Hmmm. Not saying your wrong, but my washer drum is stainless. Looks pristine after 5 years and I do bleach loads all the time.

What does bleach do to stainless?

Since laundry/utility sinks are often used for very dirty tasks, I would get the least expensive material that will get the job done, and make sure its a major brand in a common size. If it gets really screwed up from something (paint, bleach, etc.) and you think it looks really bad, then just replace it.

Bruce

JJ apparently bleach will corrode and discolor stainless steel

Ours is stainless, but I don't usually soak things IN the sink itself. I use a bucket in the sink.

I would go with stainless and soak nasty stuff in a bucket. Anyone else notice that utility sinks seem to be really cheap or really expensive, and not much in between?