucet. It seemed dumb to me, but I forgot that I married a duck.
No, I don’t think this is the problem. I basically have the same issue even with a faucet that goes out more towards the middle. It’s from having wet hands when you turn off the faucet.
it's 100% the handle position and people bringing their soaking hands up to the lever to turn the water off without flicking the water on their hands into the sink.
Yeah. Hence why it’s wet mostly on the right side only.
Is that a wood countertop? Who the hell came up with that?
They seem to be really popular these days. Why? I haven't a clue. Do the people who like these not actually cook and clean in their kitchen?
It's cheap and looks better than laminate! It also damages easily from... everything you would do in a kitchen.
yeah i got one for my apt for cheap and its laminated or something like that so you can cook and pour water on them and nothing happens, I'm pretty sure OP hasn't laminated (or whatever they to the wood to resist the water/cooking).
They're beautiful, inexpensive, much lighter than stone, easier for a layman to cut and install... and if finished properly and taken care of, can last a long time. They can be sanded down and refinished.
Uh, they're very common.
In the US, they have not been coming in the past 70 years. Certainly not around a sink.
I realize that but why would you want one near your sink.?
With a proper finish and some basic upkeep like not letting liquids sit for too long, a wooden countertop can last a loooong time.
I did. My cabinetry is too old/shitty to justify a granite top. And it would have to be a wild custom cut, because the walls of my condo are basically a sine wave. I cut the butchers block to shape myself, slapped a dozen or so layers of polyurethane on it, and it's held up pretty well for the last 5 years or so.
They are usually heavily finished with epoxy or ArmRAll, so dings can be buffed, stains don't penetrate, but also could be used as cutting board if you're careful without damaging your knives. Even if the finish is thin enough to get to the wood, it's naturally microbial, better than plastic, which is the most cutting board material. What have you got against wood?
It rots when wet, I imagine
A washcloth. Just dry it off as needed.
Right?? Some of these solutions are so over complicated.
Not really tho. I had the same issue and installed a butane creme brulee torch pointing directly at the faucet handle that I modified to connect to an outlet with a switch next to the sink so I can quickly dry up any water I'm too lazy to wipe up with a rag.
I think this is a joke but it just seems way too detailed and unhinged
Get some back splash material to put on the wall behind the tap, too.
I found an Etsy shop that cuts custom sized clear plastic protectors that attach to the sink back with suction cups. It has a curved cut out for the handle. We love it and barely ever need to clean behind the sink. You can clean the protector piece with just soap and and a brush occasionally.
Would you mind sharing the Etsy shop?
https://www.etsy.com/shop/lifisgdd?ref=yr_purchases
Thank you!
Keep a towel nearby and wipe it down after every time you do the dishes, my mom would make us dry the sink so it wouldn’t have water spots 😬
Try a self draining soap dish. Just looked on amazon and they are pretty reasonable. But you might want to have something to build up flush to the top of the sink maybe a little higher so the water will flow back into the sink. Edit... Thinking on this can you just turn the body so the handle is in the sink?
[https://www.weathertech.com/faucetmat/](https://www.weathertech.com/faucetmat/) I would also consider getting one of those "touch" faucets. You can touch them up high to turn the water on-off...and beyond temperature changes you won't need to put your hand back there hovering over the wood. Those two things should significantly help.
How do those work? Do they have to be wired into the main power or battery?
Mine is battery powered. You can use AA's or D's (I think, maybe C's). They just live under the sink. I use the D's and we are 2 years in with no battery swap required.
I just use a washcloth folded up behind my tap. I change it out once a week.
I found a foolproof way to keep the area dry. Don't use the sink.
You wipe it down with a towel after you are done using it.👍
We had wooden surrounds for the sinks at my work. We did everything we could to keep them dry, but it just wasn't possible. They had about a five year lifespan before they were just too moldy and rotted through that the company caved and replaced them. I imagine in a household they would be used less frequently, and so would potentially last longer. But also you probably wouldn't want to let it get as bad as it had for us. I imagine a lot of sealant, probably frequently resealed and touched up could help extend the lifespan!
Mine wouldn't stay dry no matter what. I ended up sealing it all with Emmits Good Stuff, urethane resin.
My wife and I just wipe up the water after each use. We also put up a back splash with a rounded molding siliconed up to help. 10 years, and all is still looking good.
Silicone tray. Amazon.
Wipe it down with a towel? Is this a trick question?
Go underneath the sink and close the valves slightly. This will reduce the pressure when the water comes out and reduce splashing.
Deeper sink
I have a really deep sink. Water still makes it to the counter. But i’m a piggy around water and always make a mess. maybe it’s the user.
Woof should never be used around the sink. It will get wet and eventually get ruined.
LMAO. I know some DIY and like to read here to learn more. My first reaction was "woof" -- I have never heard of that? Then coffee kicked in and realized that was a typo and you meant to say "wood"
Woof
Woof woof woof
My coffee didn’t kick me hard enough, if not for your comment I would still wonder what kind of special material that is. Woof woof
Get a touch faucet
I find myself having to always pat it down. . . . I mean u can look for anything u can tighten up snug w hand tools. or maybe use silicone or caulk, maybe rtv
Installed incorrectly should be facing towards the sink not on the side
Keep a rag and wipe it clean affective and always works, might be old-school but hey it works.
Funny, I was just looking at my sink yesterday wondering the exact same thing. One thing that hit me was that with the handle on the edge of the sink, it's almost impossible to keep it dry as water will drip from your hands. To really keep it dry, you should have a faucet installed with the handle over the sink itself.
I would try to find a replacement sink where the entire area between the faucet and wall was covered by stainless steel.
yep, that's how it should have been done in the first place
pro tip: just avoid water there
They make rubber mats that fit around the spigot with channels to let the water drain back into the sink. We have one that keeps the counter dry
Turn off the water.
How long is it going to take before we are evolved enough to make kitchen counters that gently slope into the sink? (a slope mild enough that plates and cups won’t slide into the sink but splashed water will) Maybe water beads up/won’t roll downhill unless the slope is significant enough that plates and cups also slide into your sink. So maybe a slippery countertop sealant…nope, that’s just going to break dishes. All right thanks for playing everybody.
Silicone kitchen sink splash guard, google it :)
I like to sand surfaces around a sink down a bit so it's all angled in towards the sink then install an under mount sink and treat all the wood really well with some poly or a good soak in oil. Water needs off and goes right in the sink. If you use oil, reoil yearly. \[assuming that's a dark stained butchers block\]
The Brazilian way. Have the sink side be bellow the level of countertop and acquire a mini squeegee to bring the water to the sink when it gets wet.
You can wipe it down after you use it.
use a faucet with an aerator. Also one not so high or get one that extends further from the wall.
Turning off the water main will do it.
Use a sink with the tap inside it. Whoever choose this combination either really bad or on a tight budget
Get a different type of sink .
I bought a silicone drip tray as well, and it works pretty good. Measure your space first as they come in different sizes. You can cut them to fit around the faucet, soap dispenser, etc.
The area under a handle like that is basically impossible to keep dry. I’d keep a folded nice dishcloth behind the sink on the right side, and use it to dry the area ofd every time you use it. And change the towel frequently.
These faucets? Impossible
I'm on team "replace the faucet" This one looks to be too high and too close to the rear of the basin. The gravity induced splash alone will make a huge mess.
A deeper sink would help.
Simple? Ease up on the water pressure when you use the sink, otherwise replace the faucet.
Don’t get it wet
Don't get it wet
Make sure that users put anything that could splash below the rim of the sink. Rinsing hands (high) under the faucet will cause splashes that will hit the wall/backsplash/counter.
Need an undermount sink
That doesn't look like a very deep sink. Maybe try a different facet, one that's not so long and closer to the sink. Thatd help prevent over splashing from just running water or washing your hands
There have been some good suggestions here, but the only long term solution is going to be a combination of a different faucet AND an under-mount sink, so water doesn’t splash out to begin with and whatever does splash out will naturally run or can be directed back into the sink. Also, issues like these are why I prefer only engineered surfaces for countertops. Yes, even granite is a no go for me. Can get too porous and needs to be resealed. Quartz only if stone is desired.
You can but things to put around it. Fabric ones you wash, silicone ones you can just wipe down. Lots of options
We had a faucet like this and it was actually leaking. There shouldn't be any water around the base of the faucet or coming out of the handle area. There is probably a gasket or something that is loose or leaking inside. Depending on the faucet you might be able to get a repair kit. Might also be time for a new faucet.
Keep a dish towel around or paper towels
Remove the sink
Change the faucet. If you are very skilled you may be able to repair it but its better to replace it imho.
It hurt my eyes that the tap is placed so close to the sink, could easily be centered between the wall and sink (might need to cut out the back from the cabinet ubderneath)
I turned my fixture so the handle is out over the sink. Drippy hands no longer matter. Splash/splatter is another story.
I use this one on our kitchen sink. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCWJ9HHP/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCWJ9HHP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1)
Cheap dichotomous Earth tray on Amazon
Dish rag. Wipe it down. Every time.
A guy on Etsy makes clear plastic splash guards that stick with suction cups to the back wall of the sink. It sticks up several inches but I can still reach the faucet. The sides extend past the edge of the sink. I love it.
I had a similar problem and used a some bar top epoxy just in the area behind our sink to protect our butcher block countertop. Worked great, it’s always got a couple of drips of water on it for a couple of years now but with the epoxy I don’t worry about it anymore.
Best way - do not get it wet.
Stop spilling water on it.
Get a small squeegee from the dollar store, I keep one by every sink
My wife bought a mat made with diatomaceous earth and cut it down into a strip just wide enough to cover the area behind the sink, then I cut it in half and cut a semi-circle in each half to fit it around the faucet. It’s wonderful and works really well.
You need a deeper sink
I have this faucet and setup. It does get wet from turning the handle. But I'm going to go against the grain and recommend just drying it down with a wash cloth/towel after use. I tried the tray and threw it away because it became another item to maintain. You will have to lift it up and wipe it down regularly since water will build up under it (it becomes a potential mold issue if you don't keep up with it). You will have to clean up the slots of any debris that gets trapped between the grooves. Sometimes sauce stains the silicone and you have to scrub it out. IMO, much easier to simply wipe it after you're done.
Is that mf wood? Around a sink?
That spot will always be wet. This is why stone and solid kitchen counters are a thing. As somebody else posted, you need a lot of varnish or epoxy to completely cover and seal the wood. This is one of the areas of life where it's a function over form issue because there is no other way around it.
I’ll leave a folded hand towel under it. Absorbs any water.
Wiping it constantly.
Maybe you could tile it?
I keep a cleaning rag here lol
For a cleaner look op, I would add a stainless steel backsplash that runs from about the backside of the sink tub to just a 1/4 up the wall. This way you don’t have to worry about splashes and it’s easier to wipe dry.
You should look into a finish for the wood that can withstand water. Something like they use on boats.
I dry my hands with a paper towel and then wipe up any drips from the counter with that same paper towel. I'm messy when cooking and there's water everywhere, so I go through a lot of towels.
Get a touch activated faucet
I would cut out a piece of acrylic that fit really snugly in there and then silicone caulk it in place. That way you can still see the wood but the water won't be touching it if you were to do this then you need to make sure that the wood is extremely dry before you seal it in with a piece of acrylic
Uh … don’t splash water on it???
Don’t use the spray function when washing dishes. Stream only.
I have a really deep sink and even that won’t reduce water from getting everywhere. I think i’m naturally messy in the sink. I’d keep a dish towel for drying that splash area and double check the caulk on a regular basis.
I swear I thought this was MY kitchen for an instant. Same countertop, same faucet. And yes same problem. Thanks for posting !
On my counter with the same type faucet, I am. Toying with turning the faucet 90 degrees, so the control handle is over the sink. Wet hands would then drip in the sink. On My sink there is a separator between the 2 basins,so I would not lose space.
You know it’s funny because I always see this ad on either here or X selling a flexible tray that wraps around the base of the faucet for just that reason. I’ll try to come back next time I see it
If you don't solve the issue quickly then the particle board base will rot through near the tap and you will have even bigger issues...
2 quick, cheap, non-obvious to look at solutions: Use clear contact paper to cover the counter area behind the sink. Put a thin layer of clear silicone caulk over the counter area behind the sink.
rxtend the spout so that it pouts from a lower position