When I shared a shot of my farm sink on Instagram I had several questions and requests to write a post detailing how I refreshed an antique sink. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for anyone trying to do this on a super-tight budget. I am going to show you what did and didn’t work. Hopefully you will be encouraged to take on a similar restoration project that will give an authentic farmhouse feel to your home.
These high-back cast iron sinks are the essence of the early 1900s American farmhouse kitchen (the apron style farm sink finds its roots in Europe). They practically ooze farm charm! I think this sink was oozing some other stuff too, but I my heart skipped a beat when I found it on a visit to my local ReStore at Habitat for Humanity. It was love at first sight and I practically stole this beautiful rusty-crusty 1929 farm sink for only $75!
The first thing I tackled when we brought the sink home was the outside. It looked the worst, but I later found out it was the easiest to restore. I set up a work table in my front yard utilizing two sawhorses and a sheet of plywood. My poor husband had to carry the 200+ pound cast iron sink and hoist it up onto my makeshift table. Using a tough wire brush from his toolbox, I scrubbed the flaking layers of paint and much of the rust off. I really put a lot of pressure on the brush because I knew the cleaner the surface, the better the paint would stick.
Next, I got out my garden hose and gave my filthy sink a good spray down, making sure to wash away all the rust dust and debris. Then I let it air dry for a couple of hours. One of the wonderful things about these antique cast iron sinks and tubs is that the craftsman always stamped the birthdate on the bottom of each piece, so I could pinpoint the exact date my farm sink was cast. It was cast by the Crane company on April 19th, 1929.
Once the sink bottom was completely dry, I applied a very thick coat of oil based Rust-oleum protective enamel paint in semi-gloss white. I purchased 1 quart from Walmart for around $11 and only used 1/3 of the contents. Knowing that it is almost impossible to clean your brush after this type of paint, I was careful to use a beat up old brush that I could throw away after this project.
This paint is designed to adhere to metal and claims to stop rust, so I felt it would be perfect for the job. {I actually used this same paint in my antique bathtub makeover. You can check that post out by clicking HERE} I let that dry over night before moving on to restoring the inside of my farm sink.
The inside of my sink was—to put it lightly—disgusting! I knew that was why it had been so cheap at ReStore and why no one else had bought the poor thing, but I also knew that on our super-tight budget we could not afford to have it professionally refinished. So I resolved to do the best I could and see whatever damage was left as “character” or as Joanna Gaines says, let the piece “tell a story” of its nearly 100 year life. I am going to be honest though—I didn’t really like the story this sink was telling. The brown, yellow, and grayish mystery stains kinda gave me the shivers if I looked at them too long.
I asked a girlfriend’s advice and Googled ideas for getting the stains out. First, I tried the natural remedies, because I was wary of being too harsh on the antique finish. I made a paste of water and Borax (an all natural detergent), covered the whole bottom of the sink, and let it set over night. There’s no doubt that my sink was cleaner the next morning, but those stains didn’t budge.
The next night I tried a paste several people on YouTube swore was the miracle sink stain remover: baking soda and white vinegar. That did absolutely nothing! I was getting frustrated. Could I really live with such gross stains in my farmhouse kitchen? I also tried Magic Eraser with no success. I scrubbed and scrubbed till my hands felt raw, but those ugly stains hung on! I admit I felt like crying. We had worked so hard on this kitchen for three years now. I just wanted my sink to be clean and white! I prayed for the answer.
One night my husband told me he remembered hearing the elderly local guy we bought our cast iron bathtub from mention that a product called Lime-A-Way was good for getting rust stains out of antique tubs. I was thrilled when my husband easily found the product for $1 at Dollar General, but it was a bit disconcerting to find that the only one at the store was made for toilet cleaning (they make spray bottle versions too). At this point I was willing to try anything!
I hoped it would work, but I was afraid to get my hopes up too much. I followed the instructions and let the green gel set on my sink for ten minutes, then I cautiously scrubbed the whole inside of the sink. To my relief it totally brought back my farm sink to its original beautiful shade of white!
Not a trace of the awful stains was left after I gave it a final rinse!
Paired with this stunning Ebay faucet my parents gave me for Christmas, my farm sink looks like a farmhouse dream from 1929! I love it so much and I am so thankful that there was an inexpensive alternative to refinishing this antique sink. There are still a few dings and nicks in the ceramic finish, but that is a part of the farm sink’s story I am willing to tell. I feel so blessed to have this authentic farm sink in my kitchen. It’s the perfect sink for our 1893 farmhouse!
If you are interested in finding out more about the reproduction vintage style faucet I added to my sink, here is all the Ebay information you would need to search and purchase an identical piece. Because my particular farm sink is on the shallow side we did end up having to contact the manufacturer Kingston Brass to purchase a shorter head at additional cost. However they were kind enough to give us a discount through a cheaper supplier, faucetlist.com who were very helpful.
Stay tuned to see the beautiful base my husband built for the sink and to see it installed in our DIY farmhouse kitchen. If you have any questions regarding my sink makeover or my faucet, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below. I would also love to hear what you think of my new/old sink and what farmhouse style additions you have added to your own kitchen…
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This was one of my favorites! Thank you for sharing your tips. I absolutely love your sink!
Thanks for your sweet comment Lori ❤️ We are getting this kitchen done slowly but surely and we love having your support along the way!
Thank you sooo much Sara!! I have been patiently restoring a 1890 52’ farm sink I acquired roughly a year ago. The poor thing had 7 layers of paint on it! Taking them off layer by layer (praying the porcelain was in tact underneath) was like taking a trip in a time machine. In the 80’s it was painted beige, lime green in the 60’s, fire engine red in the 50’s and so forth, lol. Finally the bottom layer revealed perfect porcelain! One problem was that first layer probably from the 40’s was a nasty lead based laquer of sorts. It left behind a yellow stain in little splotches. After trying everything and I do mean everything (bakeing soda, vinegar, windex, bleach, rubbing compound with a buffer, aircraft stripper, etc. Nothing worked until I found you online and tryed this lime-a-away! Took 2 applications yet worked when nothing else did! Thanks again! -Nate S
Oh my goodness what a wonderful thing to hear! I’m so glad you are so dedicated to restoring your irreplaceable piece of America’s heritage and that I have been able to help in some way.
What did you use to remove the paint layers?
we didn’t remove any
What did you use to get the paint layers off?!
I just scraped it off with my fingernails or steal wool for the toughest bits. Be gentle as possible and take your time.
Oh can you please show how your husband built the table for the sink? Did he use salvaged table legs? Thank you 😉
I’m sorry we didn’t document that project
Hi Sara Jo
Luv you farmhouse sink adventure…my parents passed away last year and they have a farmhouse sink in their basement I m going to remove and want to refurbish… should I decide it not to b a DIY project any resources as to who to contact to refurbish it??
Thanks
Barb
My husband and I just bought home that was built in 1900. The kitchen sink it’s an old cast iron farmhouse sink which the plumbers told us we could not get parts for. So they told us we had to get a new sink. So I searched and came across your article. Thank you so much for sharing I really did not want to get rid of that sink and now I have faith that I can bring it back
In my experience never listen to a modern contractor on just about any subject. They are not educated on the value of historic craftsmanship so they always want to rip everything original out. New is not always better. It’s usually poor quality. Trends come and go, but staying true to the soul of your house is classic. Always follow what your house should have, never get advice from anyone who stands to gain financially from giving you that advice.
Beautiful, love your faucet and sink!!!
Thanks Patricia, it’s great to hear from you! You are an amazing cheerleader ❤
Three words…..Bar Keepers Friend! I use nothing but old recycled porcelain sinks in my Victorian. I got them either free or just paid $250 for an antique mop sink to use as a utility/dog bath in my laundry room. It is much like yours only deeper, but just as horrendous! Put my gloves on, dusted it heavily with BKF, wet a plastic scrubbing thingies and had at! Completely new in an hour and a half and beautiful. I also use it periodically to keep the others white. Have fun! They’re beautiful!
Thanks for this tip my friend! I’m sure I will have a chance to try it to keep our kitchen sink looking new. So glad you stopped by our little blog for a visit!
can I ask if the inside had any rust? I just bought one of these bad boys in hopes of restoring as well and the inside has smidge of rust not sure if lime away would work or if I should try the rust oleum on inside as well
Yes, most of the brown residue was rust. There was also soap scum, calcium build up, dirt, and mystery stains. All of it came out!
This is such a helpful article, thank you! Starting my farmhouse sink project after reading this, wish me luck! 🙂
Glad to help sweet friend! Let me know how it goes.
I just purchased a double washboard farm sink ( like my grandpa had ) and have the whole cleanup ahead as well. One thing to remember that the toilet line and rust remover destroys metal finishes…that’s why it’s made for toilets. So while your sink was stripped of all metal it was a great option but after installing the drain or faucets it would have destroyed your chrome, etc. Rehular limeaway is safe for regular use ( not sure about living finishes like oil rubbed bronze or the newest 2018 brushed aged brass. Thanks for reminding me that the toilet line scale remover is a great option for a bare ( no metal ) sink.
Thankfully we have the original 1928 brass drain so the cleaner didn’t do any harm. You’er right about modern fixtures. The fishes are very easily damaged. It’s true what they say, “They don’t things like they used to!”
Looks gorgeous! I found this same sink for $20 (mine is pretty beat up as well), so I love seeing that it can be restored to its former glory. Would love to see how you built a stand for it!
Oh you have me beat on that deal! My husband plans to do a YouTube video showing how he built everything from the sink stand to the countertops, so stay tuned.
Hi Sara! I am in love with your idea of farmhouse beauty. I too live in an old 1886 farmhouse that has been in my husbands family all these years. I looked on youtube but didnt see a video on how to build sink stand. Was your husband still planning on doing this! I am so interested!
Thank you for appreciating our DIY restoration work. At the time we were so focused on our work we didn’t take any video of how we built the sink base. I wish we had documented that process more.
Do you feel like the antique sink is deep enough for today’s uses? I’m terrible at letting my dishes pile up, but the modern reproductions are crazy expensive!
Our real farmhouse sink is far more shallow than a modern day sink for sure, but it’s the real deal. Authenticity in the restoration of our 1893 farmhouse is what matters most to me. besides if Laura Ingalls Wilder and the original lady of the house Emma White can use a sink like this, so can I. I don’t want to live a modern life with all it’s luxuries. I want to live a meaningful life of purpose. A shallow sink makes you slow down and carefully wash the dishes so you don’t splash. What a gift to be forced to slow down!
This turned out absolutely amazing! I am keeping this blog post handy since I fully intend to try and find an old farmhouse sink for my “new” home and an old claw foot tub too! I’m gonna need to do some scrubbing, I can guarantee it! And some painting!
I bought a double basin, double washboard sink to install in my 1913 kitchen remodel. To my dismay I discovered pretty severe staining after I cleaned it up. Restoration proved to be expensive and unreliable. I was pretty upset, thinking I would not be able to use it afterall when I came across this article. I tried it and it worked! FYI the Lysol toilet gel with a black label has exactly the same ingredients as Lime Away and works just as well. My sink looks beautiful and almost new!
Oh, wonderful! I am so glad it was helpful to you!
Where are the nicks and dings that you posted where there? I don’t see them. I love your sink, I just got a vintage sink with two drain boards, I love it although I wish it was a double sink, but hey, it was free and in great share.
They are small but all around the lip
I just purchased an old cast iron sink and I’m so ready to drive in and make it pretty again, however I’m sooo confused about one of the steps…the “etching”….I’ve read a lot of different post😩 most mention some type of toxic acid ( muratic and hydrofluoric) and this is the only thing keeping me from getting started…and one more question was the paint the only thing you had to use for the cracks and chips? TIA😊
Mine was in real good shape so I didn’t have to worry about any of that. I’m sorry
This is beautiful. I have been looking for something similar for several years with no luck.
I would like to add to your cleaning arsenal. If you mix cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide and make it into a paste, spread it over the stained porcelain it pulls all the deep stains out. I use disposable gloves and let it dry overnight. Vacuum up the dry powder or sweep it out, because if you wet it, the dirt can resettle in the porcelain. Then apply a sealant. This works incredibly well for open porcelain. The down side is that if you don’t seal it, the first dirt that hits it will reabsorb – like a dirty foot on the bottom of the bathtub.
You did an amazing job – and I will keep praying for a sink to appear in my area!
This is great. We’re getting ready to redo the main bathroom in our 130 year old house and I bought a lovely old sink to redo. The quote to refinish it came in at $600! I can’t do that on a $125 sink, so I told my husband I’m going to do it myself. I’m so happy to come across your post. I thought I would have to spray paint the bottom, so I was glad to see what you used. I’ll definitely be doing that. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to just clean the inside and leave it as is. If that doesn’t work, any tips from you or your readers on what I can apply myself as ‘paint’/reglaze? I see lots of products online, but no real people saying what works for them.
I don’t advise ever reglazing a ceramic sink or tub. The DIY kits from HomeDepot for example don’t last and will begin to peel after a few years. Just do your best to clean the surface and choose to the character that’s left behind.
What if there are slight cracks inside? I love the worn spots but not sure if the cracks.
What do you use for a sealer?
Nothing. We are enjoying the authentic age and story that this sink continues to shine.
Love it! Just bought on just like it that needs some TLC. Any concerns about lead paint when restoring a sink like this?
Big chips might be a concern, but we didn’t have any of those
I just salvaged a similar sink that was put out to the curb. Question: Where can you find a sink drain assembly for these vintage sinks? Thanks!
Ours still had the original drain in pretty good condition so we didn’t have to look, but I would suggest EBay
Drains for bar sinks is how we’ve done our three!
I’ve cleaned my 1919 porcelain kitchen sink (for kitchen) & now I want to paint it. Is it possible?
I would not recommend painting the porcelain inside of the sink but you can definitely paint the outside with paint specifically made for metal
I’m getting double drain board sink to using in my barn. Can I use faucet i purchase from home depo or do I have to find vintage hardware? Your sink looks 😍 gorgeous! It has a few chips. Any suggestions to repair?
We used a modern faucet, so you can definitely use one from Home Depot. Ours has several chips and we don’t worry about that. If it was in perfect condition there would’t be a point in having an antique. Look at those chips, scratches, and stains as character. They show the stories of loving hands over the years. They are reminders of what is most important – family, hardworking, and serving others.
Hi sara, can you tell me its held up its luster ? Ive cleaned mine, not with the limeaway product, but something similar, also appears someone too, a wire sratch pad to it.
There wasn’t any luster before or after using limeaway because my sink is so old. I’m okay with the dull imperfect finish because I don’t want my sink to look new. I want it to show wear, just not look gross. I want people to be able to tell that many lives have been lived here and everything has authentic patina.
Have you ever tried Bar Keepers Helper to clean sinks/tubs with? It’s great on rust stains 🙂
We have and it gets most things out but this time it was way harder
I am really loving all the restoring information and tips you’ve provided on your blog. I hope to one day be able to buy a farm home with my husband and our family. Thank you Sarah Jo and Michael for being an inspiration to us. Blessings, Cindy
After cleaning, someone told me to use car wax, the heavy paste type.
Then rub it off per instructions leaving a water proof finish, I did and love it, also I feel it protects what finish is left 🙂 Thanks for the info ,Lisa
Any tutorial on the tub?
Yes use our search bar to find that post.