Banish buildup and improve water flow in just one hour
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I had FabClean 614 clean my apartment, and she did an outstanding job. She was so professional and efficient. My apartment looks absolutely spotless every surface, every corner, all cleaned to perfection. Definitely highly recommend FabClean 614 if you're looking for top-notch cleaning...
Fab Clean 614Best cleaning I've had at my property
Fantastic group, very communicative, and they really did a great job cleaning my condo. Will be hiring them for recurring cleaning!
eMaids of Northern Columbus100% satisfied with the work done by Supreme Brick & Chimney. Josh responded to my Angi request very quickly and squeezed our house into his schedule only a couple business days out. The chimney cleaning process was extremely clean with ZERO dirt going anywhere besides in Josh's vacuum. Very...
Supreme brick & chimneyOn time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central OhioGreat job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
All Star Paving and SealingMary Cleaning Service is fantastic! The entire team is professional and pay a great deal of attention to detail. They do such a thorough job of cleaning my house. I would definitely recommend!
It was just fine. They did a good job. They cleaned what needed to be cleaned.
Dezired Cleaners LLCThey cleaned my very dirty basement. They were prompts, quick, thorough and their price was fair.
JDE House Cleaning LLCExcellent! We were very satisfied with the service provided and the entire experience from start to finish. Very friendly and professional staff. I was able to instantly get in contact with them for a quote and the response time and overall communication remained quick and easy throughout the...
Prime Cleaning ServiceFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Cleaning with dirty cleaning supplies will only make your home dirtier. Follow these tips to clean your cleaning supplies and help them do their jobs perfectly.
The kitchen sink sprayer is a handy tool for cleaning dishes and the sink itself, but it doesn’t get used a lot, so it’s prone to drying out and leaking. Luckily, you can try this easy fix on your own or have a professional help you replace it.
Your kitchen sink plumbing has many hidden components, but learning its parts can help you tackle minor problems and keep your plumbing running smoothly.
If your faucet hasn’t been working like it used to, you might need a replacement. Here’s how to replace a kitchen faucet like a plumbing pro.
The citric acid in lemons makes for a great hard water and mineral remover. We share how you can use the kitchen staple to clean these types of buildup.
Whether you go with a classic faucet or a modern touchless one, you have plenty of options. Here are fourteen popular types of kitchen faucets to fit any home.
