How to connect a garden hose to a utility sink faucet
You can connect a garden hose to most utility sink faucets by removing the aerator and threading on a faucet-to-hose adapter. This only works if your faucet has a removable aerator, which exposes the standard threads needed for the adapter to screw into place.
With many parts of the dye process for tie dye and ice dye, it can be helpful to have a hose connected to the utility sink faucet. It's nice to be able to put a attachment to change the spray pattern and be able to squeeze the handle to control the water flow.
Whether or not you can do this on your existing faucet, depends on whether you have an removable aerator on your faucet. There should be around metal piece that you can pinch between your fingers and unscrew.
Older kitchen sink faucets often have this but many modern kitchen sink faucets, no longer have it. But it does seem like utility sinks reliably have the ability to attach an adapter for a garden hose.
If you are able to locate and unscrew the removable aerator, you can look at that to determine the thread size and adapter type that you will need. There are options you can order online or you can check in local hardware stores to see if they have parts you can compare in person.
With many parts of the dye process, especially tie dye and ice dye, it’s helpful to have a garden hose connected to the utility sink faucet. Being able to change the spray pattern and squeeze the handle to control the flow just makes everything easier.
Aerator check
Whether this works with your sink depends on one thing: the faucet needs a removable aerator. This is the little metal piece at the tip of the faucet that you can pinch and unscrew. Older and utility-style faucets almost always have one, while many modern kitchen faucets do not.
Adapter types
Once the aerator is off, you can check what kind of threads you have. Most utility sinks use either a 15/16 inch male-thread aerator or a 55/64 inch female-thread aerator. Faucet-to-hose adapters are sold for both sizes, and the packaging will list the thread type. You can order one online or bring the aerator to a hardware store and match it in person.
After the adapter is threaded onto the faucet, you can attach your garden hose just like you would outdoors. It’s a simple setup, but for tie dye and ice dye, it gives you a lot more control during rinsing and cleanup.
Corky Lorenz
December 6, 2025