How to Clean Sprinkler Heads in 6 Super-Simple Steps

First things first, you’ll want to make sure you have all your tools on hand and know where your sprinkler heads are located. (As you’ve likely gathered, we’re talking about lawn sprinklers—not home fire sprinklers. Just to make sure.)

For each sprinkler head, you’ll first pull it up out of its line in the ground. If you can’t get a grip on the sprinkler head to pull it up, use a flathead screwdriver. Just be careful not to damage any components.

Once you’ve pulled the sprinkler head up, you can place the adjustable vise-grip pliers at its base to ensure it won’t fall back into the ground if you let go of it.

You should be able to unscrew the heads by hand, but the vise grips can help if the sprinkler head is stuck. Remove both the sprinkler head and the screen beneath it using the needle-nose pliers for the screen if necessary. 

Use the towel to keep dirt off your hands and remove any obvious debris from the components. Keep an eye out for any components that seem damaged or defunct—you may need to replace them.

You can achieve a deeper clean by soaking the sprinkler heads in a 1-to-1 mixture of water and white vinegar. 

Create your mixture in a plastic bin. Swirl the sprinkler components through the water to remove additional debris, and then allow them to soak for half an hour. Give them one more swirl before removing them from the tub to dislodge any remaining grit.

While your sprinkler components are soaking, walk to your sprinkler control box and briefly flush out each sprinkler line individually to remove any remaining dirt or debris left behind. The stream of water that comes out could be quite powerful (and totally soak your landscaping), so be sure to only run the line for a few seconds.

Once your sprinkler heads and screens are clean and your lines have been flushed, go ahead and reassemble them in the opposite way from how you took them apart. Again, pliers may be useful (even if they’re not required). 

Once the sprinkler heads are back together, check to ensure the spray pattern is correct and make sprinkler head adjustments accordingly. If you’re having further problems or simply want to keep your jeans clean this weekend, reach out to a sprinkler repair pro near you for help.