Approximately half of the time will be waiting for parts to soak.
Cost
Up to $25
You might need a thing or two.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
One-quart plastic food storage bag
Rubber band
Hand towel
Toothbrush
Pliers (optional)
Rubber or latex gloves (optional)
SUPPLIES
White vinegar
Baking soda
Dish soap
Calcium, lime, and rust stain remover (optional)
Like knowing the best methods for cleaning a kitchen sink, learning how to clean a faucet head is a simple but valuable skill that will keep your kitchen and bath fixtures looking good and working well. Hard water and grime are unsightly and can cause low water flow problems, but you can remove this pesky buildup in an hour or less. Grab a handful of tools and supplies you likely have around your home and discover how to clean a sink faucet head using these six steps.
Prepping to Clean a Faucet Head
There's little preparation necessary before cleaning your faucet head. If you know how to remove hard water stains from sinks and faucets or how to remove rust from metal, you already have most of the knowledge you need to clean a faucet head.
You may also be familiar with the precautions. Cleaning hard water residue from a faucet head requires using an acid such as vinegar that can harm some metal surfaces. If your faucet is chrome, nickel, or brass, limit its exposure to vinegar or a calcium, lime, and rust-removing liquid to 30 minutes to avoid surface damage to the fixture.
Soak the Faucet Head
Create a mix of about one cup of white vinegar and one cup of tap water in a one-quart plastic bag. Hold the bag to the faucet head and submerge the entire end in the solution. Use a rubber band to secure the bag to the faucet head, ensuring the head stays submerged in the solution. Allow the faucet head to soak in the solution for 30 minutes.
Scrub and Rinse
Remove the bag and rubber band, and discard the vinegar. Use a toothbrush or other small, soft-bristled brush to scrub away loose limescale on the faucet head. Rinse the faucet head with tap water. Run the faucet for several seconds to clear out any remaining debris before wiping it dry with a towel.
Remove the Aerator
Photo: Igor Nikushin / iStock / Getty Images
Sometimes, buildup in a faucet head can slow the water flow from the tap. If soaking in vinegar isn’t enough to improve flow, the trouble could be a clogged or dirty aerator. Cover the sink drain to avoid losing parts. Wrap the aerator at the end of the faucet head with a towel to protect its surface while grasping it with pliers. Twist the aerator counterclockwise with the pliers until it's loose. Then, continue turning by hand until the aerator is free of the faucet.
Clean the Aerator
Soak the aerator in white vinegar or a bubbling, reactive 50/50 mix of vinegar and baking soda for 30 minutes. Mix a small amount of dish soap with baking soda. Remove the aerator from its bath and brush on the soap and soda mix with a toothbrush or soft-bristled brush. Brush gently until the built up debris is gone. You can also brush the mixture onto the faucet head if there's still residue there. Rinse the aerator and faucet head with tap water.
Put It All Back Together
Reinstall the aerator by twisting it clockwise onto the faucet head the same way it came off. Tighten it by wrapping it with the towel and twisting gently but firmly with the pliers. Rinse the faucet head with water and wipe dry with a cloth or towel.
Handle Heavy Buildup
While vinegar and baking soda can break up most buildup, in some cases, it's just not enough. If your water flow doesn't return to normal after cleaning with the above solutions, follow the same steps using a commercially available calcium, lime, and rust remover. Take extra caution to follow the product directions to avoid damaging your faucet fixture.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Cleaning your faucet head to eliminate buildup is possible with a few things you may already have lying around the house or a store-bought cleaning product that likely costs under $10. However, you can ask about adding faucet head cleaning to the cost of house cleaning if you choose to hire a local house cleaning expert. A typical house cleaner costs between $30 and $50 per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar both work well to clean faucet heads; simply soak the end of the fixture in a 50/50 mix with tap water for 30 minutes. Baking soda and dish soap used in conjunction with vinegar can also help the cleaning process. A commercially available calcium, lime, and rust remover is a good solution for stubborn buildup or stains.
Removing calcium and lime buildup will often fix a clogged faucet head. You can usually remove any buildup with distilled white vinegar or a combination of vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda. Sometimes, the problem is buildup on the aerator, in which case removing and cleaning that part should fix your water flow. However, the design of some aerators makes them difficult to clean. For those, replacing the aerator will get the faucet flowing well again.
Deane has spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair, and now contributes DIY and educational articles for publications like Forbes Home and U.S. News. Throughout his career, he has strived to help homeowners find the potential hidden within the walls of every home and empower them to take control of their household repair and remodeling endeavors.
Deane has spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair, and now contributes DIY and educational articles for publications like Forbes Home and U.S. News. Throughout his career, he has strived to help homeowners find the potential hidden within the walls of every home and empower them to take control of their household repair and remodeling endeavors.
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