If you decide to replace the entire fixture, you will need more money, and you may need to call a plumber. Sometimes the entire piping can require more work than you are cut out for. The rule of thumb for replacing a fixture is to use while or cream colored fixtures. The colored fixtures tend to look quite dated after a few years.

The best way to replace the replace the faucet is to take the sink out of the countertop, install the new faucet and put the whole assembly back together. The only other method is to go under the cabinet and undo everything this way; it is much more difficult and takes a lot of time.

When you go about installing the new faucet, you will need to following items: flashlight, the new faucet set, cleaning tools like a steel wool pad, towel, vinegar and a razor blade, a basin wrench and bathroom caulk.

Begin by turning off the water supply to the sink. There is a valve under the sink that allows you to shut it off without having to turn off the main water line. Once you have the water off, you need to turn on the faucet and allow any excess water to drip out.

Using your basin wrench, loosen the nuts that hold the faucet in place. A bottom mounted faucet will be connected above the sink, while a top mounted faucet is secured below the sink. Most faucets are top mounted, but you may have a bottom mounted faucet. Either way, once you have pulled the sink out, the process will be the same.

Now you must disconnect the water supply lines, this is where your towel will come in handy. The towel will mop up any water spills and nasty smelling stuff that may come out of the lines! You will want to clean the sink's surface to remove any mold or mildew that has accumulated over the years. Vinegar and hot water will help to soften this buildup. The razor blade and the steel wool pad are great for this stage.

After everything is clean and the old sink is removed, you will use some bathroom caulk and smooth it onto the inner plate of the base assembly. Press it firmly in place so you have a watertight seal. Now put the new sink in place or the old sink in place and place the washers and nuts on the protruding stems. You will just want to place them on for now.

Make sure your faucet base plate is lined up straight and the water supply lines are securely connected. Now tighten everything and turn the water back on. It is best to test for leaks by turning on the cold water first, then the hot water. Check all the water lines, and the faucet plate to make sure no water is leaking.