Let’s talk about sinks. Sinks are a crucial part of an art room setup. I hope you all have one. I know I taught in a room that didn’t have a sink, so a sink can be both a blessing and a struggle. How many of us have had a perfectly good day ruined by a clogged or otherwise malfunctioning sink? I know I had the handle pop off on a student, which resulted in a geyser-like experience that drenched all in proximity.
This week, I read a social media post where an art teacher was upset that her principal pulled her aside to relay that her custodian was none too happy to have fixed a clogged sink in the art room Turns out the clog included paint and broken paintbrushes. As the teacher rightly explained, these clogs develop over the years; she has been at the school for a short time. So , what’s an art teacher to do about a clog? While we shouldn’t have to be a custodian, it doesn’t hurt to have some basic know how when it comes to sinks.
Helpful Tools
Now, let’s talk about clogs and how to avoid plugged-up sinks. A simple, easy, and inexpensive mesh strainer can be a massive help. They can be simple, like the one pictured above. There are flat ones because different designs work best with various drains. A drain filter is used to catch debris like brushes, jewelry, and other small objects before they can clog your drain pipes, preventing blockages that can lead to reduced water flow, damage to your plumbing system, and potentially costly repairs. Along these lines, a ceramic teacher shared that she uses a low wide plastic dollar tree baskets at the bottom of her sink to help prevent larger objects from entering the drain.
A sink plunger is another valuable tool to invest in. It is used to unclog a sink drain by creating suction around the drain opening, allowing you to apply pressure and dislodge any built-up debris. Running hot water for a few minutes at the end of a school day is another tip to keeping your drains working.
If you use plaster and clay in your room or have continued clogging issues, you and your custodian might consider a “clay sink trap.” It is a device installed under a studio sink designed to catch clay particles and sediment before they can clog the plumbing. It is a container that allows clay to settle out of the water before it flows down the drain, preventing blockages in the pipes; it’s a crucial tool for potters to maintain a clean plumbing system. It also catches paint gunk, so it isn’t exclusive to ceramic rooms.
A ceramic teacher shares, “I have Gleco traps in my home studio and classroom. The height of the plumbing dictates the size you can put in. I empty them about every 4-6 weeks, and I teach full-time ceramics. Also, there are no wheel-slip down drains—I recycle all the wheel water bucket slip.”
If your feeling particuarly handy, a Drain Snake Auger is another useful tool for unclogging a drain. A drain snake is a long, flexible metal cable that’s used to clear clogs from drains. I have to admit, I’ve never used one in my classroom but I have at home. This personally crosses my line on what I would want to do in my classroom but I’ve always had great custodians and I know that’s not the case for evveryone.
Prevention is the Name of the Game!
Many, many art teachers use buckets to help. One art teacher shared, “I have students wash their hands and buckets of water first before they actually wash their hands in the sink.” She then dumps that outside. Another teacher does the same, “I keep dishwashing buckets in the sink to collect the worst. They are always full of water, and the sediment sinks to the bottom. Once a month or so, I empty them and scrape the residue into the trash. You’d be amazed at what collects!” Here is a video I discovered on YouTube that shows the concept in action. Thanks Art of Education University
Acrylic paints are often a big culprit in art room clogs. Have your students scrape the remaining paint into the trash, then wash the brushes and palettes. Some teachers even do away with palettes and use paper plates or magazines. With a magazine, use the top page to do all your pain mixing, and then, when you’re done, rip it out, fold it, and toss it. The next page is ready for the next painter. Some teachers use wet wipes or damp sponges for handwashing, so the sink isn’t in such demand. Some teachers don’t have students wash the brushes; instead, they collect them to soak them first in a tub of water and then wash them.
Do what’s practical for you, though! You won’t catch me cleaning everyone’s brushes daily. Sinks sometimes clog, and occasionally having a custodian in to clear things isn’t unreasonable- and no one should tell you it is! That said, always do what you can to stay on the custodians good side. If you have to have them in more often, consider what changes you can make or what needs to be done for a permanent fix. Echoing the teacher with the clogged sink at the beginning of the article, a problem in the present is often the result of years of abuse and neglect from past teachers and students.
