• if you rarely use high temperatures or petroleum products, acrylic may be idealToy boat in the bathroom sink image by Samu from Fotolia.com
  
  Choosing a bathroom or kitchen sink is a significant decision. Not only does it provide the focal point of your bathroom or kitchen, but it is important to choose one that will last a long time and will look new despite heavy use. There are multiple materials, sizes, shapes and colors of sinks available. Acrylic is an increasingly popular sink material.
  
  

Stain Resistance

• Acrylic sinks are particularly good choices for kitchen sinks--especially if you do a lot of food preparation--because they are non-porous, meaning that liquids do not seep in, causing stains.
  
  

Economical

• Compared to copper or granite, acrylic is a much cheaper material to manufacture. Therefore, compared to its counterparts, acrylic is a good choice as a basic but aesthetically pleasing alternative to a traditional stainless steel kitchen sink.
  
  

Stays looking new

• Acrylic sinks' smooth surfaces means that if a scratch occurs, you are not left with an unsightly chip or cut: it is easy to sand and then buff any cuts or scratches, keeping your sink looking new for a longer period of time.
  
  

Poor heat resistance

• Acrylic sinks cannot withstand very high temperatures; some sinks may even be damaged by boiling water or a hot pan or pot, as the acrylic may melt. If you anticipate needing to dispose of high-temperature liquids in the sink, you may want to avoid this material.
  
  

Damaged by Petroleum-based products

• You may not be aware of the prevalence of petroleum in many of our everyday products, but many kitchen detergents and most bathroom lotions, creams, or gels contain petroleum. The chemical degrades the surface of acrylic sinks over time.