Is your faucet spraying weird? Or do you suddenly have low water pressure? You probably need to clean your faucet aerator. Let me walk you through this very easy step-by-step fix!
If your faucet is spraying sideways or the water pressure has suddenly dropped, don’t panic. You might be thinking it’s time to call a plumber, but there’s a good chance the fix is something super simple. Your faucet aerator might just need a good cleaning!
Every winter, we shut off the pot filler in our kitchen. It’s on an exterior wall, and we turn it off just to be safe, so nothing freezes. This spring, when we turned it back on, after months of sitting idle, it straight-up attacked me. I turned the handle, and water shot directly into my eyeball, like a high-powered squirt gun. It was spraying in every direction, and I had no idea what was going on.
Turns out, the clogged faucet aerator was filled with sediment from sitting unused all winter. I twisted it off, soaked it in some vinegar, gave it a good scrub with an old toothbrush, and popped it back on. Within minutes, it was working perfectly again. No more surprise splash zone!
That little experience was a great reminder that cleaning your aerators is one of the easiest and most impactful home maintenance tasks out there. It takes just a few minutes, costs next to nothing, and can make a big difference in how your faucet performs.
At A Glance:
| Difficulty: ⭐️ of 5 | Time: 5 minutes (plus 20 minutes of soaking) |
| Supplies needed: White vinegar Small bowl Mild dish soap (optional) Microfiber cloth Plastic bag Rubber band |
Tools needed: Old toothbrush or small cleaning brush Rubber grip pliers or aerator key |
What Is a Faucet Aerator?
If you’re not familiar, the aerator is the small screen at the end of the faucet. It blends air into the water stream, which cuts down on splashing and controls how much water flows out.
Over time, this little part collects mineral deposits, sand, and other bits of gunk, especially if you have hard water.
Signs Your Aerator Might Be Clogged
- Water spraying in strange directions
- Reduced pressure from your kitchen faucet
- Faucet trickles instead of flowing
- Mineral buildup visible on the faucet head
A quick cleaning will usually fix the issue and get your water pressure back to normal.
How to Remove the Aerator
Depending on your faucet, this might be the easiest part or it might take a little extra effort.
If your faucet aerator sticks out at the end:
Try twisting it off by hand first. If it’s stuck, wrap some masking tape around the metal to protect the finish and use a pair of pliers to loosen it gently.
If your faucet has a recessed aerator:
You’ll need an aerator key. This is a tiny tool designed to fit inside the faucet and unscrew the hidden aerator.
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