Is your faucet aerator starting to look nasty with white and brown stains? Then, it is time you consider cleaning it. Faucets are very prone to mineral build-up and corrosion. In this piece, we will be taking you on a step-by-step guide on how to clean the dirty faucet aerator.
What Is a Faucet Aerator?
Faucet aerator refers to tiny pieces that are attached to the bathroom, kitchen, or other sink spouts end. They resemble small mesh screens and can often screw on and off.
The outside of the faucet is made up of a hollow metal cylinder that comes with a single-threaded end-fitting faucet spout thread. There is a washer made of rubber, a small screen, a disc for mixing, and parts like the inner plastic housing or flow restrictor.
The main purpose of the aerator is to add air to the flow of water creating a straight and consistent water stream. However, the aerators can easily become clogged with deposits of minerals leading to an erratic stream or a slow flower of water.
The faucet aerators are quite small although they do serve a very important purpose. They are capable of breaking up the water streams in the faucets into a bunch of tiny streams thereby reducing the water amount that pours out of the spouts. They can achieve this without sacrificing the amount of water pressure. There are also other types of humidifiers that one can learn about at airtaper.com.
Why Faucets Get Dirty
The manner in which aerators are made will always make them to end up acting as filters and water savers. It will mean the faucet aerators will catch lots of minerals, silt, and other debris flowing through the water tap. After some time, debris will pile up causing water to flow from the faucet thereby reducing in strength.
Why You Should Clean the Faucet Aerator
For sure, the faucet aerator can get pretty gross. Mesh screen will always hold onto the debris and when you have hard water, deposits of calcium will pile up over some period. When the aerator gets blocked, it will slow down the kitchen faucet. The faucet aerator is very easy to clean and you do not need lots of special things to maintain it well.
When cleaning the aerator, you have to keep in mind the following:
- Be very careful never to destroy the aerator whenever you are removing it.
- Ensure you take a picture or write down the manner in which the pieces are set up before embarking on the process of disassembling the aerator. You will have to return them in the same order you removed them.
Step By Step Guide
Before you embark on the process of cleaning your dirty faucet aerator, it is important that you have tools such as a toothbrush, sewing needle, and screwdriver, and lock channel pliers. You will also need to get materials like a toothpick, vinegar, paper clip, and masking tape.
Bring out the Aerator
Most people consider removing the aerator as the most challenging step when it comes to cleaning the faucet aerator.
- Hold the aerator on the hand and start unthreading it clockwise to help remove it from the faucet spout end.
- When the aerator is stuck and unable to turn, consider using pliers if possible the channel lock pliers to help loosen it.
- Ensure you do not squeeze the pliers too hard since you risk damaging the aerator.
- There are aerators in the market made of plastic and can crack easily.
- Check if there is any debris or deposits
- Check inside the faucet spout if there are any parts stuck inside using a small screwdriver or your little finger.
- Ensure you thoroughly clear out any debris or deposits from the spout.
Note: In case it is impossible to unscrew the aerator, you can skip the above steps and have the baggie filled with vinegar. Use a rubber band to have it secured over the faucet tip. Allow it to soak throughout the night before removing it.
Disassemble and clean the different parts
- You can now disassemble the aerator. Remember to use a paper clip and toothpick noting how the parts get together.
- Rinse the bigger sediment pieces. Clean any blocked hole in the screen using a sewing needle or paper clip.
- You can also flush the aerator under running water. Ensure you turn it the other way to enable debris and minerals to fall out.
Soak Faucet Aerator Parts
- Get a bowl and fill it with hot water. Thereafter, add a decalcifying product. In this case, we will be using vinegar.
- Vinegar is known to be an effective and easy solution. Submerge all the aerator parts into water and a mixture of vinegar.
- Use vinegar to soak the screen together with the other parts of the aerator. Soaking the screen together with other parts will help dissolve mineral deposits. If possible, leave the aerator parts in vinegar overnight or soak them until such a time when the deposits can easily be removed using a toothpick or a toothbrush.
- Remember to check the aerator condition. When the filter or cap is damaged, it is highly recommended that you replace the aerator.
Clean and Set up
Consider running the faucet for some minutes to help in removing loose debris. However, exercise some caution since the water will start gushing out and might splash from the sink.
When done, you can now start reassembling the parts of the aerator back into their initial order.
Fix the aerator back
You can now screw the aerator back to the spout. Do this by turning it counterclockwise and ensure you tighten it as much as you can use your hand.
Try running water to check if there is any leakage and when water streams out from the aerator. Ensure you tighten the aerator more using the pliers.
Conclusion
There you have it! We have covered everything on how you can clean your dirty faucet aerator at home. With the above few steps, you will have restored your water pressure ensuring an even and nice flow.
Instead of spending lots of cash on cleaning the faucet aerator, you can consider doing the cleaning by yourself. It will cost you just a little effort to ensure you are worry-free from the blockages in the faucet that are around the house.
When you wait until the faucet aerator gets damaged due to dirt and blockages, it will cost you much more than when you decide to clean it. We hope you did find all these important to help you in cleaning your dirty faucet aerator and ensure you ease up your life.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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