🚪 What Was the “Hallway Sink” For?
This wasn’t for brushing teeth or shaving.
It wasn’t for laundry or dishes.
It was a hygiene station—a place to:
Wash your hands after gardening, working, or coming in from outside
Rinse off dirt before entering the main living areas
Give kids a quick clean-up spot without tracking mud upstairs
Think of it as the original mudroom sink.
And because plumbing was expensive and complex, builders kept it simple:
Cold water only (no hot lines needed)
Minimal piping (just a supply and drain line)
Small footprint (fit neatly into tight spaces)
These sinks were often called “washstands” or “hall taps”—and they were common in:
Farmhouses
Victorian homes
Early 20th-century city row houses
Some even had a small shelf underneath for soap or a washcloth.
đź’ˇ Why It Looks So Strange Today
We’re used to sinks being in bathrooms.
Out of sight.
Out of mind.
But back then?
Cleanliness happened where people entered.
Imagine:
