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6 Ways to Stop Water Splashing in the Bathroom Sink

One of the common but often neglected problems when it comes to the bathroom sink is the water splashing all over the countertop. In some cases, the water from the faucet even splashes on the floor of the bathroom, causing a bigger mess than anyone would like.

We’ve all had this happen in the bathroom sink at one point or another. It’s one of the most annoying things to deal with. So, how can you stop water splashing in the bathroom sink?

bathroom faucet water running

Why Is Water Splashing in the Bathroom Sink?

Here are the main possible reasons why your bathroom sink water splashes.

You Have a Shallow Sink

The depth of the bathroom sink can vary, usually ranging from five to eight inches deep. Depending on the style, your sink depth can be even lower than that. Sometimes you can even find flat-style bathroom sinks, and while these may look sleek and stylish, this design has some drawbacks. Shallower sinks are more likely to cause water to splash all over the counter and the bathroom floor.

Because there is less distance between the faucet spout and the bottom of the sink, water tends to hit the bottom of the basin at a higher speed, and bounce out of the sink, leaving you with a messy counter. Bathroom sinks that are less than four inches deep are more prone to the splashing problem. For this reason, shallow bathroom sinks are more decorative than functional.

You’re Using a Bowl Sink

Another sink problem that can cause unnecessary water splashing all over the bathroom floor is using a bowl sink or a vessel sink. These are a stylish option for bathrooms, but while the obvious curvature of the sink looks trendy, it produces a considerable amount of splashing.

A high-arc faucet or a fast-flowing water stream can cause water to pour into the sink’s curvature instead of its low point and down the drain. Again, this will cause the water to splash off. Vessel sinks that are less than 16 inches in diameter are more likely to have water splashing issues.

6 Ways to Stop Water Splashing in the Bathroom Sink

There are a few different ways to stop that splashing issue in the bathroom sink.

1. Make Sure You’re Using a Bathroom Faucet for Your Bathroom Sink

You would probably think that all faucets work the same, but that’s far from the truth. There are bathtub and kitchen faucets, and there are bathroom faucets, and they have one major difference – water flow rates.

Bathtub and kitchen faucets have high flow rates, so when you use them in the bathroom sink, especially a shallow one, expect a lot of water to splash. When choosing a faucet for your sink, make sure it’s rated for bathroom use and has a water flow rate of around 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM).

2. Adjust the Water Pressure

So, what if you are using an appropriate bathroom faucet and the flow rate is still high, causing water to splash? The problem could simply be that the water supply in your bathroom may have high water pressure.

There are three ways to prevent splashing with high water pressure:

  • When using the faucet, don’t open the tap fully. If the water flow is low, it means there’s less splashing going to happen.

  • Adjust the bathroom faucet’s shut-off valve. You’ll find the valve below the bathroom sink. You can leave it ½ or even ¼ way closed if necessary to lower the volume of water coming through the tap.

  • Install a pressure-reducing valve right over your home’s water meter to control the overall water pressure in your house.

3. Add a Tap Aerator

Another easy fix to prevent water from splashing in the bathroom sink is by using an aerator. It’s a quick and effective way to stop any splashing issues.

An aerator is a fitting you can attach to the end of your bathroom faucet, which then serves as a barrier against the water stream. It has a metal screen inside, which helps reduce the pressure of the water from the tap.

Unlike the stream of water directly from the faucet, the water which comes out of the aerator is less concentrated, so there’s less or no splashing going to happen. You can find aerators that you can pull up and down to change the setting or one you can twist. The latter option is ideal for a bathroom sink.

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4. Replace with a Shorter Faucet

As previously mentioned, shallow types of bathroom sinks are more likely to cause splashing, especially when you use a taller or high-arc faucet.

If you like the shallow style of your bathroom sink and don’t want to change it, at least get a bathroom faucet with a short spout design. This faucet style ensures that the water will pour directly into the sink drain, so there’s less surface for the water to splash off of.

5. Upgrade to a Deeper Bathroom Sink

If you fancy the taller and high-arch style faucets for your bathroom, you will need to get the appropriate bathroom sink for it to avoid splashing. Pick a sink that is deeper than four inches and wider than 16 inches, so splashing is less likely to happen.

6. Position Your Bathroom Faucet Properly

Another essential consideration in your bathroom faucet and sink configuration is the proper positioning. Otherwise, you’re going to deal with a lot of splashing. What you need to do is ensure that:

  • The height of the faucet isn’t more than a couple of inches above the rink of your bathroom sink.

  • The faucet spout should be placed as close to the center of your bathroom sink as possible, so the water will flow straight into the sink drain.

Other Ways to Help with Water Splashing in the Bathroom Sink

If you can’t get around your bathroom sink and faucet configuration, other alternatives can help with the water splashing in the bathroom sink.

Use a Sink Grid

Sink grids weren’t specifically made to stop splashing, but they can help by dispersing water as it hits the surface. So, the water is less likely to bounce back and splash like it would when hitting the flat surface of the sink.

Get a Splash Guard

If splashing in your bathroom sink feels inevitable, you can also buy a splash guard. It’s usually made of a translucent plastic material that you can drape over the edge of the sink to protect you from getting splashed. It’s an ideal option for smaller sinks, and it’s easy to use too.

No More Splashes In Your Bathroom Sink

Water splashing all over the vanity and sometimes the bathroom floor can be an annoying occurrence, but it’s easily fixable.

  • Use the correct bathroom faucet and sink configuration – a large faucet for deeper sinks and a shorter faucet if you have a shallow bathroom sink.

  • Position your faucet correctly. The water should flow down close to the center of your bathroom sink.

  • If your bathroom faucet has a high water flow rate, add an aerator.

You can now save the time and effort you’d otherwise have to spend wiping up that watery mess – certainly a worthy investment.

Mandy Phillips

As a frequent contributor to top US magazines and publications in the home improvement niche, Mandy has been known for sharing her expertise on how to clean, organize, and decorate bathrooms.

Additionally, Mandy has immense experience offering lifestyle tips and tricks to her readers.

About Loo Academy

At Loo Academy, our mission is to offer trusted advice for everything related to bathrooms (design ideas, plumbing advice, showering & bathing tips, remodeling guides, and more) — a place where we all spend a great deal of time.

We work closely with qualified experts and follow a thorough editing and fact-checking process before publishing content.

Published content is regularly fact-checked and revised so that the information we provide is accurate and up-to-date.

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