What Features To Look For In A Portable Sink

The alarming spread of infectious diseases reminds us of the importance of a simple lifesaving hack: proper and frequent hand washing. Washing hands with soap and water can help counter exposure to viral and bacterial infections and curb their spread. But how can you practice proper handwashing when there’s no sink and running water available?

Installing a portable sink is a quick and simple way to promote good hand hygiene and ensure that it is frequently practiced even in settings with no plumbing access. A portable sink can be set up virtually anywhere and pre-filled with clean water for multiple washes.

Each portable sink can be customized to support various handwashing requirements in any setting. Whether you need hot water, height adjustments, or multiple basins, you can easily install a portable sink to promote good hand hygiene in an outdoor event, school, retail location, office, and any other public setting.

Portable Sink Features

What features do you need in your portable sink? Determine where it will be installed and what it will be used for. Based on these, you can choose between various portable sink models, or customize them to support the features you need to ensure good hand hygiene in any application:

1. Indoor and outdoor installation

Where will you use a portable sink? Previously, portable sinks were most popular for outdoor settings with little to no access to washroom access. But portable sinks aren’t just good for food truck festivals, concerts, and picnics in the park — they can also be installed indoors, such as in classrooms and offices, to provide mobile handwashing stations and reduce the risk of contamination.

Indoor-use portable sinks can be customized to suit interior environments too, in contrast to more robust and rugged outdoor sinks. Outdoor-use sinks are built for outdoor settings with no washroom access, so they’re also usually more compact. These sinks come with built-in soap and paper towel dispensers and transport options.

2. Hot and cold water

Warm water is preferable for hand washing, and today’s portable sinks are designed with this in mind. Aside from the standard cold water supplied by pre-filled tanks, portable sinks can also be configured to dispense hot water to meet certain hand and equipment washing requirements and guarantee bacteria removal.

3. User height and other requirements

Who will be using the portable sink? Depending on the location and purpose of their installation, portable sinks cater to users of different heights and other requirements. For instance, a standard adult-height sink would not be suitable for classroom use of young students in art or science class, or even of smaller children in daycare centres.

Outdoor food service and events operations would best benefit from a fully mobile setup and stainless steel construction. Each setting will require different water tanks with varying volume capacities for a range of hand washing users. Consider your requirements for setting up a portable sink, and select the best model designed for each application.

4. Power options

Do you need a portable sink that needs to be plugged in, or do you require the mobility of a battery-operated model? This will depend on where you want it installed and how many hours of use you need.

Many portable sinks are battery-operated, so you can easily wheel the unit to the desired location. For efficient operation and simple use, foot-operated pumps are also available, so users can easily control the amount of water they use and prevent waste from taps that are left running when not in use.

5. Number of basins

Portable sinks come in a range of sizes and configurations. A single-basin sink isn’t your only option — customers, staff, and other users alike shouldn’t have to cram their handwashing and other cleaning needs in one basin.

Two, three, and four-basin portable sink models are available to support your cleaning requirements. Multiple basins allow for simultaneous washing, as well as keeping certain items separate in environments with a high risk of contamination. Depending on where the portable sink is installed, these configurations can be built to suit a cabinet style for interior use or a more robust setup for outdoor events.

6. Number of sinks

While multiple basins allow for simultaneous washing of various tools and equipment, a multi-sink setup allows for completely simultaneous and separate use of multiple users.

For example, a three-sink setup is a minimum requirement in food preparation stations. Keep cookware, ingredients, and utensils separate to eliminate the risk of harmful cross-contamination. A portable multi-sink setup gives you the best of food safety compliance and mobility across locations.

7. Size

Portable sinks come in a range of sizes to support various configurations and cleaning requirements. Each size factors the volume of use, as well as the height and mobility requirements of various users.

Just as little kids will require shorter sinks or add-on stool steps for reaching the basin, smaller sinks are easier to fit and install in tight, packed spaces, such as compact mobile kitchens and offices. When choosing between portable sinks, consider the users, desired location, and application to ensure ease of use.

8. Custom models

Do you need all or just some of these features but can’t find them in a single model? Portable sinks can be easily customized according to your exact hand washing, cleaning, power and operation, and even aesthetic requirements. Portable sink providers like Ancaster Food Equipment can tailor them to your needs, so you can ensure good hygiene and thorough sanitation wherever and whenever needed.

For more information about what features to look for in a portable sink, call Ancaster Food Equipment at (855) 888-9644, or contact us here.